BY ALDRIN QUINTO

PUERTO PRINCESA. — Mayor Edward Hagedorn formally declared this year’s Palarong Pambansa open Sunday and welcomed more than 15,000 athletes, coaches and officials who made the trip here, even as the Department of Education reviewed a protest filed by the National Capital Region over bats to be used in softball.

Thousands of local folks joined Hagedorn in welcoming the various delegations who were treated to ethnic and modern production numbers and a fireworks display that reportedly cost millions at the newly-refurbished Ramon V. Mitra, Jr. Sports Complex here.

Fair weather greeted the thousands who turned out for the opening ceremonies, although organizers and DepEd officials kept a constant watch on heat stroke-related cases that caused two deaths in last year’s games in Koronadal, South Cotabato.

The DepEd, already under scrutiny on how it would deal with potential age cheating and other matters that could louse up the Games, received the protest from NCR delegation head Dr. Teresita Domalanta Sunday afternoon. A decision is expected to be handed down before softball gets going at the main venue and the Palawan National School grounds.

Kiko Diaz, coach of the NCR high school softball team, said the delegation protested the decision of Marciano Servo, softball’s tournament commissioner, that disallows rubber-tipped bats considered legal by the International Softball Federation. The DepEd wants all competing teams to use heavier, old-fashioned bats.

"The NCR has used the same bats for the last three years. Why change now?" asked Diaz, coach of the Miriam College team that topped the NCR Regional meet.

Diaz said the DepEd decided to use the heavier bats since only a few teams can afford the more expensive bats being used by the NCR and some other teams. Even the NCR’s offer to lend bats to other teams was turned down, according to Diaz.

"It’s really unfair. It’s like not being allowed to wear a more expensive pair shoes," said Diaz.

Action in various fronts start Monday, including the centerpiece event of athletics where NCR, the overall champion in both the elementary and high school divisions last year, is expected to face a tough battle from Western Visayas and Calabarzon.

In all, 17 sports events will be held in the week-long games, with softball, swimming, boxing, football and volleyball to be held at the main complex. The Palawan State U campus will host chess and taekwondo while gymnastics will be held at the Puerto Princesa City Coliseum.

Archery will be held at the TESDA grounds, Arnis at Wescom Gym, badminton at Powerzone, baseball and table tennis at the Palawan National High School and sepak takraw at the People’s Amphitheater.