By ADRIAN STEWART CO
Bacolod City received glowing reviews from organizers and officials after successfully staging the 2026 National PRISAA Games, with many saying the city raised the standard for future hosts of the annual multi-sport event.
PRISAA Executive Director Elbert “Bong” Atilano, Sr. said each edition of the games continues to improve, but he admitted that Bacolod set a difficult benchmark to surpass.
“We are excited because every time we host, our fellow board members say the level keeps rising, and the benchmark keeps getting higher. What you saw here in Bacolod showed how well they organized everything. They even said it will be hard to surpass,” Atilano said.
He added that every region has its own culture and identity to showcase, but stressed that efficient sports operations remain the key to a successful hosting.
“I said there are areas where every region has a unique culture. That’s where hosts can really distinguish themselves. But when it comes to sports operations, everyone follows the same standards,” he added.
The weeklong tournament concluded on May 15, with Central Visayas reclaiming the overall championship in both the seniors and youth divisions.
National PRISAA president and Negros Island Region head Dr. Ryan Mark Molina expressed satisfaction over how Bacolod handled the event, admitting the preparations were exhausting but rewarding.
“I am satisfied with the hosting. If you ask me to assess it personally, honestly, we all just want to sleep first after everything. But if this will be offered to us again, I think we can give even more than what we delivered this 2026,” Molina said.
Molina also believes next year’s host, Zamboanga City, faces high expectations after Bacolod’s strong showing.
“Zamboanga is already experienced in hosting. Expectations are always high every year for the host cities,” he said.
The successful staging further strengthened Bacolod’s reputation as a capable host for major national sporting events, drawing praise for its organization, hospitality and overall execution of the PRISAA Games./ASC, WDJ