WALANG corporate sponsors. Kulang ang nagtitiwala. Ngunit, sa kabila ng mga hamon sa buhay at kagustuhang makamit ang kompetitibong level ng isang lehitimong world-class athletes – nagtiyaga, nagsanay, nagtiis, at nanalangin ang mga miyembro ng Philippine National Dance Sports Team.

At sa katatapos na 30th Southeast Asian Games, nagbigay ng karangalan sa bansa ang dance sports athletes sa nakamit na 10 gintong medalya at dalawang silver.

“There are 12 gold medals at stakes in dance sport competitions. We got 10 golds and two silvers. We’re the only National Sports Association with multi-event competition which swept the podium,” pahayag ni Dance Sports Council of the Philippines president Becky Garcia.

“We owe it to the sacrifices of our athletes. We owe it to the people who believe on our program and we are grateful with the support extend to us by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation’s (PAGCOR),” sambit ni Garcia sa ginanap na victory party ng koponan nitong Huwebes sa Rizal Park Hotel.

Brandon Clarke ng Memphis, pumanaw sa edad na 29!

“All our four couples who dominated the Dancesport’s Standard and Latin categories benefited from PAGCOR’s aid. We were able to send them to Italy to attend a rigid dance training as part of their preparations for the SEA Games,” aniya.

Ang dancesport athletes na nagsanay sa Italy para paghandaan ang kampanya sa international competition, kabilang na ang SEA Gamesd ay sina Sean Mischa Aranar at Ana Leonila Nualla na nagwagi ng gintong medalya sa Tango, Viennese Waltz at Five Dance Steps events; gayundin sina Mark Jayson Gayon at Mary Joy Reginen, kampeon sa Standard Waltz at Slow Foxtrot, at silver medalist sa Quickstep.

Sinuportahan din ng PAGCOR ang pagsasanay sa abroad nina Wilbert Aunzo at Pearl Marie Cañeda, nagwagi ng gintong medalya sa Samba, Chacha at Rumba, habang nag-ambag ang tambalan nina Michael Angelo Marquez at Stephanie Sabalo ng gintong medalya sa Paso Doble at Latin Five Dance event bago naka-silver sa Jive.

Sinanay at hinasa ang koponan ng mga local coaches, sa tulong ng international renowned Polish coach Alina Nowak at Alexander Melnikov, tanyag na Russian dancesport athlete at adjudicator.

“We could not have done this without PAGCOR. Every year, DSCPI sends athletes abroad to compete in international dancesport events. Our aim here is not only to win but to give them the international exposure that they need,” pahayag ni Garcia.

Ikinalugod naman ni PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Andrea Domingo ang naging tagumpay hindi lamang ng dancesport, bagkus ng boong Team Philippines sa pagsungkit ng overall championship tampok ang kabuuang 149 ginto, 117 silver at 121 bronze medal.

“Whenever we support our athletes, we also give our country a chance to shine internationally. We saw this during the opening of the 30th SEA Games when all eight Filipino dancesport contenders ruled over its opponents from Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. Indeed, our direct assistance to these dancers was spent wisely on training with the best coaches abroad, who further imparted their dance acumen to promising protégés,” pahayag ni Domingo.

“PAGCOR has been instrumental in producing top Filipino athletes with our mandated remittance to the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC). Since the current management took over, PAGCOR’s remittances to the PSC has reached P5.71 billion,” aniya.

Mula rin sa PAGCOR ang cash incentives na ibibigay sa mga atletang nagwagi ng medalya batay sa Cash Incentives Law.