By ADRIAN STEWART CO

The Negros Island Region (NIR) strengthened its campaign in the 2026 Palarong Pambansa after its swimmers collected three gold medals and three silver medals in various swimming events.

Sofia Ysabela Secuelan delivered one of NIR’s top performances by capturing the gold medal in the girls’ 50-meter backstroke event.

Secuelan topped the field with a strong showing in the pool, adding another championship medal to NIR’s growing tally.

Another medal came from Annysa Joyce Diga, who claimed silver in the elementary girls’ 100-m long course freestyle.

Diga improved significantly from her seed time of 1:06.27, clocking 1:04.70 in the finals to secure a podium finish.

Secuelan and Diga, along with Julia Jewels Pobleto and Patricia Anikka Caromayan, also claimed a gold medal in the 4×50-m elementary girls free relay swimming.

Para Games

NIR also celebrated success in the Para Games swimming competitions, under the Intellectual Disability category, through Mary Hannah Brianna Diesto.

Representing Talisay City and the Talisay Elementary School SPED Center, Diesto won the gold medal in the 50-m butterfly and added a silver medal in the 50-m backstroke.

Her performance was credited to months of preparation under the guidance of coach Jucille Mocel Vasquez and trainer Jelin Almirante Patris, along with the support of her family.

The latest medal haul further boosted the standing of the Visayan Vipers delegation, with regional officials praising the athletes for their determination and strong performances in the national school sports meet.

The achievements of Secuelan, Diga and Diesto also highlighted the depth of NIR’s swimming program, as well as the growing success of its para-athletes on the national stage./ASC, WDJ