Baguio wushu bets gear up as PNG makes a comeback

AFTER the long vacation, Baguio-based wushu artist are set to show their wares anew as comebacking Philippine National Games (PNG) gets underway in Bacolod on May 22 to 29 with 35 sports discipline to be played.

A crack unit of 16 wushu players from Baguio coming from the different schools and universities will represent the Summer Capital, while other teams from Benguet are also expected to join the weeklong competition.

The 16 will be playing in the sanshou and taolu competition who won during the regional eliminations held last April.

"So far, yung chances ng ating team eh malaking pag-asa na makakuha sila ng gold," said former Asian Games wushu silver medalist Eduard Folayang.

But the biggest test for the squad, according to Folayang, will be the participation of at least 10 players coming from the national training pool with most of them also hailing from the Summer Capital.

Mark Eddiva, Mariane Mariano, Daniel Parantac, Benjie Rivera, Rhea Rifani, are among the noted few members of the national squad who hail from Baguio and will see action in the weeklong competition.

The competition will also serve as try-out for possible talent identification in the national training pool.

"Actually, kayang makipagsabayan ng mga players natin galing dito sa Cordillera, lamang lang talaga sa training yung members ng RP team," added Folayang.

Events on top for the weeklong competition to be held in Bacolod City are marathon (3K, 5K and 10K), athletics, gymnastics, canoe kayak and dragon boat competitions, beach volleyball, indoor volleyball, karatedo, lawn tennis, Muay Thai, futsal, football, and penkak silat.

Also seeing action are badminton, billards, fencing, softball, baseball, table tennis, archery, sepak takraw, sailing, swimming, tae kwon do, road race cycling, weight lifting, wind surfing, soft tennis, wrestling, wall climbing, motorsports, wushu, and triathlon.

The PNG was last held 15 years ago, in 1996; it was established in 1993 under then PSC Commissioner Celso Dayrit by virtue of Executive Order 163 issued by former President Fidel V. Ramos its last staging was in 1996. (Roderick Osis)