Ice whiz kids lead RP bid in Skate Asia

Filipino ice skaters get their chance to pit their skills and talent against the best from Asia and the United States when the 2007 Skate Asia is staged Aug. 12-18 at the SM Mall of Asia international skating rink in Pasay City.

“We will have close to 700 entries from nine countries, including the US, which will compete in the different events of the week-long tournament, the biggest ice skating competition in the country this year,” Ric Camaligan, SM vice president for Leisure Entertainment, said at the PSA forum at the Shakey’s UN Avenue branch in Manila yesterday.

Camaligan, who pioneered ice skating in the Philippines with the opening of the first skating rink at the SM Megamall in 1992, said skaters from China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Macau, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, the US and host Philippines will vie for top honors in the event.

Camaligan, also the president of the Ice Skating Union of the Philippines, added that the competition, which began in 1989, will have its ninth edition in the country and will be sanctioned by the Ice Skating Institute of America.

The Filipino bets are the defending Skate Asia overall champions, having ruled the 2006 Skate Asia in Shenzen, China where they had a rich harvest of 521 gold, 293 silver and 219 bronze medals.

To rule out any hometown decisions, Camaligan disclosed they have invited foreign judges from the US and China to judge the competitions.

“But we have a strong chance of winning the 1-2-3 places in all the events we will compete in,” said Camaligan, adding that the tournament will be free to the public.

Among the interesting local entries are three-year-old Liam Trysten Agulari, bannering SM Southmall, and two-year-old Meagan Esteban, carrying the colors of SM Megamall, who will be the youngest competitors in the tournament.

On the other hand, 71-year-old Venicio Ranosa, a retired employee, will be the oldest Filipino skater to see action in the event.

Among the up and coming locals are nine-year-old Michael Barbosa, who went straight to the forum from the airport after taking part in a Chicago competition where he won medals, including a gold for technical excellence.

A representative of SM Megamall, Barbosa is set to participate in 33 events, the most by any skater in Skate Asia.

Another skating whiz, Shaira Myron Salarda, 7, of SM Southmall, will compete in 23 events.

Camaligan said that members of the national skating pool will also strut their wares in the championship, led by three-time national senior ladies’ champion Frances Maria Laureano and Michael Christian Martinez, who won 11 golds and four bronzes in the 2006 Skate Asia.