THE Mindanao leg of the 2025 Indigenous Peoples Games will take place in Buenavista in Agusan del Norte this Saturday and Sunday.
Close to 300 athletes will see action in the event that showcases traditional games as well as Philippine culture and arts, according to Philippine Sports Commission board member Fritz Gaston.
Organizers, however, are keeping their fingers crossed that the weather would cooperate following the postponement of the Visayas leg that was scheduled last September 27 and 28 in Iloilo City because of a typhoon.
The PSC, according to Gaston, 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 SEA Games in Thailand in December.
‘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,’ Gaston told the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum Tuesday at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex Conference Room.
Buenavista Mayor Joselito Roble and Agusan de Norte Governor Maria Angelica Rosedell Amante have ensured a successful hosting of the yearly event.
PSC commissioner Ed Hayco will also grace the opening ceremony.
Gaston told the forum presented by San Miguel Corp., Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Milo, Smart/PLDT, and ArenaPlus that besides medals and minimal cash rewards, the event is all about ‘camaraderie and competitiveness’ among the Indigenous People.
The cities and municipalities of Nasipit, Las Nieves, Buenavista, Cabadbaran City, Carmen, Jabonga, Tubay, Santiago, Kitcharao, Remedio T. Romualdez (RTR) and Butuan City are fielding bets in the event.
They will vie in pintik (arrow), bangkaw (javelin), bag-ud, sudsud (female), takyang (female), indigenous race, tug of war, fire making, lubok-humay and unahik/palosebo/katkat kawayan.