Cebu Figure Skating Team shines in Skate Philippines tilt

WHERE there is unity, there is success.

This was proven by the Cebu Figure Skating Team that won in the Skate Philippines: Summer Championships held at the SM Mall of Asia in Manila last May 28 and 29.

The team bagged the overall team title with a total haul of 130 gold medals, 15 silvers and three bronze medals.

The Cebu Figure Skating Team is composed of around 30 newbie ice figure skaters who honed their skills at the SM Seaside City Cebu ice skating rink.

According to Hannah Go, a parent of one of the members of the team, Johannah Go, the team’s expenses to that prestigious competition came from the parents’ own pockets.

“Every single centavo that we spent during the competition, including the airfare, food, hotel, uniforms and other logistics came from us, parents. But we never complained neither regretted our sacrifices because it’s about giving pride to Cebu City,” she said in a press conference at the SM Seaside City Cebu skating rink yesterday. “We were always overshadowed by other sports in Cebu and were often given lesser commendation and recognition but now, we are very happy because all our sacrifices have paid off.”

Joining Go in the presser were fellow parent and one of the founders of the Cebu Figure Skating Team Joanne Arriba, head coach Ireneo Awing Sr., and SM Seaside City Cebu skating rink manager Emily Alcantara.

Go added that if not for the unity of the parents, they wouldn’t have tasted sweet victory.

According to Arriba, it was the first time the Cebu Figure Skating Team dominated the tournament, which was described by Awing as a grassroots level ice skating competition.

The winning figure skaters from the team were Go, Dominique Van Chua, Armielle Cabrera, France Tadena, Maurelle Paredes, Danica Denise Chua, Lloyd Vincent Formentera, and Ryan Joseph Ryan Abadilla.

Most of Cebu’s bets were products of the summer grassroots program organized by SM Seaside City Cebu, Awing Sr., and the Cebu Figure Skating Team.