THIS year has been considered the most memorable year for the Holy Trinity College (HTC) in General Santos City as it bagged gold medals in the 2009 Palarong Pambansa in Tacloban City and Prisaa National Games in Naga City.

The school's players bagged four gold medals in taekwondo and women's lawn tennis.

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More than 160 players from different high schools and colleges in Central Mindanao qualified for the national games, of which more than 50 players came from HTC.

The training and support of the school administration served as the inspiration of the athletes in the national games.

Rey T. Albano, HTC president, said in an interview that the school is very proud of its athletes.

"This is one way to show to the community we are not only after the academic development of the students, but also their physical development," Albano said, adding that for the last 10 years, they have been participating in the national games.

He said HTC athletes brought in gold medals in the last four consecutive years.

Medalists' experiences

Allan Joseph To-ong is a 4th year high-school student. He received the gold medal in taekwondo for boys during the Palarong Pambansa 2009 held in Tacloban, Leyte on April 26-May 2.

To-ong said this year's Palaro was the most memorable event for him since this is his first time to reap a gold medal for his sporting event.

"Last year, silver medalist lang ako. At first, exercise lang para sa akin ang taekwondo, but later, naging hobby ko na," he said.

He said HTC is supportive and focused on the training of its players.

He added he became more disciplined when he entered the school. He is a transferee from a school in Digos City.

On the other hand, Mae Shayne Maranga, also a taekwondo gold medalist, said her experiences this year is better than last year's, saying players were able to give more time for each other through a Friendship Game sponsored by the Ateneo de Manila University.

She said it was also her first time to win a gold medal since she was only awarded a silver medal last year.

For the Prisaa National Games, Cherry Mae Cabanero, 17, and Computer Science student of HTC, also won a gold medal in taekwondo.

On the other hand, Allyza Mae Callejo, HTC Prisaa player in women's lawn tennis, also won a gold medal.

Other players who received medals are (for Palarong Pambansa): Muriel Patrine Pascua, and Allen Mecco Camacho, both bronze medalists; Regina Maria Junysza Luminario, 3rd runner-up for gymnastics; and (for Prisaa) Flordeliz Villegas, who brought in two medals, silver and bronze; Anna Borers and Juary Bessie Mae Garay, both bronze medalists for swimming women; and Dillon Intila, silver medalist for individual chess (men) and bronze medalist for team chess.

Meanwhile, even if she did not receive any medal, Clarisse Moneva, third year college student and softball player for Prisaa 2009, was recognized as the most valuable player, home runner queen, best hitter, best left fielder, and got the most number of runs and batted in.

Alban said the sports development program of the school has ran for 10 years and the school wishes to intensify its programs for the betterment of its players. JGRS