GMA invited to dancesport tilt

With President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as invited guest of honor, the week-long activities of the Asia Pacific Dancesport Championships hosted by the International Dancesport Federation and Dancesport Council of the Philippines wind up on Saturday at the Philsport Arena.

Featuring world-class dancers and licensed international adjudicators from 20 countries, the blue-ribbon event is being held under the joint auspices of Philippine Sports Commission chair Eric Buhain and DSCP president Becky Garcia and sponsored by the PSC, Philippine Olympic Committee, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Pagcor, Philippine Air Lines, Edsa Shangri-La, Dance Exchange, Pagoda Philippines, Carlines Transportation and ABC 5.

"Dancesport has indeed gone a long, long way," said Garcia, who has been at the helm since 1996 of the only amateur body for dance recognized by the Philippine Olympic Committee. She is assisted by DSCP board members lawyer Noel Laman, chair; Jun Herrera, vice president; lawyer Jo Saliva, secretary general; Gloria Alcala, treasurer; and council directors lawyer Andy Fornier, Marvie Cojuangco Yulo, Prof. Naomi Enriquez, Tonet Lagdameo, Gen. Sonny Yan, Edward Hayco, Ruby Co, Emma Nieto, Chona Mercado and Joel Ocsena.

Through the years, dancesport has taken enormous strides. Most recently, young dance athletes Renier Mercado and Judith Ann Melencio put the Philippines in the international sports map by winning the gold medals in the junior standard and Latin categories of the Japan Superstar Championships in Tokyo. While in the 15th Singapore Lion City International Championships, another Filipino youthful pair–John Erolle Melencio and Krystel Tadeo–won first place in the Youth Latin event together with Brian and Karla Ocana (Youth standard) and veterans Brian Calo and Ena Ledesma (Grade A Latin).