By Edwin Rollon
GENERAL SANTOS CITY — Team Manila surged to the top of the leaderboard on Monday as four more swimming records fell and a young karate standout emerged in the 2025 Batang Pinoy National Finals here.
The perennial Palarong Pambansa powerhouse showed strong intent to reclaim the overall title from defending champion Pasig City, banking on victories in athletics and swimming. The University of Santo Tomas senior high standout Patricia Mae Santor set a new meet record in the Girls 16–17 50-meter butterfly to lead the charge.
Santor, a 17-year-old regular in Philippine Aquatics, Inc. (PAI) age-group meets under the Ilustre East Club, clocked 28.67 seconds, erasing the 29.27 mark set two years ago by SEA Games-bound Michaela Jasmine Mojdeh. She bested Shiloh Francine Advincula of City of Naga (30.17) and Bobyn Simone Wachter of Mandaue (30.82).
Her UST teammate Aishel Cid Evangelista delivered Manila’s first swimming gold on Sunday in the Boys 14–15 200-meter Individual Medley with a time of 2:17.31.
Manila also shone in athletics with multiple podium finishes. Ivan Cabanda and Ma. Lhynette Libranda swept the hurdles—Cabanda winning the Boys 110m (13.98) and Libranda taking the Girls 100m (14.05). Rica Clavel topped the Girls High Jump (1.50m), while Francine Jhobie Rosario ruled both the Girls 200m (25.45) and 400m (58.47).
“Our modest goal is to see our athletes improve,” said Dale Evangelista, head of the Manila Sports Council (MASCO) and a former national water polo player. “We’re competing in 15 of the 27 sports, so we’re not expecting too much for the overall title—but let’s see, there are still many events ahead.”
At the SM City Activity Center, 12-year-old Raphael “Rapha” Herrera gave Quezon City a boost with an impressive run in karate, dominating the Boys 12–13 Kata Intermediate division.
Herrera, a Grade 6 student from Abba’s Orchard and bronze medalist at the Asian Open Championships, scored a 3–2 win over Karl Songcuan of Taguig in the finals after back-to-back 5–0 eliminations and a 4–1 semifinal victory.
“I felt relaxed and confident. I trained very hard for Batang Pinoy and just followed my coach’s instructions,” said Herrera, son of actor RR Herrera. “I dedicate this gold to my coaches, teammates, and my family.”
“Rapha shows dedication, discipline, and heart that can take him straight to the top,” added Quezon City head coach Joel Mallillin. “We’re proud of him.”
In the pool, old records also fell courtesy of Edward Dylan Plaza of Negros Oriental (27.78), Jericho Santos of Pampanga (28.48), and Chad Gabato of Nueva Ecija (28.84) in the Boys 12–13 50m butterfly. All three surpassed the previous record of 29.69 seconds set by Dirk Sanjo.
Renesmee Livana Morales of Mabalacat reset the Girls 12–13 50m butterfly record with 30.93 seconds, breaking the 31.43 mark of Ilocos Sur’s Makayla Fetalvero from last year, while Jet Deryl Berueda of Pampanga topped the Boys 14–15 50m fly in 26.62, eclipsing the 26.77 record of Gerald Esquivel of Bulacan.
