Athletes relish PNG experience

Fun visit.  A runner from Tacloban finishes first in one of the sprint events of the Philippine National Games. (SunStar Foto/Allan Cuizon)
Fun visit. A runner from Tacloban finishes first in one of the sprint events of the Philippine National Games. (SunStar Foto/Allan Cuizon)

SOME participants of the Philippine National Games won’t be bringing home medals or souvenirs, but many say they’ll have pleasant memories of their week-long stay in Cebu City.

Kriszna Chaitania Liporada, a 19-year-old taekwondo jin from Baguio City, said she found Cebuano athletes very good and friendly. She also lauded the volunteers and audience who welcomed and treated everyone equally. Liporada won in krugi against Cebu City’s Christian Gayle Flores in the finweight division of the senior class.

Alvin Taraya, coach of the taekwondo national team that won four gold medals in the seniors and juniors division, said he was impressed by how the tournament was organized. He said playing in Cebu is good for the athletes since most of the national tournaments are held in Manila.

“The venue itself is very nice and it makes the athletes feel comfortable due to it being very well air-conditioned. It’s good that Cebu hosted the event and it is a good experience, too. It is a very pleasant experience,” he said.

Taekwondo, along with Karatedo, was played in SM Seaside.

John Kyle Tabilog, a karatedo athlete from Mandaluyong City who was in Cebu for the first time, said he was impressed with the tournament because the event was well-organized and the venue was much better than the ones he has competed in.

He was also surprised by how the audience managed to increase the intensity, making him more tense than in other competitions.

“The crowd here is more lively than in the international tournaments I joined,” he said.

Neil Mañalac, who won his first gold medal for Quezon City in the senior men’s division, said Cebu will hold a special place in his heart.

“Cebuanos are really accommodating and mababait, especially sa humahawak ng PNG, thumbs up and saludo ako sa sobrang successful na event na nagawa nila,” he said. (Yvonne Inosante Saldua, CNU Intern)

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