TAGUM CITY -- The great Marna, Joey and Kakay of Philippine karatedo’s Pabillore family were no longer around Cagayan de Oro to inspire or train young and budding karatekas. But if the early results of karatedo event in Batang Pinoy Mindanao is any indication, then the City of Gold and its province of Misamis Oriental can still be a force to reckon with in martial arts event.

And why not.

Misamis Oriental and Cagayan de Oro bets have managed to snag eight of the 26 golds at stake in the first day of karatedo action on Wednesday, Feb. 6 at the fourth floor of the NCCC Mall here.

From the Pabillores’ hometown of Cagayan de Oro, the 8 to 11 year-old boys troika of Sangrador, Cabusas and Santos and their girls counterpart of Unas, Lisondra and Gurrea managed to secure a pair of gold in team competition. Corpus Christi’s Leah May Sagrador made it three for Team CDO in the final of Kumite event (47 kg) for girls 14-15 years old.

Representing the LGU of Villanueva, Misamis Oriental, Mary Hannah Grace Ermac, Geoff Miles Ocate, Kirk Zamayla and Ocate, Zamayla and Gulay as well as the threesome of Amparo, Ermac and Sailago went to claim five golds in girls and boys’ intermediate, advance and team events.

The Pabillores, it can be recalled, made Cagayan de Oro proud by winning medals for the Philippines in the Asean, SeaGames and world karatedo.

“Andoon na ang mga Pabillores sa labas ng bansa but they can’t be forgotten. Wala na sila sa Cagayan de Oro but I prefer na aangat lahat ng regions sa karate for competitive’s sake. May tao kami sa Northern Mindanao for Karate Pilipinas sports program. So, layunin naming na kanyang mai-angat ang karate sports sa Region 10,” said the iconic Ricky Lim, now the stalwart of Karate Pilipinas formerly known as Philippine Karatedo Federation.