• CHERYL G. CRUZ
Katrina Drilon Loretizo, an athlete-scholar under the Adamson University-Gymnastics Association of the Philippines’ Scholarship Program, was commended by the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Bacolod for her gymnastics achievements and for placing Top 5 in the November Pharmacist Licensure Examination.
Councilor Renecito Novero, who authored the resolution of commendation, said that Loretizo, born in Bacolod City to businesswoman Catherine Drilon and seafarer Edton Loretizo, “gracefully raised the bar not only for her Trinity Christian School of Bacolod, which nurtured in her the art of learning, the principles for competition, and the strength of character; she has also inspired future gymnasts by demonstrating that balance works – not only on the mat but as a potent strategy for life success”.
Loretizo graduated magna cum laude in July 2024, and brought accolades to the City of Bacolod when she landed in Top 5 in the pharmacist exam, with a rating of 94.53 percent.
As a member of the Rhythmic Gymnastics Groups National Team, they competed in the Singapore Open, and Asian Games Championships, with Loretizo bagging the bronze medal in the Southeast Asian Games in 2017 and 2019, Novero said, adding that despite the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic, her team remained undaunted and still managed to compete in the 2023 Asean Games.
“She managed to maintain her academic ranking and still gave ample time for gymnastics training in the USA and blitzed their way through competitions — in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Kazakhstan,” the resolution, approved by the SP during the regular session Jan. 22, stressed.
These achievements gave Bacolod City a heartwarming pride for its people: the competence of its teachers, the sacrificing nature of its parents, the untiring diligence of its students – a city that creates champions despite adversities, Novero said. “The SP appreciates and commends Loretizo…for being an outstanding model as student-athlete, an inspiration to the youth to never stop dreaming, to reach forward, and push for their goal.” | CGC
