Charles Boneo came to Agusan del Sur not just to win, but to break Palarong Pambansa records

AGUSAN DEL SUR — Even Charles Boneo's parents are surprised to see their son dominate the waters of the 2026 Palarong Pambansa in his debut year.

The 12-year-old swimmer from Cavite has already captured two gold medals after unleashing a pair of record-breaking performances. However, those weren't by accident.

Boneo had long set his mind on breaking all records in his events.

"Actually, he came here to break records," Grace Boneo, his mother, told reporters at the Aquatic Center in the Datu Lipus Makapandong Governor D.O. Sports Complex in Prosperidad.

"This is a 26 year-old [record], sa part namin hindi namin ine-expect talaga pero sa bata, the way he says it, the way he’s very motivated to break the records. Actually sabi ng bata, sana medyo mapababa niya ‘yung time para daw mga 30 years pa bago ma-break ng iba."

Boneo started off his debut campaign in style, ruling the 400m freestyle in the elementary boys division after clocking 4:30.63 on Tuesday to shatter Titus Sia's 4:31.39 record set last year.

The next day, he picked up where he left off.

Boneo, a Grade 6 student at Elizabeth Seton School, proved to be a force in the 50m butterfly to claim his second gold in as many events.

That performance also saw him break records, posting 27.77 seconds and eclipsing the 26-year-old 28.03 record of Ronald Guiriba in 2000.

"I was really thinking about that (breaking records). I was thinking positively about myself and that I would get all the records," the younger Boneo shared.

—JKC, GMA News