PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur - Weightlifting is a now a regular event in the 2026 Palarong Pambansa - and its tournament director is none other than Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo.
After the sport was introduced as a demonstration event in last year's showcase of student-athlete talent, the Philippines' first-ever Olympic gold medalist was front and center at the Datu Lipus Makapandong Governor D.O. Plaza Sports Complex here to oversee this current tournament participated in by all but four of the 20 competing delegations.
"Siyempre, sobrang saya na regular sport na ito. Excited din kung ga'no karami ang interesado sa weightlifting," she told reporters Wednesday morning.
Ten medals are up for grabs in total for the boys' and girls' divisions in the secondary level, with hopes of expanding even to elementary prospects in the foreseeable future.
"For now, importante na regular sport na ang weightlifting. Next, dadahan-dahanin natin," said Diaz-Naranjo.
Most definitely, what matters most as of now is that weightlifting is being nourished right from the grassroots - a development that was just once the wildest dream of the history-making Filipina.
As she put it, "Pinapangarap talaga namin 'to. Dati, yung mga kasama ko sa taekwondo, judo, athletics, naglalaro sa Palaro. Nagtatanong kami, ba't walang weightlifting?"
"Kaya later on, nung naging silver medalist ako (in Rio Olympics), sabi ko, sana ma-include ang weightlifting sa Palaro para naman makita ng mga athlete na may potential tayo ritong manalo."
At the same time, Diaz-Naranjo made it clear that this is just one of the many first steps in strengthening the sport, and many more are needed to make sure the country develops more and more elite athletes.
"After Palaro, ga-graduate sila, so what's next? So hindi kumpleto ang sistema," she said. "Parang kailangan, may scholarship sila sa college para continuous silang nagte-training. Kung may laro, mas maigi pa."
"Yun sana yung dapat sistema. Hindi lang sa high school, dapat may college din. Sana, ma-include sa UAAP, sa NCAA, sa ibang college competitions."
The 'Grand Ol' League' already included weightlifting in its calendar as a demo event in Season 101. The UAAP, for its part, is still mulling over its addition.
From Hidi's hometown
Collegiate scholarships and competitions would be a dream come true for aspirants such as Adrian Bucol, who took home the very first gold medal in Palarong Pambansa weightlifting.
Coincidentally, that home lies not too far from where Diaz-Naranjo herself came to be.
"Kapitbahay, kabarangay namin. I'm happy for him kasi alam ko naman how many years yung training niya. Deserve na deserve niya. He earned it," said the pride of the Philippines, and Zamboanga, in particular.
Bucol triumphed in the 48kg category from a total lift of 183kg - 83kg from snatch, and 100kg from clean and jerk.
"Sobrang saya ko po kasi first time ko lang po, tapos gold agad. Dine-dedicate ko po itong pagkapanalo ko sa parents ko kasi buo po yung suporta nila sa akin," said the Grade 9 student of Talon-Talon National High School.
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