INTRODUCTION
What a happy and historic occasion this is to see 15,000 top athletes of our 21 million students from Batanes to Sulu gathered here today for the Centennial Palaro.

What a marvelous sight it is to behold the Filipino youth in resplendent colors and exuberant spirits united here today to celebrate life, sports excellence and our hundredth year of independence. The Katipuneros — who also came together from all over the archipelago beneath the flag of freedom — would have been justly proud of all of you.

All great things start from a dream. Just like our forebears who dreamt of freedom, the journey to this Centennial Palaro started also with a dream. After losing in many bids, negros occidental continued to nurture a dream that one day, it would host the Palarong Pambansa. Having produced many champions, it also had a dream that one day, it would have a world-class sports complex in a beautiful setting such as this forest.

Meanwhile, somewhere out there in the barrio, young boys and girls also chased a dream. They dreamt that, after surviving elimination rounds at the school, provincial and regional meets, they would crown their struggles and sacrifices with victory and glory in a National Palaro.
OUR FIELD OF DREAMS
Let this be our field of dreams. Let this be the field where dreams become reality. From among you, the cream of youth sports, will emerge champions who will represent this country and who may just be the ones to bring home finally the elusive Olympic gold medals for Team Philippines.

In a world driven by excellence, the Ramos administration has striven to promote sports excellence. I believe in a healthy body to accompany a healthy mind. I believe in instilling in our children, through sports, traits such as unity, solidarity, teamwork, discipline, struggle, competition and the will to win — the same traits that will propel Team Philippines forward in times of uncertainty and rapid change. Hence, my administration has always thrown its full support behind the Palarong Pambansa.

I am happy that the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) have responded well to this support. Schools are where champions are discovered and molded. You have come out with a clear program for sports excellence whereby every year’s performance, be it at the school, provincial, regional or national level, must exceed the previous year’s record.
THE ATHLETE AS CENTERPIECE
We have seen in the last three years this remarkable progress since you instituted a sports program that makes the athlete its centerpiece. This is the only formula that works, and I hope that the other sports bodies can emulate this example. A fully supported and invigorated Palarong Pambansa is one legacy that this Ramos administration will be proud to bequeath to future administrations and generations.

While the Palarong Pambansa has been traditionally associated with the department of education, culture and sports, and now, with the department of education, culture and sports, commission on higher education and the technical education and skills development authority, the spirit of Palaro goes beyond the bounds of these agencies. The Palarong Pambansa are no longer just the games of DECS, CHED, and TESDA. They are the games of the community, of local government units and private- sector supporters, of parents of the children — in short, the games of the people. This Centennial Palaro would not have been possible without their support. To all these supporters, thank you on behalf of the children participating in this Centennial Palaro.

May I also take this opportunity to thank the people of Negros Occidental for hosting this Centennial Palaro. You have the singular distinction of hosting the first Centennial Palaro, an honor that will be repeated only a hundred years from now.
A TRIBUTE TO OUR HEROES
Let this Centennial Palaro be a tribute to our forebears whose struggle for independence a hundred years ago gave us this privilege to play as one and a free nation.

Let it be a tribute to the past athletes who brought greatness and honor to this country. Let it be a tribute to the present crop of athletes aspiring to sports excellence. Let it be a tribute to the Filipino children of the future to whom we will pass on the torch of unity, competition and excellence. Let it be a tribute to the Filipino people.
LET OUR SPIRITS SOAR
This premier sports event bonds us together in unity, friendship, and competition. Let our spirits soar. Put out that extra burst of energy. Let us win one for the school, community, province and region. Above all, let us play our hearts out and win for “Team Philippines”.

On this note, I now declare the Centennial Palaro officially open.

Let the Games begin!