Kabankalan City’s baseball pride, Junmar Diarao, continued to redefine what it means to represent a hometown on the global stage.
A quiet yet determined resident of Purok Bandihan, Barangay Salong, in Kabankalan City, Diarao’s rise in the world of baseball has earned him recognition both locally and internationally.
As a pitcher for Japan’s Saga Dreams Professional Baseball Team, he held his own in the fiercely competitive Kyushu Asia League, steering the team to a respectable 5th-place finish. But it was his role with the Philippine National Baseball Team that truly shone, as he helped secure the gold medal at the East Asian Cup in Clark, Pampanga.
The Kyushu Asia League ran from May 13 to September 30, 2024, followed by the East Asian Cup, held from October 29 to November 3, 2024.
From Salong to the world, Diarao’s story is not just about baseball—it’s about never forgetting where you came from while dreaming of where you can go.
On December 23, during a ceremony at the City Hall Grounds, city officials lauded Diarao’s dedication and excellence in sports.
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, contributes to Negros Daily Bulletin, and maintains a blog on Medium.