VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur -- Cordillera wushu fighters prove they are among the fiercest competitors after bagging four gold medals in the ongoing Palarong Pambansa.
Lenie Agapito bagged the first gold medal for Cordillera in the girls 48-kilogram (kg) division, edging Hannah Michelle Eligio of Davao Region, while Keanu Reeves Gayaman defeated Alibasherfahad Mohammad, also of Davao Region, the boys 48-kg division.
Asher Rifani earned the third gold with a win against Arnold Horca of Eastern Visayas in the 52-kg division, as Ezra Saclag capped the regions quest for gold with a huge win against Shaun Kervin Barretta in the 56-kg division.
Charlene Nagoy salvaged a silver after losing to Ghea Mae Gregorios in the 42-kg female contest.
In the juniors division, Cordillera also secured three silvers and a bronze courtesy of Maricca Hagitan, Dan Ray Buyagan, Jefferson Calingayan and Frenilyn Carantes.
Cordillera continues to hold on to fourth place with 23 gold medals, 17 silver and 20 bronze medals, while the National Capital Region remains on top with 63-49-31 as of 12:30 p.m., according to the Department of Education (DepEd).
Coming in at second is Western Visayas (6) with 37-45-32, while at third is Southern Tagalog (4A), winning 37 gold medals, 34 silvers and 52 bronze. Central Visayas (7) is fifth with 19-15-20.
DepEd assistant sports coordinator Georaloy Palao-ay said they are still expecting medals in archery, athletics, boxing, and chess, hoping to surpass their medal standing last year of 26 golds, 21 silver and 21 bronze, which is good for sixth place finish.
"We hope to surpass it or at least equal it. Other regions have really improved beyond our expectation. We are now facing tough competitions in individual events. We are happy at least with the improvement of our team events, namely in football and futsal," said Palao-ay. (Roderick Osis)