By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Another llongga athlete brought pride to the Philippines during the 2022 Asian Cadet, Junior, and Para Taekwondo Championships held in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam.
Julianna Martha Uy, a product of the widely-renowned Mark V. Pinggol (MVP) taekwondo gym based in Iloilo City, made waves in Vietnam and clinched the gold medal in the Team Female Cadet and the silver medal in the Individual Female Cadet categories.
“Thank you so much, PTA, most especially to Grandmaster Hong, Maam Rani, Sir Jeordan and Sir Rodolfo Reyes for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity you have given to our R6B jins!” said Mr. Pinggol in an exclusive interview with the Daily Guardian.
Uy is one of the representatives of team PHL under the Philippine Taekwondo National Poomsae Team and is currently a Grade 9 student in Ateneo de Iloilo.
Previously, Uy also represented the Iloilo MVP gym and the whole Western Visayas in a series of national and international online stints.
Uy was also one of the jins who competed during the 2022 SMART/MVPSF National Taekwondo Poomsae Championships held in Ayala Malls, Manila Bay where she ended up settling for the bronze medal.
Aside from her achievement in Vietnam, Uy once turned heads last December 2021 after impressing in the World Taekwondo Poomsae Open Challenge II “The Battle of all the Finalists”.
The Ilongga taekwondo star grabbed the bronze medal in the Open Individual Female cadet 12-14 category and bested the other top competitors from all over the world.
Together with Uy during the World Taekwondo Poomsae is the tagged “Ilonggo Wonder Kid” Cyd Edryc Esmaña who copped the prestigious gold medal in his category.
“Congratulations, Julianna! I know how much you’ve worked hard for this. You and your teammates with the guidance of our National Poomsae Team Coaches did a great job! Well deserved. Glory to God!” added Mr. MVP himself.
Mr. Pinggol and the rest of the MVP coaching staff would also like to extend their gratitude to R6B seniors headed by RMC-6B Chairman Sir Jun Diasnes and Vice Chairman Sir Michael Joaquin Montinola.