Execs to aid Capiceño taekwondo champs

CAPIZ Governor Victor Tanco (center) with taekwondo medalists (from left) John Michael Asturias, Zhare Grae Te Aguirre, and brothers Raymund Ken Astronomia and Van Joseph Astronomia, during a courtesy call at the Governor’s Mansion

ROXAS City — Capiz officials vowed to help student athletes who brought honor to the province and the country for winning gold, silver and bronze medals during the 6th World Taekwondo Culture Expo competitions on July 6–11 in Maju-gun, South Korea.

Capiz Governor Victor A. Tanco said the provincial government will help the four students — Raymond Ken Astronomia, Van Joseph Astronomia, Zharie Grace Te Aguirre and John Michael Asturias — and their playing coach, Joven Venancio, further improve their skills in taekwondo.

Tanco said he is happy with the honor and prestige that the students brought to the province. He added that he will ask the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to give them rewards.

For his part, Roxas City Mayor Angel Alan Celino said the city government will do its share to further boost the morale of the students so that more Capiceños will join sports.

He urged Vice Mayor Ronnie T. Dadivas to give the students and their coach citation and cash.

Venancio, instructor of the CATA Taekwondo jins, said the team bagged six gold, two silver and two bronze medals. He himself won two gold medals.

Raymund Ken won one gold in Poomsae category and one bronze in Kyorugi, while Van Joseph bagged a gold in Poomsae and a bronze in Kyorugi. Both are students at the Capiz National High School.

Aguirre also won a gold in Poomsae and a silver in Kyorigi. Asturias, on the other hand, got a gold in Kyorugi and a silver in Poomsae.

Aguirre, a second year nursing student, and Asturias, a fourth year high school student, are both from the Filamer Christian University.

Last year, Aguirre also won a gold medal during the 5th World Korea Taekwondo Culture Expo, July 8–13, also in South Korea.

Venancio said some 40 delegates from the Philippines participated in the event. More than 60 countries joined the competitions.

He said the Philippines ranked fourth in the overall results.

South Korea, the host country, was declared the overall champion, while Russia and the United States placed second and third, respectively, Venancio said.

The father of Venancio, Adorico Venancio, also coached the student athletes.

The Capiz taekwondo athletes arrived here from Manila Thursday morning. They then paid a courtesy call to Tanco at the Governor’s Mansion in Brgy. Lanot here.

The following day, they paid a courtesy call to Mayor Celino and other Roxas City officials at the city hall. (FELIPE CELINO/PN)