LA TRINIDAD, Benguet (PIA) -- The provincial government recognized the Benguet athletes and their coaches for their outstanding performances during the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) held in Vietnam in May 2022.
 
Governor Melchor Diclas and Vice Governor Johnny Waguis with Board Members Florencio Bentrez, Jim Botiwey, Fernando Balaodan and Robert Canuto awarded Certificates of Recognition, medals and cash incentives to the athletes and coaches who are all from the combative sports events during the June 20 flag raising ceremony at the Provincial Capitol.
 
Honorees include three SEA Games gold medalists  namely Jean Claude Kitong Saclag for the Men’s Kickboxing, Low Kick, 63.5 kilogram category; Gina Nevado Iniong Araos for the Women’s Kickboxing, Low Kick, 60 kg. category; and Islay Erika Asiong Bomogao for the Women’s Muaythai Wai Kru Mai.
 
Silver medalists were Carlo Von Basanio Buminaang for the Men’s Vovinam, 65kg. category; Claudine Veloso for the Women’s Low Kick, 52kg category; Charmea Kingay Quelino for the Women’s Kurash, 52kg.
 
Jones Llabres Ligligen Inso was a silver and bronze medalist in the Men’s Wushu Taolo Taijiquan while Zephania Ngaya garnered the silver medal in the Women’s Kickboxing, Full Contact, 65kg. and the bronze medal in the women’s Vovinam, 60kg category.
 
Bronze medalists also include Honorio Antonio Banario for the Men’s Kickboxing, Low Kick, 70kg. category; Emmanuel D. Cantores for the Men’s Kickboxing, Low Kick, 60kg.; Jenelyn Dasdas Olsim for Women’s Vovinam, 55kg.; and Ariel Lee Biadno Lampacan for Muaythai, 57kg. category.
 
The coaches were also recognized - Vovinam coaches Ryan Bendalan Batinay, Geje Eustaquio, and Jaybe Oydoc Ban-eg and Samahang Kickboxing ng Pilipinas national coach and Team Lakay head coach Mark Sangiao.
  
Most of the medalists are martial artists of the famed Team Lakay training under coach Sangiao.  
 
Athletes and the coaches received from the provincial government P8, 000.00 for gold medal; P5, 000.00 for silver medal, and P3, 000.00 for bronze medal cash incentives based on the Provincial Sports ordinance.
 
Diclas commended the Benguet athletes for bringing honor and pride to the country and to the province, and to their coaches for their sacrifices and tremendous efforts for the athletes’ training.
 
Benguet Sports Coordinator Dean Mark Monang said the awarding of certificates, medals and cash incentives to the athletes and their coaches is a way to recognize the locally grown and trained athletes and the coaches who represented the province and the country in the various national and international sports events.
 
Earlier, the athletes and their coaches were recognized by the national government in a ceremony held at the Malacanang Palace hosted by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. (JDP/RMC- PIA CAR)