The Cordillera Fearless Highlanders bagged seven gold, seven silver, and two bronze medals as of Aug. 3 at the ongoingPalarong Pambansa in Marikina City.
The Fearless Highlanders’ first gold medal was courtesy of Trisha Lobbonan who topped the elementary taekwondo poomsae and later joined forces with poomsae silver medalist Joniya Ysabelle Oblacoro and Alexandria Daphne Aganon to get gold in the team poomsae girls.
Adding one gold medal was the duo of Alexandria Daphne Aganon and Jheron Cristobal in the mixed poomsae elementary.
For the secondary, gold medalists in the team poomsae girls were Acey Kiana Oglayon, Khia Mae Cortez, and Aesha Kiara Oglayon with Acey Kiana also bagging silver medals in the individual poomsae event.
The gold winning team poomsae group boys were Caleb Angelo Calde, Zeick Andrei Tacay, and Gabriel Ivan Inacay while another gold was struck by Aesha Kiara Oglayon and Gabriel Ivan Inacay in the mixed poomsae event.
In arnis, Princess Ysabelle Jorvina contributed one gold in ruling the individual likha anyo single weapon category.
Chass Mhaiven Colas also contributed a silver medal in the 50-meter distance and bronze in the 30-meter distance of the secondary archery.
In the para games, the Fearless Highlanders bagged one gold medal through the tandem of Alpha Ruth Cosisi and Rovic Dulugan in the mixed double of bocce.
The results of other individual and group games are yet to be seen in the national games, which gathered 2,300 de-legates from all over the country.
The Fearless Highlanders hope to elevate their medal standing in this year’s game.
In 2016, the region placed ninth in the Palarong Pambansa with 12 gold, 19 silver, and 15 bronze medals while in 2017, the region placed sixth and bagged 26-21-21 medals.
In 2018, it got a higher rank at fifth place with 25-22-23 medal haul, while in 2019, the region slid down to 10th place with 14-13-24 medal haul.
Calabarzon “The Heroes” (Region 4-A) are leading the national games as of press time Friday with 20-22-17 me-dal haul followed by Western Visayas “The Champs” (Region 6) with 20-15-11 meda haul, and defending champion NCR Jammers with 17-19-17 medals in third spot. – Ofelia C. Empian
