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Sta. Marcela, Apayao- Let the dancing begin!
CAR dancers burned the dance floor upon showcasing their bundle of talents in dance sporting for the Cordillera Administrative Regional Athletic Association (CARAA) Meet 2019 last night, February 28 at EKB Memorial Gymnasium of Sta. Marcela.
Couple Number 012, Noor Mohammad I.B.H. Hammouri and Diana M. Gappi of Apayao Eagles swept 3-gold medals in Slow Waltz, Tango and Quickstep, respectively after the surprising yet thrilling competition in the Juvenile Modern Standard. Thus, the couple was named champion in this category.
According to them, they couldn’t believe that they were able to clinch the crown from E-lions of Baguio City and Stingers of Benguet for they are the defending champions of this event. And considering the fact that this is their first time to join this kind of dancing competition. However, E-lions couple got the 2nd place and Stingers couple grabbed the third place.
“It was our first time, and yet, we were able to make it on the top”, Hammouri and Gappi said during the interview. “We are very happy for this achievement”, they exclaimed.
The couple are both from Luna district and currently studying at Palungkada Elementary School. Hammouri is an 8 years old boy and a Grade 3 pupil while Gappi is a10 years old girl and a Grade 5 pupil. 
According to their coach, Lala Vanessa L. Albano, the couple started practicing their footsteps and the same time last January. “They were very eager to learn every step and rules in this modern standard”, Albano said during the interview.
“We have undergone many trainings”, Albano stressed in the interview. She said that they went to Manila last February 11 for critiquing and evaluation of their routines and footsteps and attended an intensive training on dance sports at Ilagan Isabela with the Ilagan dancers.
“Araw- araw nagtre-training kami tapos laging hanggang gabi. Lalo na nung malapit na yung laban, natutulog kami dito sa training area”, they added during the interview.

Meanwhile, E- lions Couple of Baguio City shines in the Juvenile Latin American. 
With their light- footed combination of Fan and Alemana figures and their Reverse Turn, Brandon Justein Bugne and Charvie Pobletin got a big boost and rolled 2- gold medals in the two- category of the Juvenile Latin American namely Chacha, Samba.
This is their second time to get the crown and to be Palarong Pambansa qualifiers. “Sobrang masaya po kami dahil hindi namin nabitiwan ang gintong medalya”, they screamed during the interview.
Hence, in Jive category, Stingers couple got the gold medal and silver medals in chachacha and Zamba. According to Eric O. Cabloy and Zenobea Faith B. Olayan, they will double their efforts in practicing their routines later. “Mag- prapractice pa po kami ng maigi para Manalo po”, they added.
The E- lions couple started practicing their routines and footsteps since December 2017 with the presence of their coach, Frank Lloyd De Guzman, an ESP and a MAPEH teacher. 
The couple are currently studying at Baguio Central School. Bugne is a grade 4 pupil and a 9 years old boy while Pobletin is a grade 5 pupil and a 10 years old girl. 
They both started joining dance sports competition in the year 2017.

On the other hand, Dance couples from Benguet Stingers reigned back to back champions in Junior dance sports.
Mico M. Dumalos and Jhosan L. Galvez rocked 3- Gold medals in Latin Standard in the three categories Chachacha, Rhumba, and Jive. 
The dance floor heated with their foot works, facial expressions, routines and highlights that made them gripped the throne of champion.
Likewise, with Stingers dance couple, Aerhofre Ford B. Libag and Betty Mae M. Agad, bagged 3- gold medals in Modern Standard in all the categories namely Slow Waltz, Tango and Quickstep.
Enthusiastic cheers and massive applause rang out inside the gymnasium when the music swelled and they began striding and circling the dance floor in the deliberate tango motions.
The dance couples started competing the game in 2017. “We are very happy and we thank our Almighty God for giving this victory for the second time around”, they commented during the interview.
The dance couples hail from Benguet National High School. And according to them, this is really an opportunity for them to shine in the field of dance sports. 
“A big thanks too, to our coaches, ma’am Reymielyn Lidongen and Charibelle Pingawan for the ever- support”, they conferred during the interview.
This is the first time that dance sports competition is included in the medal tally. However, according to Joyce Ganaden, the tournament manager, the conduct of this competition is better that of last CARAA 2018, in a sense that all the officiating officials have undergone trainings and accreditation. 
The couples who were named champions will be representing the region- CAR in the forthcoming Palarong Pambansa 2019. 
“This dance sports is still a demonstration sport in Palarong Pambansa”, Ganaden said. (Jerlyn Mae Balacang)