MANILA, Philippines?A Filipino skater almost pulled off what could have been the country?s maiden appearance in the Winter Olympics.

Gracielle Jeanne Tan, 19, landed 29th out of the 54 top ice skaters in the World Figure Ice Skating Championships in Los Angeles, California.

The top 24 in the ladies short program, where Korea?s Kim Yu-Na, Joannie Rochette of Canada and Japan?s Mao Asada have reigned supreme, will advance to the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

But all is not lost for the Los Angeles-based Tan. According to ice skating chief Ric Camaligan, six more Olympic seats would be offered in a tournament scheduled in Germany in September.

?It was close,? said Camaligan, president of the Philippine Skating Union and a top executive of SM Prime Holdings. ?But there?s still a chance for Gracielle to make the Olympics.?

?We hope Gracielle could barge into the top 30 and accomplish what no other Filipino skater had achieved,? added Camaligan.

Tan compiled a total segment score of 37.74 points, four points behind Mexico?s Ana Cecilia Cantu, who finished 24th with a total score of 41.58 points.

The judges gave the Filipino 22.34 points in the technical element score, 15.4 in the program component score, 4.0 skating skills, 3.55 in transitions, 4.05 in performance and execution, 3.75 in choreography and 3.90 in interpretation.

Last week, Michael Dimalanta ended up dead-last out of 50 skaters in the men?s short program of the same tournament, the qualifying event for the 2010 Winter Olympics.