UC wushu athletes win 72 medals for Philippines since 2001

The University of the Cordilleras remains as a home to world-class wushu athletes in the country for delivering 22 gold, 33 silver, and 22 bronze medals in international events in 15 years, considered as one of the greatest accomplishments by a Baguio-based university.

UC remains the top producer of wushu athletes who are former and active members of the Philippine Team and represented the country in the Southeast Asian Games, Asian Games, World Cup, Olympics, and World Wushu Championship.

Mark Sangiao has set the tradition for sports excellence for UC after winning the first gold medal among Baguio fighters in the 21st Southeast Asian Games in Malaysia in 2001.

UC alumni Eduard Folayang and Mark Eddiva, who are currently active MMA fighters, have the most number of medals delivered for the country with 11 each.

In his 11 years as a member of the Philippine Team, Folayang won four gold, four silver, and three bronze medals while his cousin Eddiva had four gold, two silver, and five bronze medals.

Benjie Rivera is next with nine medals with three golds, five silver and two bronze medals from Asian and world cups.

Daniel Parantac, who took a leave of absence from the national team, had also nine medals that include two gold, four silver, and three bronze medals.

Divine Wally is UC's current world-class wushu athlete, who has won three international golds in one year. She first won a gold medal in the 9th Asian Wushu Championship in September 2015, then another in the World Wushu Championship in November 2015.She just had another gold performance in the 8th Sanda World Cup this month.

Wally also won two silvers since she became a member of the national team.

Marianne Mariano also won two golds, four silvers, and one bronze while Kariza Kris Chan had two golds and two bronzes. Her brother, John Keithley had four silvers.

Rhea May Rifani, who was with Folayang when she was a member of the national team, won one gold, three silver, and three bronze medals.

Marvin Sicomen and Thornton Lou Sayan had one silver apiece while Joseph Gragasin had one silver and one bronze.

Other UC alumni who won international medals were Engelbert Addongan, who had two silvers, and Natasha Laxamana and Benito Amado, who had one bronze medal each.

Published in the Baguio Midland Courier issued December 11, 2016 | Article by Harley F. Palangchao | Photo by Ofelia Empian

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