VICE Governor Lilia Pineda lauded the victory of four Kapampangan artists in the 23rd World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA) held at the Long Beach, California, United States of America recently.

The four artists are Mark Joeghie Catacutan, Raymond Kevin Vibar, Marielle Charlize Montenegro, and Monica Francesca Manaloto.

Catacutan earned all the gold medals for group production, vocal solo for pop, gospel and soul or RNB category, and he was also awarded with a semi-finalist medal.

Vibar, 26, from Sto. Tomas, also won two gold medals for group production and Latin category, two silver medals for open and Broadway, one bronze medal for opera category, and a plaque as division champion.

Montenegro, 13, from Angeles City, won two gold medals for group production and original composition, one semi-finalist medal, two silver medals for Broadway and gospel categories, one bronze medal for contemporary category, and a plaque as division champion.

Manaloto from Angeles City was a silver-medalist for vocal with self-accompaniment category.

WCOPA is an international competition held annually at the Hollywood area, entertainment capital of the world, where aspiring performers and entertainers such as singers, instrumentalists, dancers, variety artists, actors, and models from the different parts of the world are gathered to compete before judges from the entertainment industry.