"on a shoestring"

FENCING, UNDERRATED

If there is a single event that I want to join here in the National Games, it will be FENCING. It would have been awesome to thrust that sword to my opponent right? Just the thought of it gives me high! ASTIG!

So when most media people are going gaga over Judo, Karatedo and Swimming, I went to UNO-R gymnasium to somehow learn the sports while covering it. I went inside with innocence hoping that I would find the perfect people to interview.

Interview with MS.HARLENE ORENDAIN-RAQUIN

Philippine Fencing Association (PFA) President, Victor Africa directed me to the gold medalist of the day, Harlene Orendain-Raquin. Ms. Harlene was hospitable enough to teach me the difference between the three events of fencing EPEE, FOIL and SABRE. If interested you can check it at the wikipedia.

Anyway, my business at the gymnasium is to somehow promote this underrated sports in the best way I can- blog about it.

I asked Harlene this, “What do you answer when people say that fencing is only for the elites?”

Harlene said that this is notion is not uncommon because of lack of exposure of people and most have no knowledge in such an event.

I was one of those people who has zero knowledge of the sports. But I’m willing to learn.

Even her shirt shouts out that she loves Fencing! (Harlene Orendain-Raguin)

I again asked her, “Why she is into fencing?”

She said that during his college beginning, she really want to play volleyball. But because the competition is greater in the volleyball court she found herself with a blade playing fencing for the first time. She remembers, “I really want to represent my country thru sports.” Thanks to Coach Armado Bernal who encouraged Ms.Harlene into this sports. Now they are teammates in the National Team.

I also asked her about the price of the equipments needed for someone to have a complete fencing set (sword, mask and protective clothing), she values it at Php10,000-40,000 depending on the brand of the equipments you want to have.

Interview with Joshua Jerahmeel Paunil

Joshua Paunil

While watching the finals game, I was able to meet my friend, JJ, whom I wasn;t expecting will be joining this National Games. I grabbed the opportunity to talk with him as I really want to tell the readers of this post that fencing is not only for the rich in our society. It is for every Filipino. He remembers when he was still training for the UP Fencing Team, he just borrows equipments at first. Lack of equipment is not an alibi not to learn this sports.

I know that Joshua is not that rich but his desire to play the sword brought him to Korea (2008) and Singapore (2009) as part of the delegation to the Asian Junior and Casdette Fencing Championship.

I was able to pick up something from this young man’s heart during the short talk. He shared that he wants to see more tournaments in and out of the country so they could prepare for a higher standard of competition. He also wants to see more locals from the grassroots level to be training for this event.

Just the other day, he won a bronze medal in the EPEE competition. Thanks to his Coach, Orlando Guerrero from the UP Fencing Team. Congrats Josh!

The Medalists I chanced to see during the coverage

Fencing Official Results can be downloaded at the PNGwebsite.

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Philippine National Games 2011 Series is a break from my usual running event posts. The series will highlight stories behind every sports represented as well as athletes who display big potential in their own field. My gratitude goes to PSC Commissioner Jolly Gomez, Sir Lito Cinco and Ms. Mylene Conception for the opportunity to cover such a big event. Mabuhay po kayo pati narin ang PSC at POC!

You can view the PNG OFFICIAL RESULTS: DAYS 1-3 and DAY 4