Pint-sized dancers give Manilans big start

BACOLOD CITY — A dancing duo from Manila, a daughter of a tricycle driver and a son of a farmer made big moves in Day One of the Philippine National Youth Games-Batang Pinoy at the Panaad Sports Complex here.

The event’s first two gold medals came from athletics, the meet’s centerpiece event courtesy of Jona Farnacio of Pangasinan and Rommel Fuene of host Bacolod City.

Manila, headed by former taekwondo national team member Ali Atienza who is also a son of Manila Mayor Lito, emerged the biggest medal winner with a four-gold medal haul courtesy of the dancesport duo of William Bernardino and Cynthia Tajin.

Bernardino and Tajin topped the Standard and Latin categories, which is equivalent to four gold medals, in the sports first appearance in the event.

Barefooted and all, the 10-year-old Farnacio copped the event’s first gold medal by ruling the girl’s long jump with a distance of 4.31 meters although she failed to break the old mark of 4.31 m set by Nimfa Lorema last year in Sta. Cruz, Laguna.

But Farnacio, fourth of six siblings by pedicab driver Antonio and Merlinda, said winning the gold medal was more than enough to make her happy especially since that was her first appearnace in this annual event open to kids aged 12 years and below.

"Masaya ako dahil nanalo ako ng gintong medalya," said Farnacio, who is used to practicing without any footwear in hometown Pozzorubio. "Sanay na ako na huwag nang mag-sapatos kapag tumatalon ako," she added.

Farnacio came here in Bacolod City fresh from a five-gold medal haul in the Pangasinan Division II meet where she overpowered opponents in long jump, hurdles, 400-m run, 800-m run and 1,500-m run events.

But Farnacio’s feat was overshadowed by 12-year-old Rommel Fuene’s superb performance in the boy’s shotput event.

Cheered by the hometown crowd who came in full force to support the host delegation, Fuene responded with a spectacular throw of 4.57 m, enough to shatter the old mark of 4.19 set by Ishkak Mashod of Maguindanao also in Laguna.

"Talagang ginalingan ko na dahil ayokong mapahiya sa mga taga-Bacolod na nanonood sa akin," said Feune, a Grade 6 student of Bacolod Education Training School.

Dina Trabacou had her share of the limelight after she captured the last of three gold medal at stake in athletics by topping the girls’ baseball throw with a distance of 45.03.