30/05/2026
๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ฒ๐จ: ๐๐๐๐ง๐ โ๐ฌ ๐
๐ข๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐
๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐โจ๐ฅ
There was a time when Al-ghamidie โObangโ Jingkatal Hamja thought his chance at Palarong Pambansa had already slipped away.
Back in Grade 8, the student-athlete from Tumahubong National High School in Basilan was still trying to find where he truly belonged. He first trained in Wushu, but the demands of the sport slowly wore him down. Training became difficult, and the desire to compete was not fully there. While other athletes chased medals early, Obang stayed quiet while training without expecting attention from anyone.
Then came Pencak Silat.
The transition changed something in him. What began as a simple shift in sport slowly became a purpose. Years later, that same quiet athlete from Basilan would stand one match away from a gold medal in the Palarong Pambansa.
But the journey toward that moment was never easy.
Last year, Obang came painfully close to reaching the national stage. He was leading his match comfortably when a single accidental strike landed on his opponentโs face, resulting in immediate disqualification. In seconds, the opportunity he worked hard for disappeared.
For many athletes, that kind of heartbreak becomes the end of the story. For Obang, it became the reason to return stronger.
โActually yung sa edad niya ngayon, ito na sana yung last niya,โ shared his coach, Norben D. Cachuela. โPero kilala ko yung player ko. Alam kong kaya niyang bumalik. Yung tiwala ko nandun talaga," he added.
That trust became one of the strongest things Obang carried with him throughout the competition.
Now, at 17 years old, the Basilan athlete entered this yearโs Palarong Pambansa 2026 in the Secondary Boys Pencak Silat Tanding Category E, held in Agusan del Sur with a different mindset. After winning a gold medal in BARMMAA Meet 2026, Obang earned his place in Palarong Pambansa. However, each match felt heavier, not only because this could be his final year in the secondary division, but because he knew how painful it was to lose an opportunity that was already within reach.
Through matches against Regions 2, 8, and 10, Obang fought his way into the championship round. By then, exhaustion had already settled deep into his body. Inside the arena, his black badyo clung heavily to him, soaked with sweat after four grueling fights. On the night before his final match, the medical team eventually ordered complete rest for him to be at his best condition for his game scheduled on May 29, 2026 at Eutiquo O. Bade Sr. Sports & Cultural Center, Poblacion, Rosario.
Yet even in exhaustion, his focus remained clear.
โMakuha yung gold.โ
Not for fame.
Not for recognition.
But for the people who never stopped believing in him.
Throughout his journey, Obang trained under circumstances many athletes would struggle to endure. During Ramadan, training sessions stretched late into the night so he could continue observing fasting and prayers. While most athletes recovered with complete meals and rest, he balanced physical exhaustion with spiritual discipline.
His coach remembered how difficult those moments were for the young athlete.
โIba talaga yung determination niya makarating dito (Palarong Pambansa)," Coach Cachuela admitted.
The struggle extended beyond training.
Coming from the island meant dealing with limited facilities, fewer opportunities, and constant adjustments just to continue improving. Still, Obang kept showing up. Quietly. Consistently. Without complaints.
He does not speak loudly about dreams. He simply continues working for them.
And perhaps it is already written for him, when the time is right.
โIniisip ko po malaki kasi tiwala ng coach ko sa akin,โ Obang shared softly. โGusto ko yung makuha ko ang gold na โto para sa kanila," he said.
In many ways, his journey reflects the reality of many young Bangsamoro athletesโforced to fight harder for opportunities, yet choosing to continue anyway. Because sometimes, resilience is not loud.
Sometimes, it looks like a tired athlete in a sweat-soaked badyo, choosing to stand back up after disappointment and believing that one painful setback should never be the end of the story.
And somewhere behind the pressure of the championship, behind the exhaustion and silence, Obang carries one simple intention in his heart: "Insha Allah mole ku nya neh gold kun (In Shaa Allah uuwi akong may gold na)."
In his last time in Palarong Pambansa 2026, finally, he won the first gold for his region, his coach, family, and the people he loves.
And for the quiet athlete from Basilan, the gold medal was proof of his determination in finishing his Palarong Pambansa journey.
