20-gold haul lifts Baguio to the top

VIGAN, Ilocos Sur – Baguio City, drawing strength from siblings Ana Melissa and Christopher Manuel de Leon, sizzled with a 20-gold medal haul in arnis yesterday to power its way to the top of the heap as action heats up heading into the final two days of the Central Northern Luzon Qualifying Games of the second Philippine Olympic Festival at the Ilocos Sur National High School here.

Ana Melissa, 15, captured six gold medals while Christopher Manuel, 14, bagged three as Baguio City worked its way up from third place in Day 3 to No. 1 with a 32-gold, 29-silver and 18-bronze medal haul in this weeklong event marred by complaints from the officials on the "no pay, no play" rule.

Ana Melissa reigned supreme in all six events in arnis to move ahead of gymnast Mary Rose Mendoza of Bulacan and runner Lany Cardona of Pangasinan, who both copped four gold medals apiece.

"I can’t describe my feeling, I’m just happy with my performance right now," said the pretty de Leon in Filipino.

Pangasinan fell to second with a 19-13-12 harvest while Ilocos Norte and Bulacan stood at third and fourth with 13-8-9 and 12-7-7 tallies, respectively.

Although at distant third, regional champion Ilocos Norte is expected to make its move in today’s start of swimming and taekwondo competitions where it is expected to dominate. More than 100 gold medals are up for grab in the two events.

Meanwhile, organizing committee chair Robert Aventajado said they had informed all participating regions that they would be charging token entrance fees even before the event started. The controversy started when two sports coordinators – Leo Palma of host Ilocos Sur and Brian Ronquillo of La Union – complained that they were never informed of the athletes’ need to pay the fee to be able to play.

"As you know, unlike the Palarong Pambansa, the POF has no budget so we’re charging a token amount," said Aventajado. "It’s a simple case of miscommunication."