Dancesports groups from Baguio and Benguet bagged nine gold, five silver, and four bronze medals in the Philippine DanceSport Federation 2nd National Quarterly Ranking and Competition in Lingayen, Pangasinan on June 9 and 10.
Winning athletes were Seth Matthew Bambalan and Maezyl Jesa Fernando of the TSJ Baguio bagging three gold medals in the juvenile A Latin discipline, juvenile 2C Latin closed event, and juvenile 2C standard closed event.
Their teammates Brandon Justin Bugne and Charvie Pobletin also contributed one gold in the junior C Latin close category while another teammate, James Patrick Altre, dominated in the solo juvenile quickstep standard.
The other gold medals were courtesy of the Benguet Dancesports Team with Mico Dumalos and Mary Luz It-itan topping the grade C Latin closed category, Jayson Ace Abenoja and Alexandria Eveth Tolentino in the grade C standard closed category, and Andrei Nate Banter and Romana Maye Reynaleen Buslayan in the junior C standard closed category while Caster Lan Pacya and Kharanissa Borlongan of Team Baguio added another gold medal in the youth C standard closed category.
The silver me-dalists were Mark Gonzalo Benter and Jhosan Galvez in the grade C Latin closed category, Hans Bernd Pascual and Deirdre Alfonso in the grade C standard closed category, and Storm Carmelo Cantojos and Yanichel Tongson in the juvenile C Latin closed category.
The other two silver medalists were TSJ Baguio’s Seth Matthew Bambalan and Maezyl Jesa Fernando in the juvenile A standard discipline and Brandon Justin Bugne and Charvie Pobletin in the junior C Latin open category.
Bronze medalists were James Patrick Altre in the solo juvenile chachacha Latin, Hezekiah Mhiel and Samantha James in the closed junior C Latin, Adriana Lorraine Gomez and Melchizedek Hananim Pinos-an in the closed juvenile C Latin, and Xerge Angelo Daet and Kathleen Cadacio in the youth C standard closed category.
The winning Benguet and Baguio team were coached by Charibelle Pingawan while the TSJ Team of Baguio City were led by coach Terrence Jeoffrey Soriano.
The dancesports athletes expressed their gratitude to the province of Benguet, municipality of La Trinidad, the city government of Baguio, and parents and sponsors who backed them during the competition. – Ofelia C. Empian
