Davao City's dancesport team lived up to expectations, clinching 19 gold medals and five silvers at the Davao Region Athletic Association (Davraa) Meet 2025 on Monday, March 10, at the Davao del Norte Sports and Tourism Complex (DNSTC) in Tagum City. Their victory raised the Davao Durians' overall medal count to 55 golds, 27 silvers, and 15 bronzes as of 9 p.m. Tuesday, March 11.
Proud moment
Davao City Department of Education (DepEd) Superintendent Reynante Solitario expressed pride in the team’s performance.
This is a major accomplishment. Maka-happy and proud sa mga performance sa mga bata, they tried their best to sustain their previous performance.
(It’s heartwarming and makes me proud to see the kids perform—they gave their best to sustain their previous performance),” he said.
He praised the dancesport and swimming teams for leading the city’s medal haul and remained confident in their 180-gold medal target.
"Pencak silat was only a demo sport last year, but now it's a regular sport, and the team already got six golds today. Another 10 are up for grabs tomorrow—I hope we sweep them all. I’m also confident arnis will bring more golds while other teams continue competing," Solitario added.
Golden duo
Palarong Pambansa multi-gold medalists Bhenz Rudolf Owen H. Semilla and Francheska Dezzly Darvin of Francisco Bustamante National High School (FBNHS) dominated the secondary junior modern standard category, bagging six gold medals in tango, Viennese waltz, foxtrot, quickstep, and Grade A.
The powerhouse pair had previously won five golds and one silver at the 2024 Palarong Pambansa in Cebu City.
Grateful and happy po kase nakuha namin ang spot and our hard work paid off po.
(We’re grateful and happy because we secured the spot, and our hard work paid off)," Darvin, a Grade 10 student, told SunStar Davao in a separate Messenger interview.
Breakthrough win
After settling for silver in the past two Davraa editions, John Terrence Cuizon and Angel Jane Tinambacan of Doña Carmen Denia National High School finally struck gold, clinching six golds in the secondary junior Latin category: samba, chachacha, rumba, paso doble, jive, and Grade A.
Cuizon, 15, son of a tricycle driver and a city street sweeper, shared the pressure and determination behind their win.
Naa sa amoa ang pressure and eagerness. For two years, nag silver mi, determined na kaayo mi mag gold sa third attempt namo sa Davraa.
(The pressure and eagerness were on us. For two years, we won silver, so we were determined to go for gold on our third attempt at Davraa)."
Securing a spot in the upcoming Palarong Pambansa 2025 made all the sacrifices worthwhile, he said. During the city delegation's 20-day in-house training, the duo followed a rigorous routine—jogging from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m., resting in the morning, and training from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. daily. They took Sundays off, but in the final week leading up to Davraa Meet 2025, they trained non-stop, seven days a week.
Tinambacan, overjoyed with their triumph, said: "Happy kaayo ko. Thankful kay God sa strength gihatag sa among game. Successful mission ang feeling (I’m very happy and grateful to God for giving us the strength during our game. It truly feels like a successful mission)."
She dedicated her victory to her late father and her mother, Popenciana, who has been her unwavering support since her father passed away when she was just seven.
To her father, Tinambacan said, "Pa, nakab-ot na gyud nako ang pangarap na maka Palaro, I hope na proud kaayo ka sa akoa. Ungta tan awon ko nimo sa akong dula (Pa, I’ve achieved my dream of making it to the Palaro. I hope you’re really proud of me. I also hope you’ll watch over me in my game)."
In the elementary division, John Gabriel Marquez and Zyanne Brianna de Vera contributed six golds in juvenile Latin (samba, chachacha, rumba, paso doble, jive, and Grade A). Meanwhile, Eliju Joseph Darvin and Yanie Mae Chan secured gold in modern standard Viennese waltz and four silvers in slow waltz, tango, foxtrot, and Grade A.
SunStar Davao’s special coverage of the Davraa Meet 2025 is proudly supported by key sponsors, including Davao de Oro 1st District Rep. Maria Carmen Zamora, National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), Santos Land Development Corporation, Noe Butchoy Taojo, Panabo City Information Office led by Mayor Jose Joe Relampagos, Atty. Karlo Nograles, Davao Oriental Rep. Cheeno Almario, and Aeon Luxe Properties. MLSA