There’s more to being a Hero than just looking up to reach the Stars.
Unseating powerhouse National Capital Region is a lofty dream, but not an impossible one. It is a worthy pursuit that will require many stars to align and shine ever-so brightly for Southern Tagalog.
But for a contingent churning out medals as consistently as CALABARZON does, there are bigger, more valorous goals than simply chasing to earn more golds than a fellow powerhouse.
The mission has therefore always been more focused on being in better form than the last.
The barometer is the previous showing, believes Chief Education Supervisor, and CALABARZON Heroes delegation head Eduarda Zapanta.
In GMA Regional TV News’ exclusive interview with the contingent leader on May 29, Zapanta– serving in her fourth year as Region IV-A’s one-the-ground chief in Palarong Pambansa – said that exceeding their own haul is a more concrete ambition.
“For our CALABARZON delegation, with the final stretch, we are hoping that CALABARZON will exceed its own performance compared to last year,” shared the Tanza, Cavite-based educator and leader.
“We were looking forward that this year will be a remarkable increase, [as] we know for sure that our delegates, the supporters, the Department of Education in CALABARZON from 25 Schools Division Offices have really invested their gift of time, talent, and resources for this,” she added.
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED
Indeed, CALABARZON exceeded their 2025 medal performance.
Finishing second overall, Region IV-A collected eight more gold medals – from 47 in 2025, to 55 this year – bannered by Charles Boneo, who contributed six golds and broke three Palaro records in elementary boys’ swimming; and an upset-powered championship in the highly anticipated secondary boys’ basketball event.
Their silver and bronze hauls, meanwhile, dipped from 68 and 66, to 50 and 60, respectively.
On net, it was remarkable performance that objectively exceeded last year’s haul, and the continuation of the region’s dynastic prominence in the multi-sport national games for student-athletes.
This marks Region IV-A’s tenth overall second-place finish in the past 19 Palaro games.
HOW CALABARZON ACHIEVES CONSISTENCY
According to Zapanta, they rely on the region’s innate and intentional support for sports development, and harmony among division offices.
“It cannot be denied that CALABARZON has passion for sports, our local government in CALABARZON is very supportive of it, innate in the mechanism, systems and practices of our learning leaders in DepEd,” shared Zapanta, “and the harmonized effort and conscious support for sports.”
The delegation chief also lauded how the quickly the five provinces and 20 city schools division offices (SDO) unify and gel under one CALABARZON banner whenever its Palaro season.
“The good thing about them is they’re competing for their own races, but when we are in Palarong Pambansa, iisa po ang mantra naming. Iisa po ang kulay namin sa Palaro. Galling man po sa 25 entries, pagdating po dito, iisa po ang aming dala—magbigay-pugay sa talentong ibigay, iwagayway ang bandila ng CALABARZON Heroes. Sa palagay ko, confidently and humbly, doon kami nanggagaling,” explained Zapanta.
CALABARZON also has a history of winning miscellaneous awards outside the sporting events.
In the 2024 edition in Cebu, Region IV-A was recognized as the Most Disciplined Delegation and the Cleanest Billeting Quarters.
Asked whether this is a facet they also focus on, Zapanta said that the main priority was always the quality and safety of their learner-athletes, but they do not take these ‘side quests’ for granted.
“In terms of CALABARZON [billeting quarters], nag-effort pa rin kami to participate but priority on Palaro participation. If we could also get into those spotlights, nage-effort [din] kami – best billeting, most disciplined delegation, the connection award—we are aware of that, although we don’t know how we scored. Ang maliwanag po sa amin ay siguraduhing maayos, at safe ang mga bata. Yun ang ineeffort natin,” she said.
