The spotlight is on a nine-year-old native of San Fabian, Pangasinan, who emerged as the youngest Para Games athlete. 

Angel Castronueva secured one gold and two silver medals in the Para Athletics - Running and Long Jump sporting events.

“Masaya, nagtiyaga ako sa training at masaya akong may medal,” Castronueva said.

Castronueva has a microphthalmia on both eyes, and is considered legally blind.

Microphthalmia is a birth defect where the eyes grow small abnormally, and in usual cases cause vision loss, according to the National Eye Institute (NEI).

Castranueva is part of the Pangasinan II Division, which maintained its lead in the overall partial and unofficial tally results of the Region 1 Athletic Association (R1AA) Meet on April 26, 2024.

“Masaya [malaman] na sa overall ay nangunguna kami at nakaka-pressure din na Pangasinan II kami, [kasi] kailangan din namin na athletics team na makapagbigay ng gold sa aming koponan; so nakakatuwa na meron din naman kahit papaano,” Villy Jane Membrdo, Athletics Coach of Pangasinan II, said.

Due to their impressive performance, Pangasinan II delegates expect to bring home the championship in 2024..

As of the latest partial and unofficial medal tally results for regular games, Pangasinan II has accumulated 55 gold medals, 37 silver medals, and 35 bronze medals. 

Laoag City follows closely  with 38 gold medals, 32 silver medals, and 43 bronze medals.