Even without the well-known Agbay sisters, the Cebu Wushu Team still managed to make waves in the 2008 National Wushu Championships recently at the Music Hall of SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City. The Cebuano wushu artists hauled two golds and a bronze.
Richelle Marie Ng and Maribeth Canja Camello were Cebu’s golden performers. Camello also turned over a bronze.
Ng came out as the biggest surprise among all entries as the eight-year-old pride of Mandaue City topped the junior changquan division or long fist event, becoming the youngest gold medallist in the tournament.
Camello, on the other hand, lorded it over in the taiji jian or sword category. She settled for bronze in the taiji quan or bare hands.
Three other members of the team landed fourth in their respective divisions: Gustine Padilla in the 24 steps taiji quan, Marie Mischelle Aimee Puche in the 42 steps taiji jian, and Erwin Boyones in the senior changquan.
The Cebuanos’ trip to Manila was supported by the Wushu Federation of the Philippines-Cebu Chapter through the efforts of Marcelo Yap, Elly Chua, Francis Onlatco, Jimmy Sy, and Antonio Jansing Chua.
The Agbay siblings, Mary Stephanie and Mary Evangeline, missed the action as they are presently training in Macau together with the other members of the national team. – Caecent No-ot Magsumbol