Palarong Pambansa 2025 has etched a remarkable sports niche for every athlete. It has, likewise, challenged our leaders to accomplish their targets amidst waves of skepticism from a few. We witnessed how Ilocos Norte, this year’s host, vigorously and meticulously prepared for this national event.

Questions arose: Would the new Ferdinand Edralin Marcos (FEM) stadium stun the audience? Would billeting schools be able to accommodate athletes and delegates from the different participating regions of the country? Would there be enough food supply? What about the sleeping quarters? Would there be comfortable materials and space for rest and sleeping?

The most pressing query leaned on the chances of our athletes: How many medals would our young players grab?

Now that the games have concluded, players have finally been awarded. Some beamed brightly as they shouted and lifted their gold medals and tall trophies as Champions. Others jumped with joy as they held their silver medals and hugged their mid-size trophies. Those who were able to inch their way to third place, flashed their wide smiles as they stroked their bronze medals and tiny trophies. News and stories about them landed on the pages of SDOIN Chronicles and other news-sharing formats, radio, television and online. They felt very victorious.

The athletes who did not win were not able to step on the podium to receive awards. Some bawled; embraced and comforted by their coaches and supporters. Still others walked away downhearted. A few slipped away and traveled back home silently. They felt beaten; defeated.

Whatever the results are, all the athletes who competed have shown their best. They deserve our felicitation and admiration for traversing a rough and challenging road towards a national sports event as Palarong Pambansa. Let them shine in their individual sports podiums because the real upshot is transformation from a newbie to a winner.

Flipping back to the hosting of our province, controversial issues flogged the airwaves and social media topped by the unexpected comment of a person regarding the FEM stadium. Many took it as an affront to the host province and its people, thus, they hit back with online posts that matched or even worse, exceeded what was deemed as an insult. But a number of reasonable and thinking individuals cautioned reactors to control their temper and take the comment as an honest view of someone. Well, moving the opposing camps aside, the upshot in this case is a clearer view or perception of reality. The truth is, the host province through the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte, exerted utmost effort and support to the Schools Divisions of Ilocos Norte, Batac and Laoag City to make 2025 Palarong Pambansa exceptional.

Events, situations, interactions yield results. Competitions spring out scores. Results or scores should not stall us, they should make us grow. They are upshots, win or lose. Upshots make everyone a victor!