Fil-Am Zhaira Costiniano to defend figure skating crown

Youngest women's champion: Zhaira Costiniano

MANILA, Philippines—A year after a record-setting feat, Filipino-American Zhaira Costiniano returns to defend her crown in the Philippine Figure Skating Championship Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia ice skating rink.

Costiniano, who emerged as the youngest women’s champion at 15 last year, leads 30 skaters vying for titles in ten categories as well as the right to represent the country in various international competitions.

Out to challenge Costiniano are Mericien Venzon, who settled for a runner-up finish last year, Katie Dano and Melissa Bulanhagui.

Philippine Skating Union president Pocholo Veguillas cited the higher level of competition in this edition as more American skaters with Filipino roots signed up for the tournament.

“It’s very heartening to know that we have a lot of foreign participants competing here,” Veguillas said in a press conference late Friday at the mall grounds. “Although they’re not exactly foreigners because they’re also Filipinos at heart.”

An international panel will judge the event led by Japan’s Tomiko Yamada and Ayumi Kozuka and Canada’s Sherri Fergus.

Christopher Caluza leads the men’s division, while other favorites are Estefani Guerra (ladies’ advanced novice A), Jules Alpe (men’s advanced novice A) and Chloe Ramirez (basic novice B).

Homegrown talent Chelcie Mahinay also aims to defend her junior ladies crown against a tough field that includes Jizelle Bacani, Patricia Buensuceso, Alison Datoc, Samantha Veloso and Alisson Perticheto.

Other top competitors are siblings Carlotta and David Power (mixed juniors pairs), Dominique Katigbak and Louwee Shibata (basic novice A) and Sofia Guidote (juvenile).