Locals, Fil-fors clash in figure skating final

MANILA, Philippines - Eighteen local and 14 Fil-foreign skaters conclude today their battle for the Philippine National Figure Skating championship at the SM Mall of Asia Ice Skating Rink.

The Philippine Skating Union and SM Ice Skating Rink, in coordination with the International Skating Union and the Philippine Olympic Committee, organized the event in search of the champion who will represent the country in various international competitions.

International officials and judges Tomiko Yamada, Ayumi Kozuka and Yuko Kagita from Japan, Sherri Fergus from Canada and Lucy Yao from China are in town to help run the event.

Pre-Juvenile, Juvenile, Basic Novice A, Basic Novice B, Advanced Novice A, Junior Ladies, Men and Pairs-Mix, and Seniors Ladies and Men are the events on tap.

The participants include Gabrielle Panlilio, Aiko Shibata, Nicole Dritsas and Shanelle Mora in the Pre-Juvenile; Audrey Alcaraz, Elia Mendoza and Sofia Guidote in Juvenile; Stephanie Angeles, Gabrielle Bernardo, Buffy Cloma, Emee Dy, Dominique Katigbak, and Louwee Shibata in Basic Novice A; Chloe Ramirez in Basic Novice B; Estefani Guerra in Advanced Novice A-Ladies, Jules Alpe in Advanced Novice A - Men; Chelcie Mahinay, Charlene Ang, Jizelle Bacani, Patricia Buensuceso, Alison Datoc, Alisson Perticheto and Samantha Veloso in Junior-Ladies Championship; siblings Carlotta and David Power in Junior Pairs-Mix; Zhaira Constiniano, Katie Dano, Mericien Venzon and Melissa Balanhagui in Senior-Ladies; and Christopher Caluza in Senior-Men Division.

Today’s events start at 10 a.m.

For inquiries, call up SM Ice Skating at 556-0471.