It’s been some time since athletes brought local pride to our southern hometown, Cauayan.
Thriving in the shadows sporting greats of the nation can be daunting when aspirants in the town think of their well-known predecessors.
Among the sporting figures who carved their niche in their respective disciplines, there’s Rogelia Ferrer of Barangay Man-uling, who carved her name seven decades ago as among the first Filipina track and field athlete to win a medal (bronze) in the Asian Games.
A little more than a decade ago, two Cauayanons shone in the regional Southeast Asian Games.
Arniel Ferrera of Sitio Omiles in the Poblacion ruled the SEAG hammer throw four times in the biennial meet while Isio native Rosie Villarito capped her SEA games campaign with a golden throw of the javelin.
Five years starting 2018, Jayr Raquinel of Guiljungan held the OPBF and WBO flyweight and, later, super flyweight crown, respectively.
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Indeed, it has been a while, perhaps since Arniel and Rosie started making ripples in school-based competitions… until late last month at the Palarong Pambansa in Ilocos Norte, where three boys revived the following for local sports heroes by winning medals in the national completion among the finest basic education athletes in the nation.
Leading the Palaro medalists is Elmar Lloyd Genova, 17, of Barangay Masaling and an incoming Grade 12 student of Caliling National High School who topped the Pencak Silat Tanding Match category. Pencak Silat is a form of martial arts traditionally practiced in Southeast Asia.
Elmar Lloyd is the second of the three children of Elmo Genova, who is presently working as a cook in an establishment at SM in Manila, and wife, Marisol, a teacher at Tuyom NHS, also in Cauayan.
The two others – both bronze medalists – are boxer Arnold Martinez and javelin thrower Joshua Dela Peña. Arnold is from Guiljungan NHS while Joshua studies at the upland Talacdan NHS.
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Cauayan Mayor John Rey Tabujara congratulated the three boys and their trainers when they paid him a visit upon their return from the Palaro. He also gave the assurance of continued assistance for youth sports as he acknowledged the efforts of coaches, trainers and families of athletes.
Underscoring the value of sports in youth development, the mayor said it “instills discipline, perseverance and a sense of community.”
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For someone who started competitive play in Pencak Silat only about two years ago, Elmar Lloyd has gone a long way. “I’m thankful to my coach, Dexter Flugoso (a CNHS teacher), my family and trainers I won the gold in Ilocos, especially as I remember that two years ago, when I started, I failed to qualify for the Provincial Meet, he said.
Asked why he concentrated on Pencak Silat, he said, “My family… we have been very interested in combat sports and martial arts.”
Elmar Laurence, Lloyd’s elder brother, detailed to me the family’s martial arts ‘history’.
Their uncle, Dr. Elenuel Genova is the founder-trainor of the Cauayan chapters of the Philippine Tiger Martial Arts and the Tiger Pencak Silat with their Father, Elmo, as co-founder of both chapters.
Dr. Genova is an expert in Karate, Arnis, Silat and Taekwondo.
“My father Elmo, my mother and Tito Elenuel and another uncle, Tito Elvie, are members of the Philippine Tiger Martial Arts,” Elmar Laurence added.
Their cousins Cris Emman and Chris Elaine also saw action in Arnis and Pencak Silat (Ganda), respectively, in the Provincial Meet.
Aunt Emme Rose Be serves as a Pencak Silat jury during competitions.
“Martial arts runs in the blood,” Elmar Lloyd reiterated.
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We trust that the triumph of these three young men will spark greater interest in sports and youth development among the youth of southern Negros communities and that local government executives and other stakeholders stand firm in their commitment to youth development.
We are looking forward to further glory for the new wave of Rogelias, Arniels, Rosies, Jayrs and other sports heroes from the hometown.
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Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. (Hebrews 12:1) | NWI
