Jhul Ian Cañalita, an incoming Grade-10 student at Tabuan National High School in Bohol, delivered a historic performance at the 65th Palarong Pambansa, winning two gold medals and breaking two long-standing records in the secondary boys’ athletics division.
Record-Breaker
Representing Central Visayas, the 16-year-old Cañalita first shattered a 27-year-old record in the 5,000-meter run on Tuesday at the Ferdinand E. Marcos Memorial Stadium. He clocked in at 15 minutes and 16.31 seconds—an impressive 22 seconds faster than the 1998 record of 15:38.4 set by Cresencio Cabal of Southern Mindanao.
“I was expecting to break the record because my time during the trial was already close,” said Cañalita.
Just a day later, he followed up with another gold in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, finishing in 9:23.89—beating the previous record of 9:35.02 set in 2019 by Central Luzon’s Jerry Vasquez. His back-to-back record-breaking performances have positioned him as a top contender for this year’s “Most Outstanding Athlete” award.
"I'm thankful to God because I won two gold medals," Cañalita said after his record-breaking performance.
Nowhere To Go But Up
Cañalita credited his coaches, Jojo Orcullo and Jonas Acierda, for their guidance and support. He also expressed deep gratitude to his grandparents, who raised him while his parents worked in Cebu.
With dreams of joining the national team and eventually competing in the Olympics, Cañalita encouraged young athletes to stay disciplined and focused. “Continue chasing your dreams. Trust your coach, follow the training, and stay humble,” he advised.
Cañalita’s achievement is a powerful reminder of the untapped potential of Filipino runners. With proper training, support, and exposure to national and international competitions, more young athletes from provinces like Bohol can rise to glory. His success at the Palaro serves as an inspiration for the country to invest more in grassroots athletics to uncover the next generation of Filipino champions.
