With Mabalaquenians shining in the national and global sports stage, ice skaters with roots from the northernmost Pampanga town rake in medals from the just concluded Skate Asia 2024 in Taiwan.
Their feats come at the heels of Justin Baltazar being picked first in the PBA rookie draft and Kyla Sanchez making it to the semis of the 100-meter Freestyle Swimming in the Paris Olympics. Despite failing to advance to the medal rounds, she however broke the Philippine record at 53.67 seconds.
Both Baltazar and Sanchez are from Mabalacat City.
At the biggest recreational ice skating contest, Samantha Collada took two silver medals in two categories. This, despite the 16-year old’s late start as she started in the glamour sport only last year.
Samantha, originally from Texas, USA, has her roots in Mabalacat City. She is the daughter of Christian Lemuel Collada, a grandson of the former late Councilor Lazaro Tulabut.
Two other young skaters, Czania Celiz Ong Chua and Calea Celiz Ong Chua, aged 9 and 7 years old, respectively, bagged multiple gold and silver medals in various categories. They are granddaughters of Bernard Ong, whose family owns the decades-old Ong Sin Siu Grocery.
Collada and the Ongs were among the 650 skaters from from all over the world who competed in the week-long sporting event.
