Highland warriors shine in 2011 Philippine National Games

BAGO CITY, Negros Occidental – No wonder the ‘Pacman’ loves to train in Baguio…

Arnisadores from the University of Baguio (UB) racked up 5-gold, 3-silver, and 1-bronze medals as the battle for supremacy in the country’s national sport ended, May 26, as part of the Philippine Olympic Committee – Philippine Sports Association (POC-PSA) National Games here.

The PNG was hosted by the Province of Negros Occidental from May 21 to 29 with Bago City providing venue for arnis.

Dancing as one to bag their initial first place mint in the synchronized anyo espada y daga (single baton forms), the treacherous trio of Elmer Batani, Hernan Galiling, and Andre Dean Foman-eg convincingly outpointed Team Capiz (silver) and Team Iloilo (bronze) to get the judges’ nod while eliciting ‘oohs’ and ‘ahhs’ from the appreciative Bacolod National High School crowd.

The 20-year-old Batani and Galiling are junior criminology students, while Fomaneg is and education sophomore. They are mentored by imaginative coach Cesar Badicao.

Meantime, silver felt like winning first place honors for 19-year old education junior Raymart Gutierrez who teamed up with Foman-eg and Galiling in the synchronized anyo doble baston (double baton forms).

In labanan (sparring), 18-year-old UB criminology student Novee Joanne Garwageo sent a clear message to would-be suitors bagging gold in the half-middleweight class.

Her exploits was later replicated by pin-weight 19-year-old UB nursing student Eduardo Duran who displayed class in battle.

Rounding up the arnis medal haul is Guttierez with bronze in the clash of the extra-lightweights.

In muay thai, the wards of coaches Edmund Velasco, Avin Velasco, and Floro Wageyen contributed 3 golds, a silver, and 4 bronzes to the Baguio’s cause.

Bagging first place mints in the ancient martial arts were 23-year-old Zeide Laruan (57-60Kg), 26-year-old veteran Benedict Alumno (51-54Kg) and 19-year-old Bernice Samidan (54-57Kg).

Laruan and Alumno are full-time members of the national squad who took time out to give Baguio honor, while Samidan is a nursing student in Benguet Central University (BCU).

The lone silver is courtesy of Jessie Bitaga (45-48kg), while Franklin Donglay, Wilson Ike Addamo, Rex Castro, and John Ngina completed the muay thai medal harvest with identical bronzes in their respective weight classes.

Meanwhile, in Pencat Silat, Team Lakay mixed martial arts champ and Team Baguio coach George Lusadan’s wards managed a gold mint and a silver finish. Keif Mangusan, a 21-year-old UB student bagged gold in class D.

The 24-year-old Sheryl Lagadan, on the other hand, fought her heart out but settled for silver in category B.

Still, other gold-rich fight events like wushu, judo and wrestling are yet to commence as of press-deadline. (Isagani Liporada)