RONI Marielle Santiago, who recently won a gold medal in the 4th Women’s Martial Arts Festival held at the Harrison Plaza in Malate, Manila, is gearing for her stint in the upcoming Unit Meet that will serve as qualifier for the Davao City Athletic Association meet.
The 16-year-old Ateneo de Davao University Senior High School student said she would have wanted to play in the Davao Association of Catholic School Meet but wushu was not included in its roster of events.
Santiago, who bested Joice Ann Montecillo of Dagupan City before shocking national team member Cherry Mae Sanchez, 2-0, in the finals.
"Prepare nalang po ako for the Dcaa Meet kasi," Santiago, also an outstanding athlete for wushu sanda in the So Kim Cheng Sports Awards 2017, said.
The Dabawenya champion also clinched a gold in the 2017 Palarong Pambansa.
In 2015, Santiago was invited to join the national team but she declined to focus more on her studies.
Her father Ronald, in a separate conversation with SunStar Davao, said his daughter started from a taekwondo summer clinic along with his two sons.
"Parang water girl lang yan siya dati ng mga kuya niya until such time nag-decide siya na sumali," Ronald said.
The younger Santiago then decided to pursue taekwondo and was promoted to blackbelt in 2010.
Her excellence in sports earned her a full scholarship at Davao Wisdom Academy during her elementary years.
"Di ko akalain na yung sport niya ay magsisilbing malaking tulong para sa pag-aaral niya," the proud father said, adding that his daughter also experienced defeats before she succeeded.
"Pero nung 2015, may competition na sponsored by Davao del Norte na nag gold siya tapos mula doon nag sunod-sunod na mga panalo niya," Ronald said.
Santiago learned the ropes in wushu under chief instructor Nell Jone Astudillo of King's Sword Martial Arts.