GENERAL SANTOS City – Fresh from an international triumph, Iloilo’s Vince Floyd Tamonan proved his mastery once again by clinching another gold medal — this time in the Tunggal (solo) category of Pencak Silat at the Batang Pinoy 2025 National Championships here.
The Tubungan native, who previously struck gold in the 3rd Asian Junior Pencak Silat Championship, showcased an impressive blend of precision, balance, and artistic control that captivated judges and spectators alike. His back-to-back victories cement his status as one of the country’s rising martial arts prodigies.
“Vince continues to show that hard work and dedication pay off,” said Iloilo delegation member Ray Cabarles. “He’s a great example for young athletes in our province.”
Tamoman’s win added another gold to Iloilo’s medal haul and highlighted Western Visayas’ growing presence in the national youth games, where discipline-based sports such as pencak silat are gaining renewed attention.
Meanwhile, Team Bacolod also made an early splash in the competition with a partial, unofficial tally of six gold, 10 silver, and three bronze medals across multiple sports.
Gold medalists include Geri Kiara Javier (rhythmic gymnastics ribbon), Dondy Santillan Jr. (taekwondo), Cedric Ortaliz (chess), and Maxene Hayley Uy (swimming).
Bacolod officials lauded their athletes for maintaining the city’s reputation as a powerhouse in grassroots sports. “Their achievements reflect the city’s deep investment in youth development,” one official noted.
Silver medalists include Anika Matiling (50-meter freestyle, 14–15 girls), Kane Benedict Laureano (shot put, 16–17 boys), John Vincent Deliola (400-meter hurdles, under-18 boys), and Renz Solomon (400-meter run, under-18 boys).
Bronze finishers were Savanna Saril, Samantha Arcigal, and Jessica Tinasas (cadet girls’ poomsae taekwondo, 12–14 years old), as well as Uy, Matiling, Marta Rodriguez, and Rihanna Montelibano in the girls’ 4x50m relay./PN
