1.      CENTENNIAL PALARO IN THE SPIRIT OF DISCIPLINE, TEAMWORK AND EXCELLENCE.
The DECS shall conduct the Centennial Palaro in the spirit of discipline,  teamwork  and excellence. The track oval, basketball, volleyball courts, baseball and softball diamonds, football fields, gymnasium, swimming pool and all the playing venues and billeting quarters shall be the extension of classrooms, a place for learning and positive values development.

Let us make this occasion an  educational opportunity to show that we are the generation who deserve the independence which our heroes fought to achieve.

2.      PALARO TECHNICAL OFFICIALS SOLI DARITY SEMINAR
The list of Technical Officials for the Centennial Palaro are hereby issued (please see annex). All technical officials shall register at Negros Occidental High School starting 2:00 pm on April 17, 1998. They, must attend the Solidarity Seminar on April 18, 1998 from 1:00 o’clock to 6:00 o’clock pm.

All Technical Officials shall bring with them Barong Tagalog, Black pants and leather shoes which will be the parade uniform during the Opening Ceremonies.

Regional representatives to the Screening Committee shall be the Assistant Regional PESS Chief or any of the Regional/Di vision PESS Supervisors which the Regional Office shall designate.

4.   RULES OF THE GAMES

International Rules in general shall govern the Centennial Palaro. However, if necessary and local conditions warrants, ground rules may be formulated which shall supersede the international rule. Ground Rules shall be discussed thoroughly during the solidarity meeting, and must be agreed upon in writing by the coaches. Coaches who did not attend the Solidarity Meeting have no right to question the agreed ground rules.

All Clemente’s scholars in athletics shall be exempted from residency rule.

5.   DEMONSTRATION SPORTS
Due to lack of Regional participants in Bowling, Judo, Weightlifting and Wrestling, the competitions in these sports are hereby cancelled. However, a Coaching Seminar in these sports shall be conducted for Regional Coaches (one per region per sport) during the Palaro.

Competitions shall be conducted in Softball (Elementary Girls), Boxing, Golf, Karatedo and Taekwondo.

Likewise, a one-day Sports Medicine Seminar for all Palaro Coaches shall be conducted at Paglaum Grandstand on April 17, 1998. No board and lodging shall be provided and no registration fee shall be collected.

7.     SUMMER CAMP
The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) shall conduct the Summer Training Camp for outstanding athletes with their coaches in 1998 Palaro specifically in the following sports:  Athletics, Swimming, Chess and Taekwondo on April 27 to May 9, 1998 at Cebu City. Training cost of the project shall be borne by PSC while other expenses shall be charged to local funds. Arrangements with the PSC shall be made by the regional offices concerned through its respective PESS Division.

8.     LIST OF ANNEXES

                8.3  Annex C                    Qualifying Standards in Swimming

                8.4  Annex D-1 and D-2     Playing Venues by Sports and by Place

9.      SCHEDULE OF GAMES
BPESS shall issue the Official Schedule of Games not later than 1 April 1998.

10.    RETIREES
PESS Chiefs and Regional Supervisors who retired shall be invited by their respective regions. Transportation shall be charged to BPESS funds while accommodation shall be paid by the regional delegation.

11.    PHOTO CONTEST
The BPESS through its Curriculum Development Division shall conduct Photo Contest. Consultation with the Media Group shall be conducted before issuance of final guidelines.

12.   EFFECTIVITY
Provisions of previous DECS Memoranda/Orders/Issuances not rescinded by this Order are still in effect.

13.   IMPLEMENTING ACTION
For compliance.

Incls. :
As stated

References:
DECS Order No. 61 and 68, s. 1992

Allotment :  1 —(D.O. 50-97)

To be indicated in the Perpetual Index
Under the following subjects:

ATHLETICS
RULES AND REGULATIONS