THE intensive grassroots development program of the Dancesport Team Cebu City (DTCC) reaped the fruits of its labor after dominating the National DanceSport Championship & Southeast Asian (SEA) Games Selection for 2023 on October 30, 2022, at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.

Cebuano dancesport athletes dominated the two-day national tilt garnering nine gold medals, nine silver medals and four bronzes held.

One of DTCC’s founders Eleanor Hayco won two gold medalists together with her dancing partner John Paul Morocco. The duo topped the Latin Teacher-Student Special event 3C and 3A categories and also bagged a silver medal in the standard senior 2C.

Pair Michael Angelo and Stephanie Sabalo-Marquez nabbed two gold medals in the Grade A and SeaGames selection, while Jacob Dylan Esmero and Sofia Maree Quilaton also had two golds in the Latin Jr. C and A categories.

The other gold medalists were Shardie Abellana and Marjorie Abellana (Grade C Latin Couple), Jasmer Labitad and Loraine Mae Pacana (Latin Special event 1F), and Ric Russell Abao and Mary Ann Mata (Latin DepEd Teachers 2).

“Ten years ago, the team had a vision and a dream, to dominate the championship. It wasn’t easy, took a lot of effort, planning, sacrifice, initiatives, strategy and a bag full of patience,” said DTCC’s founder Edward Hayco.

“After 10 years of perseverance, our Dancesport Team Cebu City dominated the National Dancesport Championship,” he added.

The double silver medalists were Wilbert Aunzo and Pearl Marie Caneda (Grade A and SeaGames Selection), John Lloyd Leyson and Ouie Selene Rendon (Youth A Latin and Standard), Francis Dave Sombal and Mitchloni Dinauanao (Youth C Latin and Standard) and Michael Miñoza and Ashley Cullo (Latin Jr A & Standard Jr A).

“Team Cebu city swept both SeaGames selection and qualifying. And the national championship for the Grade A category. The highest level,” said Hayco.

He said this means the team will continue to dominate the championship for the next several years. (RSC)