Cordillera’s Fearless Highlanders once again pinned its medal hopes in combative and individual sports but slid to 13th place at the close of the 2014 edition of the Palarong Pambansa in Cebu City.
Banking on the five gold medal output from wushu and four in taekwondo, Cordillera closed its campaign with 11-8-18 to finish 13th over – all in the weeklong competition backed by the Department of Education (DepEd).
Wushu’s Chaya Clear Banosan Finmokod, Zyrian Raiden Marcos Basa, Lee Aputher Kang-Owan Santa Ana, Janna Mae Tuazon Tinay, Japheth Gayamos Pallogan took home the gold in their respective class.
The region’s taekwondo jins Alexandria Daphne Fajardo Aganon, Joshua Aaron Ebora Erece and Rihannah Kate Buendia Caguioa brought home gold medals in their respective weight class in combatives while Cordillera’s poomsae boys team composed of Jheron Calub Cristobal, Enrique Manuel Blanco Oglayon and Wentworth Tertius Bayquen Tamayo topped the elementary boys competition.
Archery meanwhile added one gold in the secondary boys 60-meter distance courtesy of Chass Mhaiven Nawew Colas while Izy Zyrell Marco Pobletin took the gold in the full contact pin weight 37 kgs up to 41 kgs secondary girls.
Colas added another silver in the 50 – meter secondary boys while his counterpart Emy Angela Alacyang Peredo added another in the 70 – meter distance.
Denver Tacay also chipped in a silver in discus throw with taekwondo jins Chris Levi Pawen Culallad, Andrew Macunan Tegui-In and Shalyne Joy Tamano Tallog.
Wrestling also added two silvers courtesy of Josh Iverson Bastian Mateo and Athena Digan Manalog.
Bronze medalists are Kian Kerby Acena Benedito (taekwondo), Ronie Dingyas Soldo (wrestling), Stephanie Chiday Agda (taekwondo), Emy Angela Alacyang Peredo (archery), Chass Mhaiven Nawew Colas and Emy Angela Alacyang Peredo (archery mixed team), Joey Jones Pawen Culallad (taekwondo), Matt Rejhan Palmitos Lavestre (taekwondo), and Izy Zyrell Marco Pobletin (arnis).
Also taking home bronze medals are Marc Alexis Mariano Martin (arnis), Glysm Belteshasar Ocyo Aliga (arnis), Trisha Mae Pascual De Vera (wrestling), Natasha Louise Dela Peña Laurente and Enrique Manuel Blanco Oglayon (taekwondo mixed pair poomsae), Hart Jason Pal-a Benwasen (wrestling), Charles Johnson Coteng Calawen (wrestling), Deanhill Manacat Tindaan (wrestling), Trisha Cagay-An Lobbonan (taekwondo), AJ Angelo Salpad Oliveros (wushu), and Arrianne Rae Benito Bulwayan (wushu).
Although officials from DepEd – Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) were hoping to improve its ninth place finish, the Fearless Highlander fell short of equaling its 15 gold medal haul in last year’s Palaro where the region finished 9th over-all. Roderick Osis