THE pair of Randy “Yuri” Cortez and Milagros Sasin got four silver medals and one bronze medal in the prestigious Merlion Open Dancesport Championship 2023 in Singapore held on August 6.
The Dabawenyo dancing pair gathered four silver medals in four dance categories; Open Combined Age 100 years and above- Chachacha, Open Combined Age 100 years and above- Rumba, Open Combined Age 100 years and above- Samba, Open Combined Age 90s years and above- Chachacha and Rumba.
They also got a bronze medal for the Open Combined Age 80 years old and above Chachacha and Rumba.
The dancing duo are members of the Filipinas Ballroom Amateur League (FIBA-AL) and have been dancing together for 14 years. Their head coach in the Merlion Open Dancesport Championship is Denise Bunayog licensed International Adjudicator of the World Dance Council (WDC), and licentiate of the United Kingdom Alliance of Professional Teachers of Dancing (UKA) also with the team is the current FIBA-AL Chairwoman, Jeannette Ortiz.
The Merlion Open Dancesports Championship is endorsed by the Singapore Ballroom Teachers Dancers Association and was held at the National University of Singapore Society Kent Ridge Guild House. Sasin and Cortez competed with other seasoned dancers across the region.
“It was a very rewarding experience for us as I've been doing competitive ballroom for 14 years. Dancing competitive ballroom is a total mental and physical exercise, our success in Singapore involves lots of hard work and sacrifice, we dedicate this victory to Dabawenyos,” 72-year old Milagros Sasin said of their triumph in Singapore.
She hopes that the medals and accolades would inspire many Dabawenyos to consider dance not just as a competitive sport but also for fitness and a healthy physical activity. PIA DAVAO