By Peter Atencio

KORONADAL City—Gloom paid the 2007 Palarong Pambansa a visit on opening day.

Five minutes after the start of a colorful parade along Alunan Avenue, where the Koronadal City Sports Complex is located, a 59-year-old principal collapsed due to heat stroke while a delegation from Region IV-B was about to join the 7,800 participants in the festivities organized by the city government of Koronadal and the Department of Education.

A medical team formed by Palaro organizers rushed the unconscious man identified as Marinduque National High School principal Carlos Mingie del Prado to the nearby South Cotabato Provincial Hospital. For five hours, medical personnel led by attending physician Manny Vera, tried to revive Del Prado, who passed away in the evening due to cardiopulmonary arrest.

Dr. Abdul Pagayao of the Palaro medical team said Del Prado fell ill due to the effects of the scorching summer heat and heat stroke, which nearly rose to 37-degree centigrade at that time. Del Prado is one of the top officials of the Palaro in boxing and was not the only casualty that afternoon.

The medical team also treated eight athletes and a three-year-old child from Region IV-B from heat-related illnesses.

Among those who got sick from the hot weather were two softball players, one soccer athlete, two gymnasts, two volleyball players and a taekwondo jin.

Meanwhile, police were on alert for thieves after a snatcher stole the cellphone of dzRH reporter Henry Araneta during the parade.

At the start of the athletic meet, two high school seniors earned the first two golds.

Broad-shouldered Bicolana Aiza Rosero bucked the hot weather when she claimed the Palaro’s first gold medal this year with a 36.53-meter throw to retain the crown she won last year in secondary girls’ javelin throw.

National Capital Region bet Ronjie Abing led Metro Manila-based athletes to the top of the overall lead with one of two golds.

He retained the secondary boys’ javelin mark with a 50.68-meter heave despite a bicep injury on his left arm. His teammate Mark Cabuga took the elementary boys’ triple jump title after besting Region XII’s Melmar Atam and Mark Angelo Posadas.

Region VI’s Mailen Ocoro captured the elementary girls’ shotput gold while Kerma Narciso of Region I is second.

The 17-year-old Rosero, who studies at the Camarines Sur Sports Academy, was below her personal best of 36.95 meters when she outdid Bago City campaigner Josie Entrina (35.85) and Region VI’s Sharmen Joy Bucaling (34.34).

“Masaya po ako sa huling attempt ko,” said Rosero, who is from a rice-farming family based in Buya village in Goa, Camarines Sur.

Abing, a graduating student of St. Francis of Assissi High School, bucked a bicep injury when he made his final attempt. His rival Regie Abraham of Region I was ahead with a 48.86-meter throw before he made his last bid.

“Natakot po ako dito dahil may injury pa ako,” remarked the Taguig-based Abing, who claimed his second crown in the event since last year.

Abing added that he felt bad when Abraham was in front because he won his event with a throw of more than 55 meters during the Naga Palaro.

Region III’s Michael Calayo took the secondary boys’ long jump gold following a leap of 6.6 meters.