The newly-formed TJS Baguio City Dancesport Team clinched two gold and five silver medals during the online and in-person event of the 2nd Manila Open Dancesport Championship.
In the online event held March 26 to 27, Seth Matthew Bambalan, a grade 3 pupil of Baguio Central School, bagged two gold medals in juvenile solo chachacha and juvenile solo jive and a silver medal in juvenile C male.
Bambalan also led the team during the face-to-face competition on April 2 when he won three silver medals each in the juvenile solo category of chachacha, solo, and jive. He also partnered with fellow BCS pupil Maezyl Jesa Quinones Fernando for another silver medal.
Fernando was also a runner-up in the juvenile solo category of chachacha, samba, and jive.
Their teammates settled as runners-up with Grade 7 junior high school student Brandon Justin Buge of Baguio City National High School placing eighth in the junior 1 chachacha online competition.
In the in-person competition held in San Juan City, Charvie Pobletin of BCNHS was a runner-up in the junior category of chachacha, rumba, jive. He and schoolmate Yohana Ritos were also runners-up in the junior rumba.
Other junior athletes making it to the semis of their respective categories were Brandon Justin Bugne, Frederick Kyle Galao-ey, Asneah Bildan, Iesha Azalhea Cayabyab, Suzette Angel Lou Collantes, and BCS pupils Shanie Ramos and Shanelle Honey Andaya making up the rest of the team who competed.
The in-person event of the 2nd Manila Open Dancesport Championship was participated in by the best dancesports athletes from 21 cities and regions.
Coaches Terrence Joeffrey Soriano and Kale Dumaguing were behind the newly-formed dancesport team that joins competitions with the assistance of the city government. – Ofelia C. Empian
