Cebu's Princess of Dance

She is fifteen - young and great. Despite circumstances, she has been winning a lot of different dancesport competitions and has even gone abroad for international contests. She is Virgianie Oyao, a third year student of the University of the Philippines High School.

Virge, as she is otherwise known, started in dancesport when she was ten. She first joined an interschool dancesport competition that brought her to the Cebu City Olympics in 2002. Winning in the Cebu City Olympics, she was sent, with her partner, to Bacolod City for Batang Pinoy, her first national competition and her first loss, as well.

Passionate as she has always been in dancing, she did not let the loss discourage her. Although she stopped indulging in dancesport after Batang Pinoy, she continued a few months later. From then on, she joined numerous competitions - local, national and international - never failing to receive awards. "I always get into the top six," she shared.

Last August 2005, Virge and her partner Jumil Bacalso were sent by the Dancesport Council of the Philippines to Singapore. Along with some teammates, they represented the Philippines in the 6th SGDF Singapore Open Dancesport Championship.

Virgie and Jumil won 3rd and 4th places in Latin and Standard Categories, respectively.

In the same month, Virgie and Jumil set out to South Korea all expenses paid. Together with their coach and another dancing pair, they participated in the World Youth Congress and International Dance Festival in Yeosu City, Cebu's sister city.

However admirable her feats are, her feet remain anchored to the ground. "I become more humble in every certificate, medal and trophy I receive in each competition. I have learned to put my success in my heart, not in the head."

Dancing while studying is not a joke. School requires concentration; dancesport demands time and energy, especially when competitions approach. It was hardest for her during their trip to Korea because it was also UP High's First Periodical Exam. "I really had difficulties in reviewing for the exams because our schedule was so full," she recalled. There were times when she felt like quitting but she never let go of her passion. "Go for what your heart desires," she said. "Just learn to manage time. Learn to be disciplined."

Virgianie regularly attends the Quarterly Ranking and Competition conducted by the Dancesport Association of the Philippines every March, July and November in Manila. Last year, she won 1st place in Standard Category in July and acquired four silver medals during the Championship in November. Presently, she is looking forward to competing this month in Manila and is preparing for another competition in Singapore in the final week of March or first week of April.