The Smart New Face of the Year Taekwondo Tournament was held last May 31, 2009 at the Sacred Heart Gym, Mango Avenue, Cebu City. Team AFG is one of the teams that competed for the various categories and divisions. The team was off to a nice start with the first fight of the day which was won by Nico Angelo Millana from the Paref- Springdale Chapter. It paved the way for the rest of the matches with the team’s first gold medal which was won by Mark Emmanuel Navarroza from the Main Chapter. At the closing of the tournament, the AFG Taekwondo Team bagged a total of 8 gold medals, 8 silver medals and 9 bronze medals. The medalists are the following:

Gold Medalists:
1. Mark Emmanuel Navarroza
2. Nico Angelo Millana
3. Aaron Vincent Yu
4. Roger Chiong
5. Leandro Christian Faeldonea
6. Terenz Gabriel Faeldonea
7. Justine Ray Caderao
8. Alfred Lañas

Silver Medalists:
1. Shane Patrick Yu
2. Gelito Calungsod
3. Herald Ethan Segovia
4. Keen Nathaniel Pansoy
5. Alex Alpuerto
6. Wesley del Pilar
7. Vincent Lañas
8. Lady Abbygail Cheynne Pabillon

Bronze Medalists:
1. Lyan Dominic Millana
2. Bryce Justine Yu
3. Andre Demetri Mayol
4. Raymon Gapas
5. Zasha Alexei Rara
6. Jhuna Antonniette Cananea
7. Michael Gervacio
8. Rodney Ipili
9. Axl Jumamil

The Regional Poomsae Championships was held last may 31, 2009 at the Sacred Heart Gym, Mango Avenue, Cebu City. The Poomsae championships was held simultaneously with the Smart New Face of the Year Taekwondo Tournament. There are two categories namely, the individual and the team categories with each category having eleven divisions. Team AFG competed in the Grade school boys 9 -10 yrs. old (yellow and blue belts) and Grade school girls 9 - 10 yrs. old (red and brown belts) which are in the individual category. In the team category, the team competed in the Grade school girls 9 -13 yrs.old (yellow to black belts). Keen Nathaniel A. Pansoy and Lyan Dominic Millana won bronze medals in the grade school boys division, individual category while Zasha Alexei Rara won the silver medal in the grade school girls division, individual category. Muriella Jane Nallos, Maedelle Joanne Nallos and Jan Angel Golle competed in the grade school girls, individual category as well as the grade school girls, team category.

The poomsae championships was held successfully but it was definitely riddled with many discrepancies and lapses. One of these lapses is that the guidelines did not specify if the contestants will perform the old style or the new one thereby resulting in some contestants performing the old style and the others the new style. There are many differences in the two styles. Another lapse is that the organizers should observe propriety. By this, they should not have allowed an instructor to be one of the judges when that instructor has students that are also participating in the competition because he can be biased in favor of his students. We hope that in the next competition, these lapses will be ironed out so that it will be fair to all the practitioners who will be joining the competition.

The Team AFG had their Summer Promotional Test last May 29, 2009 at the Baseline Fitness Gym and Sports Complex. The promotional test was conducted by Mr. Avenger Alob, 4th Dan Blackbelt and Mr. Charlie de los Reyes, 4th Dan Blackbelt. They were assisted by Mr. Glen Lava, 1st Dan Blackbelt and Mr. Mac Avenger Alob Jr., 2nd Poom Blackbelt.

The examinees are the following:

White belts:
1. Alazas    , Lance Adriane
2. Alpuerto  , Alex Jan
3. Bayawa    , Phebegail
4. Cananea   , Jhuna Antonniette
5. Capadngan , Seth Santos
6. Capadngan , Sheen Santos
7. Chiong    , Roger
8. Flores    , JC Immanuel
9. Galola    , Joshua Jolean
10. Mayol    , Andrew Demetri
11. Nagasaka , Carmel Yumi
12. Navarroza, Mark Immanuel
13. Orlanes  , Rey Matthew
14. Yabut    , Lance Carlo
15. Yu       , Hanz Benedict

Yellow belts:
1. Aballe    , Vincent Rabbae
2. Amistad   , Ron Christian
3. Caballero , Alain Rey
4. Ipili     , Rodney
5. Millana   , Lyan Dominic
6. Millana   , Nico Angelo
7. Nallos    , Benedict Evan
8. Nallos    , Flor Janice
9. Navarroza , Brett Emman
10. Parado   , Allen Claire
11. Segovia  , Herald Ethan
12. Yu       , Bryce Justin
13. Valera   , Adrian Raphael
14. Zulueta  , Romeo III

Blue belts:
1. Calungsod , Gelito
2. Del Mar   , Vince Andrew
3. Faeldonea , Leandro Christian
4. Faeldonea , Terenz Gabriel
5. Glariada  , Dino Jose
6. Pansoy    , Keen Nathaniel
7. Yu        , Aaron Vincent
8. Yu        , Shane Patrick

Red belts:
1. Caliva    , Rey
2. Golle     , Jan Angel
3. Lañas     , Alfred
4. Nallos    , Maedelle Joanne
5. Nallos    , Murielle Jane
6. Rara      , Zasha Alexei
7. Trinidad  , Javier

Brown belt:
1. Caderao   , Justine Ray

After the promotional test, the team headed to the nearest Jollibee outlet to take their late dinner and have one of the team bonding moments. The team relaxed and let out some of the steam generated from the promotional test. They also planned their next activities namely the fiesta celebration at Justine Caderao’s place the next day and of course, the Smart New Face of the Year Taekwondo Championships to be held on Sunday, May 31, 2009 at the Jesuits Sacred Heart School.

The National PRISSA (Private Schools Athletic Association) was held last April 19 – 25, 2009 at the Ateneo de Naga University at Naga City, Camarines Sur. The Region VII taekwondo contingent composed of taekwondo jins from five universities in Cebu namely, the University of San Carlos, University of Cebu, University of Visayas, Southwestern University and University of San Jose-Recoletos. The USC representatives are Milagros Espina, Debby Jay Hamac, Marc Christian Ruz, and Marco Niño Velasco. UC was represented by Eve Dublin, Arvin Festin, and Lovely Rose Lim. Faharudin Ali, Florevi Flores, Jennessa Vergara, and Hazel Yosoya represented UV. SWU and USJ-R was represented by Gerald Paglinawan and Richard Caingles respectively. Raul Luna from SWU acted as the head coach of the entire Cebu delegation.

The Cebu delegation bagged 1 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze medals. The lone gold medal was won by Richard Caingles. The silver medalists were Lovely Rose Lim and Milagros Espina while Hazel Yosoya and Marc Christian Ruz were the bronze medalists.

Here is the Schedule of Taekwondo Promotional Test here in Cebu. Please see the dates and venue if you want to take the promotion test.

Blackbelt Cebu Promotion Test

* The above schedule and venue is subject to change. Please coordinate with your instructor for more details.

The Smart National TBB TBS and PTC Championships was held in Manila last April 25, 2009 Sunday at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex. The tournament was for members of the Taekwondo Blackbelt Brotherhood, Taekwondo Blackbelt Sorority and the Philippine Taekwondo Contingent. The Cebu contingent was composed of Mr. June Rez Cananea, 4th Dan blackbelt; Mr. Larry Elpa, 4th Dan blackbelt; Mr. Glenn Lava, 2nd Dan blackbelt; Miss Janica Ybarra, 1st Poom blackbelt; Miss Lyza Sabellano, 1st Poom blackbelt and Miss Meliwa Gabutin, 1st Dan blackbelt, who acted as coach of the PTC players. The delegation was headed by Mr. Tony Del Prado who is the Region 7 Director and RMC Chairman.

The Cebu team competed in the following categories:

1. Larry Elpa ————- Masters C (Silver Medalist)
2. June Rez Cananea —- Masters A (Silver Medalist)
3. Glenn Lava ———— Seniors (Gold Medalist)
4. Janica Ybarra ——– PTC (Gold Medalist)
5. Lyza Sabellano ——- PTC (Gold Medalist)

The Cebu Team grab 3 gold medals and 2 silver medals. Mr. Glenn Lava, Janica Ybarra and Lyza Sabellano won gold medals while Mr. June Rez Cananea and Mr. Larry Elpa wond silver medals.

Here is the video of the fight of Mr. June Rez Cananea (wearing red armor).

1. Regional Carlos Palanca Jr. Taekwondo Championships
   Feb.1, 2009   Cebu Doctor’s University Gym
2. Bohol Age Group
   Feb. 21, 2009  Tagbilaran City, Bohol
3. CVIRAA
   March 2009
4. Palarong Pambansa
   April 2009
5. Regional All Women’s Taekwondo Tournament
   May 10, 2009 - Cebu Doctor’s University Gym
6. Regional Poomse Competition
   May 31, 2009 - Jesuits Sacred Heart School
7. Bohol Provincial Championships
   May 30, 2009 - Tagbilaran City, Bohol
8. Regional New Face of the Year Tournament
   May 31, 2009 - Jesuits Sacred Heart School
9. Regional Championships
   August 16, 2009 - Banilad Sports Center
10. Visayas Regional Championships
    July 19, 2009 - Banilad Sports Center
11. Regional Age Group Championships
    August 9, 2009 - Danao City
12. Milo Little Olympics
    September, 2009 - to be announced later
13. Regional Interschool Taekwondo Championship
    September 6, 2009 - Mandaue City Sports Complex
14. Cebu City Olympics
    November, 2009 - to be announced later
15. Visayas Carlos Palanca Jr. Championships
    November 29, 2009 - Sacred Heart Jesuits Old Campus

Note: The above schedule is subject to change. Please coordinate with your instructor for more details.

The AFG Taekwondo Team has officially opened its summer clinic last April 1, 2009 with the chapters simultinously opening its respective summer clinics. The six chapters are offering a summer taekwondo module for the duration of the whole summer from April to May with the goal of teaching the youth the art of taekwondo while shaping up their bodies and mind and instilling in them the virtues of discipline, patience, humility and hard work which are the core values of taekwondo.

The summer taekwondo clinic schedules are as follows:

1. Main Gym:
   Monday -Wednesday - Friday  1:30 to 3:00 pm
2. San Isidro Parish School
   Monday - Wednesday - Friday  4:30 - 6:00 pm
3. Minglanilla Central School
   Tuesday - Thursday - Saturday  2:00 - 4:00 pm
4. Dominican School
   Tuesday - Thursday - Saturday  1:30 - 3:00 pm - beginners
   Tuesday - Thursday - Saturday  3:30 - 5:00 pm - colored belts
5. Paref-Springdale School
   Monday - Wednesday - Friday  8:30 - 10:00 am - 10 years old below
   Monday - Wednesday - Friday  10:30 - 12:00 nn - 11 years old above
6. Loft
   Monday - Wednesday - Friday  4:00 - 5:30 pm

The San Isidro Parish School Taekwondo Team once again performed a taekwondo demonstration during the Dominican School Club Day. The team was invited by the Dominican School to perform during their Club Day in order to enlighten the students about the martial art as well as to encourage them to join the school’s own taekwondo team which is headed by Mr. June Rez Cananea, Team AFG Head Instructor. Reprising their demonstration from the S.I.P.S.’s Family Day, the S.I.P.S. Taekwondo Demo Team wowed the crowd which is composed mainly of the Dominican School students, parents, faculty and staff.

The San Isidro Parish School Taekwondo Team presented a taekwondo demonstration during the school’s high school Family Day last February 1, 2009. The demonstration was presented in four parts namely a.) Kicking, punching and blocks incorporated in a dance, b.) Forms (Poomse), c.) Basic kicking and d.) Defense forms. The demonstration aims to showcase the power of taekwondo as a martial art. It was very much appreciated and applauded by the audience.

The demo team was composed mainly of students from the San Isidro Parish School Chapter with some members from the Main Chapter. The S.I.P.S. chapter was represented by Maedelle Joanne Nallos, Muriella Jane Nallos, Brigette Madulid, Freah Quitorio, Lady Abbygail Cheyne Pabillion, Charlene Letrero, Adrain Raphael Valera, Carlo Quitorio, Rodney Ipili, Roger Chiong, Merrick Lance Noel and McThomskin Hindang. The Main Chapter was composed of Charine Ughoc, Flor Janice Nallos, Marco Niño Velasco, Benedict Evan Nallos, Justine Ray Caderao and Brett Emman Navarroza. The entire demo team was headed by Mr. Rodrigo Andres who is also the head of the San Isidro Parish School Chapter.