By Jerome S. Galunan, Jr.

The Negros Island Region (NIR) earned its first gold medal in the 2017 Palarong Pambansa, currently taking place in Antique, through 13-year-old Kiana Marie Alagaban of Bacolod Tay Tung High School (BTTHS), who won the elementary division all-around gold medal in gymnastics.
All 16 competing regions each sent three athletes into the competition, with Alagaban contending against NIR teammates Jenny Eusebio of St. Scholastica’s Academy and Julianne Arinas of Paglaum Elementary School.
Entries from the National Capital Region (NCR) took the silver and bronze medals in the category.
Meanwhile, in the team event, NIR took silver, behind NCR. The Caraga Region won bronze./WDJ