SORSOGON CITY – Three athletes from Tabaco City bagged the Pencak Silat Seni-Regu Junior (Boys Category) gold medals during the 2022 Batang Pinoy National Championship last December 17-21, 2022 at Ilocos Sur.
Through a courtesy call that took place on Monday, Feb. 6, at Tabaco Municipal Hall, the Local Government of Tabaco City awarded Christ Ariel Bolaños, Gabriel De Hita and Aldrin Candelasa a medal and certificate to acknowledge the honor they’ve given in behalf of their athletic contributions.
As stated by Bolaños, Pencak Silat is an Indonesian sport that Filipinos love to learn and adapt to and it is mostly competed in schools competition and patiribayan which is also being introduced to Bicolano students especially in Tabaco and Legazpi.
“Kagaya ng ibang martial arts hindi ka matututo ng Pencak Silat ‘pag wala kang disiplina. Ang kagandahan ng martial arts na ito ay nagpapakita ito ng hindi lang kalakasan or power kundi pati narin ang pagkakaroon ng gracefulness,” said Bolaños.
He also stated that this is not his first sport, instead their Physical Education program opened this opportunity for the students in their school.
“Nagsimula lang yun sa P.E. ng school hanggang sa naging interesado rin ako at nakita ko ang ganda ng martial arts na ‘to. Nung nalaman ko na may nagtuturo nito (martial art) tuwing Saturday and Sunday, sinubukan kong i-try hanggang sa na gustuhan ko at sa pag-tagal ng panahon ay naging player na rin ako,” Bolaños added.
Aside from its benefits, Bolaños highlighted that it can also help through defense mechanisms during hard times.
“Natulungan ako nito na maging malakas at magkaroon ng magandang pangangatawan. Nakakatulong din ito kung paano depensahan ang aking sarili sa panahon ng kapahamakan. Sa madaling salita, tinuturuan tayo nito ng art of self defense,” Bolaños said. I via Ralph Kevin Balaguer
Photos: Aldrin Candelasa