Meet Edmi Bard, a 23 years old Grade 5, orthopedically handicapped student. Edmi currently studies at SPED Training Center in Cadis City in the nothern part of Negros.

He is Negros Island Region's first Gold in SPED this year and got it from the Shotput 6KG category. His father works as a laborer and her mom is a sugar cane farmer. Bard is is the youngest of the 9 siblings. According to his coach, Edmi has to commute 1 hour from home and walk an additional 3 kilometers to go to school everyday.

Bard defeated 15 other athletes from different region in this category. Negros Island Region (NIR) promised to give cash incentives to athletes who will bring home medals. P10,000 for Gold; P7,500 for Silver and P5,000 for Bronze medalist. While DepEd, gives P3,000 cash incentives to those who will win Gold in the main competition.

Another Gold medalist from NIR is McMeryll, an intellectually disabled pupil who excelled in Running. He's joining Palarong Pambansa since 2011 and this is his 5th Palaro to date. McMeryll plans to compete in the 400m Relay Competition next.

When asked what will they do when they already receive the P10,000 cash incentive. Both of them said that they will give the whole amount to their parents. Edmi said he can't wait to come home to Negros to gave her mom a pasalubong: a watch he bought in Albay.