By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Batang Pinoy, the annual sportsfest showcasing young Filipino athletes from across the nation, returns to its roots for the 2026 edition in Bacolod City scheduled from December 12 to 18.

Bacolod has guaranteed a successful event after it hosted its inaugural edition in 1999.

“We thank the Philippine Sports Commission [PSC] for allowing us to host this year. Bacolod is prepared,” Bacolod City Mayor Greg Gasataya said during the Philippine Sportswriters Association forum at the PSC media room.

He said there are over 4,000 hotel rooms in Bacolod all ready to accommodate the delegates as well as the government schools that can be used for billeting.

Competition venues, he added, are all set for the event.

PSC Chairman Patrick Gregorio, for his part, is confident of a smooth hosting by Bacolod, which will open its doors to as many as 18,000 athletes and more than a thousand officials from 188 local government units.

“Ano ba ang criteria to host? Basta ang importante is ‘pag involved ang mayor, kung may commitment, siguradong mangyayari,” Gregorio said of the meet that will cater to athletes aged eight to 15.

Gregorio said the PSC decided to limit the participation to eight to 15 years old, and let athletes aged 16 or 17 years old to display their wares in the annual Palarong Pambansa.

PSC Commissioner and Batang Pinoy Project Director Bong Coo, a legendary bower, said there will be 30 sports disciplines to be disputed this year, an increase from last year’s 27, following the inclusion of golf, skateboarding and bowling.

The other disciplines are aquatics, archery, arnis, athletics, badminton, baseball, basketball, boxing, chess, cycling, dance sport, futsal, gymnastics, jiu-jitsu, judo, karate, kickboxing, Muay Thai, pencak silat, sepak takraw, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, volleyball, weightlifting, wrestling, and wushu.

“We are hoping for a prosperous and successful Batang Pinoy in December,” Coo added./ASC, WDJ