Sunday, July 06, 2008 Sports profile: Jed Palazuelo Arnisador-cum-musician By Marianne L. Saberon-Abalayan
HE'S 18 years old and stands five-foot-nine. An Electronics and Communication Engineering sophomore at the University of the Immaculate Conception (UIC), Jed Marc Lim Palazuelo is no ordinary student though.
He plays the bass of his band, NB1, and he recently won an arnis gold medal for Davao City in the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) Mindanao Qualifying Games at the Mindanao Civic Center in Tubod, Lanao del Norte.
Born to parents Mario and Lilibeth on March 30, 1990, Jed has two other siblings named Yvet June and Marjun. The family resides at the St. Anthony Village in Lanang. He completed his elementary education at the Ateneo de Davao University in 2003 and finished his secondary years at UIC in 2007.
He got into playing arnis, known as the Filipino martial art, at age 10.
"I chose to play arnis than any other sport because I have the best trainer, my father. He inspired me to get into it because he is also an arnis player and instructor. I'd really want to be skillful in my art and follow the steps of my father. For me, he is the best," he said.
His dad is the founder of the club, Kapatiran Doble Olisi Escrima, and is also the president of Arnis Philippines-Davao City.
Jed, however, first competed in the POF Mindanao Qualifying and he couldn't contain the joy of winning a gold in his first tournament.
He said, "I'm very happy to have represented the city in the Games and have won. I'm also proud that as a Filipino, I'm promoting our very own martial art."
With his golden performance, Jed booked a slot to the POF National Championships set in October in a still undetermined venue.
During his guesting at the Davao Sportswriters Association early last month, he said he will do his best to win a medal in the nationals that will also be participated by national team members.
"I know what and who I will be up to in the national championship. It will be a great challenge to go up against the best in the country but I'll train hard for it," he said.
He added he doesn't mind joggling his time with his studies, training and band because he loves what he's doing. He said, "I don't regret being an athlete because my sport helps me to be fit and healthy. I also get to meet new friends."
I asked him who he would become five or ten years from now, he replied: "I'll be a very well known electronics and communication engineer, a very skillful bassist of the famous reggae band-The NB1 Band and a very popular arnisador."
This humble lad, who favors any shade of blue, believes in the saying "Do your best in everything and God will do the rest."
He loves reading the Bible and Church is his favorite place along with their home and gym. He whiles away time by playing different kinds of musical instruments and playing different kinds of sports.
And guess what? He is a fan of Naruto, the animated cartoon program loved by kids. He may be a very tough arnisador in competitions, but Jed still has a place for child's stuff in his heart.
