CAGAYAN DE ORO native Shaneen Hembrador Sia and company were not just given the opportunity to share their taekwondo skills yesterday before millions of tele-viewers of a noon-time TV program.
Sia’s group known as the Cebu Taekwondo Club did also win the P50,000 top prize of the ABS-CBN’s Tuesday contest as part of its special week-long show in the Queen City of the South, bringing the full cast of the now popular “It’s Showtime. Magpasikat Na”.
Oozing with energy, the Sia-flavored Cebu jins performed a poomsae art of street fighting that brought down the house, thus earning them a perfect 10 from the “hurado”, sweeping aside the equally-talented Boyz Image, Freestyler, Dancing Cadet Okoys and the “proud replica” of the famed Michael Jackson-inspired Cebu Inmates.
“We’re quite flattered. At first, it surprised us to learn that they’re going to be part of Tuesday’s It’s Showtime episode. And as quickly as we watch the show they won the contest in convincing manner,” Shaneen’s mom, Cheryl replied to Sun.Star’s text messages, adding “it was great fun and virtually stress-free adventure kay walay hago unya walay gasto.”
Evaluating the group’s performance, rapper Andrew E said the art of dancing incorporated with taekwondo sport is a concept worth the dividends. Sheryn Regis and Gab Valenciano both remarked the artistic energy was high with Gary’s son commenting further that he likes a “female fighter”, thereby leading host-comedian Bong Navarro to tease him that Shaneen is very beautiful.
Indeed, the diminutive Oro pride’s beauty and talent are quite simply irresistible that even Anne Curtis—RP’s so-called “Diyosa” in movie industry—could not resist feeling Shaneen’s presence.
Said Curtis: “Ang amo ng mukha n’ya parang anghel hindi mo talaga aakalaing ang astig n’yang mag-taekwondo.”
Now studying in Cebu taking up Physical Therapy, the 17-year-old Sia was among the rich source of medals for Team CDO in the regional meet.
A consistent qualifier in the annual Palarong Pambansa, she finished gold medalist in the 2009 ASEAN Age-Group Taekwondo Championships in Vietnam, apart from finishing her secondary years at the International School (IS) in Cagayan de Oro as valedictorian.