BUDGET constraints won’t dampen the fighting spirit of Team Misamis Oriental.
Despite financial difficulties, more than 200 delegates from the province arrived safely in General Santos City on Thursday night for the week-long 2025 Batang Pinoy National Finals, which opens tomorrow, Oct. 25.
“From P1.5 million, na reduce among budget down to only P350,000 for the week-long competition in Gensan. Ambot unsaon ni pero kombate lang gihapon,” said acting provincial sports head Rosuette Sweet Colastre in an interview with Gold Star Daily.
Governor Juliette Tiu Uy was notably absent during the send-off ceremony for Misamis Oriental athletes held Thursday morning at the provincial capitol grounds.
By contrast, neighboring Cagayan de Oro City is fielding a smaller delegation of 186 athletes, but with far greater financial backing.
Mayor Rolando ‘Klarex’ Uy has allocated more than triple the funding Misamis Oriental received.
“Dili moubos sa P2-million among budget karon sa Gensan, ganado ang mga players kay P10,800 nga allowance matag usa ilang madawatan,” said Cagayan de Oro chess coach Jashfer Gonzales in a phone interview.
For the first time in recent years, Misamis Oriental will compete without its consistent double-gold long jump winner, Marc Angelo Cabiluna, who has aged out of the competition.
Still, Colastre remains optimistic that the province’s athletes will deliver strong performances. She said Misamis Oriental has quality entries in nearly a dozen disciplines, including taekwondo, athletics, swimming, arnis, badminton, karatedo, sepak takraw, table tennis, and beach volleyball.
Leading the province’s medal hopes is former elementary chess gold medalist Arena Fide Master Janin Dhrey Querequere of Balingoan, who will now compete in the high school 13-year-old category.
