Camille Naredo

Commissioner Bong Coo, DepEd Director Miguel Mantaring, PSC chairman Patrick Gregorio, Bacolod City Mayor Greg Gasataya, DILG Usec Rolando Puno, and Bacolod City Administrator Atty. Mark Mayo. Handout/PSA

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<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17822053491100623forum.jfif" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Commissioner Bong Coo, DepEd Director Miguel Mantaring, PSC chairman Patrick Gregorio, Bacolod City Mayor Greg Gasataya, DILG Usec Rolando Puno, and Bacolod City Administrator Atty. Mark Mayo. Handout/PSA"/>Commissioner Bong Coo, DepEd Director Miguel Mantaring, PSC chairman Patrick Gregorio, Bacolod City Mayor Greg Gasataya, DILG Usec Rolando Puno, and Bacolod City Administrator Atty. Mark Mayo. Handout/PSA</div>MANILA — Batang Pinoy, the annual sportsfest showcasing young Filipino athletes from across the nation, returns to its roots for the 2026 edition scheduled from December 12 to 18 in Bacolod City.Bacolod, known as the City of Smiles, is expected to stage another successful event after hosting the inaugural edition in 1999.“We thank the Philippine Sports Commission for allowing us to host this year. Bacolod is prepared,” said Bacolod City Mayor Greg Gasataya during Tuesday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the PSC Media Room.He said there are over 4,000 hotel rooms in Bacolod ready to accommodate delegates, as well as government schools that can be used for billeting. Competition venues, he added, are also ready 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 1,000 officials from 188 local government units (LGUs).“Ano ba ang criteria to host? Basta ang importante is pag involved ang mayor, kung may commitment, siguradong mangyayari,” said Gregorio of the meet, which will cater to athletes aged eight to 15.Gregorio said the PSC decided to limit participation to athletes aged eight to 15, allowing those aged 16 and 17 to showcase their talents in the annual Palarong Pambansa.“Sa Batang Pinoy, the athletes aged eight years old, sila ang superstars,” added Gregorio during the forum, which was also attended by PSC commissioner and Batang Pinoy project director Bong Coo, DILG Undersecretary Rolando Puno, Bacolod City Administrator Atty. Mark Mayo, and DepEd Director Miguel Mantaring.Coo, a legendary bowler, said there will be 30 sports disciplines contested this year, an increase from last year&#x27;s 27 following the inclusion of golf, skateboarding, and bowling.The other disciplines are aquatics, archery, arnis, athletics, badminton, baseball, basketball, boxing, chess, cycling, dancesport, 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,” added Coo.

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

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

Batang Pinoy heads back to roots with 2026 Bacolod hosting

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Batang Pinoy heads back to roots with 2026 Bacolod hosting

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Published June 23, 2026 05:05 PM PHT

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