Nearly 300 athletes will join the Mindanao leg of the 2025 Indigenous Peoples Games, to be held at the Buenavista Central Elementary School in Agusan del Norte from Oct. 11 to 12.
The event, organized by the Philippine Sports Commission, showcases traditional games, such as pintik (arrow), bangkaw (javelin), bag-ud, sudsud (female), takyang (female), indigenous race, tug-of-war, fire making, lubok-humay, and unahik/palosebo/katkat kawayan.
“The people of Agusan del Norte are very excited. To them, this is a very huge event. The delegations will start arriving in Buenavista tomorrow (Wednesday),” PSC Commissioner Matthew “Fritz” Gaston said during the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex conference room on Tuesday.
Gaston said aside from medals and minimal cash rewards, the event is all about “camaraderie and competitiveness” among the indigenous people.
Buenavista Mayor Joselito Roble and Agusan de Norte Governor Maria Angelica Rosedell Amante have ensured a successful hosting of the tournament, which will be participated in by 11 cities/municipalities – Nasipit, Las Nieves, Buenavista, Cabadbaran City, Carmen, Jabonga, Tubay, Santiago, Kitcharao, Remedio T. Romualdez (RTR), and Butuan City.
The Visayas leg that was scheduled in Iloilo City on Sept. 27-28 did not push through due to a typhoon.
Gaston said the PSC is still trying to squeeze in the Luzon leg in Ilocos Norte next month or any other window between the Batang Pinoy in General Santos City later this month and the 33rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Thailand in December. (PNA)
