Floor flair

Philippine Dancesport partner Sean Mischa Aranar and Ana Leonila Nualla dance their way to three gold medals, ruling the Tango, Viennese Waltz and Five Dance events during the 30th Sea Games held at Clark, Pampanga. INQUIRER PHOTO / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

NEW CLARK CITY—The Philippines whirled, twirled and tangoed to dancesport supremacy on Sunday night in the 30th Southeast Asian Games.

Displaying the Filipino’s innate musicality and natural grace, the country hoarded 10 out of 14 total gold medals contested in the sport, bolstering the Philippines’ amazing Day 1 bonanza.

“This is magical!” said Wilbert Aunzo, who with longtime partner Pearl Marie Caneda picked up three mints in Latin discipline.

Aunzo came from an ACL injury due to overtraining last year to connive with Caneda in picking up victories in slow samba, chacha and rumba.

Together, they dazzled in each of the three disciplines, capping their feat with their soulful rumba routine to the tune of Cher’s classic “Believe.”

Sean Micha Aranar and Ana Leonilla Nualla also grabbed three open standard golds in the morning.

Michael Angelo Marquez and Stephanie Sabalo reeled in two more victories in Latin, while Mark Jayson Gayon and Mary Joy Renigen also scored twice in standard.

The total haul was historic for the Philippines, which also swept the two golds disputed during the 2005 SEA Games held in Cebu City.
Aunzo and Caneda teach school kids in Cebu City, sharing their expertise for free as “part of our advocacy.”

Partners for 11 years, the 26-year-old Aunzo and 22-year-old Caneda are the first products of the grassroots program in Cebu City.

“We are the first successful products, I say successful because here we are performing for the country,” Aunzo said.

Becky Garcia, Dancesport Council of the Philippines president, said they “were overwhelmed” by the performance.

“These athletes worked very hard [and] they deserve all these accolades,” Garcia said.
Gayon and Renigen also took silver in standard quickstep.

Marquez and Sabalo claimed silver in Latin jive, losing to Vietnam’s Nguyen Uyen and Nguyen Throng.

It was a thrilling close fight as the Vietnamese went ahead with their “Don’t Stop Me Now” number that earned them 32.713 points.
Dancing last, Marquez and Sabalo brought the house down with a “Footloose” routine but could only score 32.650. INQ