EIGHTEEN-YEAR-OLD Dabawenyo Christopher Cagandahan showed that grit, discipline, and heart can take you far as he captured the bronze medal in the men's U21 +84kg Kumite category at the 12th Southeast Asian Karate Federation (SEAKF) Championship held in Brunei over the weekend.
Representing the Philippines, Cagandahan stood proudly on the podium—emotional, humbled, and grateful.
“Grateful, pero mas nice gyapon kung naa ka sa first gyud didto sa tung-ana sa podium. Next time, aim for gold na (Grateful, but it would’ve been even better to be right there at the very top, in the center of the podium. Next time, I’ll aim for gold),” he told SunStar Davao in an interview Wednesday, June 18, 2025, still riding the high of winning a medal for the country.
For Cagandahan, the competition wasn’t just about winning; it was about redemption.
“Last year, napildi ko sa Indonesia. This year, sa akung first fight, Indonesia gihapon akong kontra. Mao to gi-studyhan jud nako ilahang dula (Last year, I lost to Indonesia. This year, my first match was again against Indonesia. That’s why I really studied their fighting style),” he said, referring to his hard-fought opening match. This time, he came out on top.
But his toughest test came from Vietnam.
“Ok lang ang laban pero permi ko maunahi. Kulang pa gyud (The match was okay, but I always got outpaced. I still have a lot to work on),” Cagandahan admitted, acknowledging where he still needs to improve.
Christopher started training in karatedo in 2016 with his older brother. What began as a defense against bullying quickly evolved into a serious commitment to the sport.
“Gina-bully akung kuya, mao to gipa-apil mi sa among parents. Sa akung part, ang gituonan gyud nako kay discipline (My older brother was being bullied, so our parents enrolled us in karate. For me, what I learned was discipline),” he shared.
Karate wasn’t their first sport—both brothers first tried swimming—but their parents wanted them to build stronger discipline. Karatedo became their focus.
The incoming college freshman shared how each coach patiently walked them through the process. Whenever something wasn’t clear, he didn’t hesitate to ask questions. He expressed gratitude for the strong support system around him.
While he dreams of becoming a world champion, he's focused on progressing gradually—one goal at a time.
That strategy is already paying off. He ranked 69th in the World Junior Rankings in the +76kg category last year.
His biggest inspirations? His mother, his coaches, and the dreams he’s held since childhood.
He added, "Sauna, pangarap lang ni tanan. Karun, gradually, ginakab-ot na (Before all of this was just a dream. Now, little by little, it’s starting to come true)."
To those who’ve stood by his side, he extends his heartfelt gratitude: " Daghan kaayong salamat sa ilang pag-push bisan unsa ka kapoy. Dili sayon ang dalan nga gi-agian pero everything is worth it. Wala pako sa top, pero padayon lang—sunod, gold na (Thank you so much for pushing me, no matter how exhausting it got. The path I’ve taken hasn’t been easy, but everything has been worth it. I’m not at the top yet, but I’ll keep going—next time, it’s gold)." Lian A. Layson, Spamast Intern