Ilonggo jins shine in Asian taekwondo championships

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Four Ilonggo jins well represented the Philippines during the recently concluded Asian Junior, Cadet, & Para Taekwondo Championships held at the Stadium Perpaduan, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia from July 25 to 31, 2025.

The quartet of Julianna Martha Uy, Adrian Joseph Gajasan, Felix Ace Perez, and Sophia Marie Bautista brought honor and pride to the Ilonggos for an outstanding campaign on the international scene.

All jins were part of the Philippine National Taekwondo Team and trained under the supervision of the national coaches in several intensive out-of-town sessions.

Gajasan stood out in the Mixed Pair Freestyle Cadet category after winning the silver medal. The talented jin flaunted his precision in the showcase, which was more than enough to secure a podium finish for the PHL.

Meanwhile, Uy, managed to grab the bronze medal in the Individual Recognized Poomsae Junior Female and Team Division together with her national team teammates.

Although Perez and Bautista didn’t bring home any medals, the pair still performed well in Malaysia and ended the tournament as a quarterfinalist and a participant in the elimination round, respectively.

Before testing the waters in Malaysia, the Ilonggo jins first excelled during the National Poomsae Championships held in Manila from July 21 to 22.

Uy, Gajasan, and Bautista are all trainees under the mentorship of the widely-renowned Mark V. Pinggol (MVP) taekwondo gym while Perez hails from Calinog.

“It’s a dream come true to see my students’ journey from grassroots to gold. This is one of many dreams realized, both for me and my MVP team. We dedicate this victory to God Almighty, our beloved country, and our fellow Ilonggos,” said Mr. Pinggol in an exclusive interview with the Daily Guardian.

Job’s not finished for these young and talented Ilonggo jins as they are set to prepare for an invitational tournament in Thailand on August 6 followed by the Visayas Taekwondo Championships in Passi City on August 9.