Palaro 2025 Awaits the Flying Clever Wings of Davraa Eagles

Readier Than Ever: Davao Athletes Train In-City Ahead of Palarong Pambansa

Most of Davao Region Athletic Association's (Davraa) 596 hopefuls started in-house training on May 3, 2025, right here in sunny Davao City. With the 2025 Palarong Pambansa set to kick off in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte on May 24, these athletes are gearing up for the roots of the national games.

Allan Farnazo, DepEd regional director, confirmed the news in a friendly Viber chat with our Davao digs on Tuesday evening, May 6. He mentioned that a majority of Davraa's impressive 723-member delegation, including athletes, coaches, and chaperones, are bunking down at Mintal Elementary School and Mintal Comprehensive High School.

For our swimmers, Tagum City offers a tasty training opportunity, thanks to the Olympic-sized swimming pool at the Davao del Norte Sports and Tourism Complex.

"Our athletes are all systems go for the Palaro," Farnazo shared. Training will be wrapping up before the delegation heads to Laoag.

Farnazo expects nearly 800 Davraa delegates to jet off to Laoag in multiple waves between May 17 and 20, taking off from Davao International Airport.

With Davao del Norte hosting the 2025 Davraa Meet, you might wonder why they chose Davao City for in-house training. Well, owing to its proximity to the airport, the practical choice was obvious. What's more, Philippine Airlines (PAL) only offers a single direct flight from Davao to Laoag, making it necessary for most of the delegation to transit through the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) in busy Pasay City.

During one of his frequent visits to the training quarters, Farnazo observed athletes rehearsing their dance moves during dinner as part of their social preparation. "Sure, social preparedness is a must. If a kid's got mad skills but panics on the field, they could crack," Farnazo pointed out. That's why we have guidance counselors. By the time they stomp onto the field for the Palaro, we want to see these athletes ready in every sense—morally, physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally. They should be able to shake off even the loudest jeers, no matter what folks say.

Farnazo expressed some pride in the disciplined, Davraa Eagles—who have earned the title of Most Disciplined Delegation at the past two Palarong Pambansa events in Marikina City 2023 and Cebu City in 2024. "Here's hopin' we can keep that up," he said. MLSA

Why Davao City for In-House Training?

Modern, Multi-sport Facilities: Davao City's urban infrastructure boasts a variety of sports facilities and amenities suitable for large-scale training camps. From gymnasiums and tracks to swimming pools and specialized venues, the city can accommodate athletes from diverse sports disciplines.
Logistics and Accessibility: With its fantastic transportation system and well-connected roads, air, and even sea links, Davao City provides an easier way to host delegates from throughout the region and coordinate their moves, especially for pre-Palaro training camps.
Support Services: The city's established hotels, dining options, medical facilities, and support services are essential in managing the challenges of large training groups.
Event Experience: Davao City has already demonstrated its competence in hosting major regional and national events, making it a trustworthy choice to tackle the logistical and organizational complexities of the Palarong Pambansa in-house training.

Transportation Considerations

Picking Davao City as the training ground has several transportation-related implications:

Centralized Access: Athletes and officials from varying Davao Region provinces can gather in Davao City, minimizing the requirement for multiple training centers and streamlining logistics.
Travel Requirements: Athletes and personnel from Davao del Norte and other outlying areas may need to travel for hours to reach the training venue in Davao City. This may necessitate pre-dawn departures, organized bus convoys, or meal and lodging arrangements during the 15-day training period.
Costs and Planning: Transportation expenses become a deciding factor, making careful budgeting for fuel, vehicle rentals, and possibly overnight accommodations essential.
Safety and Coordination: Ensuring a safe and prompt mode of transport for all participants, particularly minors, requires close collaboration between schools, local government units, and transportation providers.
Strain on Local Transit: The influx of hundreds of athletes and support staff may momentarily strain Davao City's public transportation system and traffic flow, particularly during peak training periods.

Davao City vs. Davao del Norte for In-House Training

| Aspect | Davao City | Davao del Norte ||-----------------------|-----------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|| Sports Facilities | Extensive, multi-sport, modern | Limited by comparison || Accommodation | Numerous hotels, dorms, hostels | Fewer options || Transportation | Excellent road, air, and sea links | Mainly road access || Support Services | Comprehensive (medical, food, security) | Limited || Logistics Coordination| Easier for large groups | More challenging for large numbers || Travel Requirements | Centralized, but outlying areas must travel | Local, but less infrastructure |

In conclusion, Davao City offers superior sports infrastructure, logistical capabilities, and support services. Despite the additional travel requirements for delegates from outlying areas like Davao del Norte, training in Davao City allows for efficient, large-scale preparation for the 2025 Palarong Pambansa.

The sports facilities in Davao City cater to a variety of sports disciplines, making it an ideal location for an all-encompassing training camp.
The city's excellent transportation system enables seamless travel within the region, facilitating the coordination of pre-Palaro training camps for athletes.
The established hotels, dining options, and medical facilities in Davao City provide essential support services during large-scale training events.
Davao City's previous experience in hosting major regional and national events demonstrates its ability to tackle the logistical and organizational complexities of an event like the Palarong Pambansa.
Considering the single direct flight from Davao to Laoag, it makes sense for athletes to train in Davao City before the Palarong Pambansa to minimize travel requirements and streamline logistics.
Athletes from Davao Region provinces will converge on Davao City, centralizing training while reducing the need for multiple training centers.
Careful budgeting and coordination between schools, local authorities, and transportation providers will be necessary to manage transportation expenses and ensure a safe and efficient mode of transport for all participants.
The influx of athletes and support staff could temporarily strain Davao City's public transportation system and traffic flow, requiring close attention to timely and safe transport arrangements.
While Davao del Norte boasts fewer sports facilities and support services, it does have the advantage of hosting the 2025 Davraa Meet.
In comparing the two, Davao City's superior sports infrastructure, logistical capabilities, and support services make it the preferred choice for large-scale training events like the 2025 Palarong Pambansa, despite the additional travel requirements for outlying areas like Davao del Norte.