Davao City Dancesports Stars Shine with Six Gold Medals at 2026 Davraa Meet
In a stunning display of talent and dedication, John Terence Cuizon and Angel Jane P. Tinambacan from Doña Carmen Denia National High School (DCDNHS) captivated judges and spectators alike, securing six gold medals in the dancesports competition. This remarkable achievement took place at the 2026 Davao Region Athletic Association (Davraa) Meet, held at the Davao del Norte Sports and Tourism Complex in Tagum City on Monday evening, February 23.
Davao City Leads Medal Tally with Impressive Sweep
The Davao City dancesports team delivered a dominant performance, sweeping 12 gold medals, 11 silvers, and one bronze to close Day 1 of the event on a high note. As of Tuesday afternoon, Davao City topped the official medal tally with 21 golds, 25 silvers, and eight bronzes, outpacing ten other delegations. Host Davao del Norte Pioneers followed in second place with 14 golds, four silvers, and 19 bronzes, while Panabo City Banana Magnates secured third with nine golds, nine silvers, and seven bronzes.
Other notable rankings included Davao Occidental Crusaders in fourth, Davao de Oro Golden Thunderbolts in fifth, and Digos City Trekkers in sixth. The top 11 was rounded out by Tagum Premier, Davao del Sur Cobras, Samal Waves, DavOr Sunrisers, and City of Mati Eagles.
Junior Duo Dominates Latin American Categories
Coached by Edsel Reyan Carlo C. Oliver, Cuizon and Tinambacan excelled in the Latin American Grade A and single dance categories, winning gold in cha-cha, jive, paso doble, rumba, and samba. In an interview posted on the Department of Education (DepEd) Davao City Facebook page, Cuizon expressed heartfelt gratitude, stating, "I am very grateful for the support from the Davao City division, and we are truly thankful to everyone who supported our practices and training. This makes us feel really happy."
Coach Oliver shared his immense pride in the athletes, emphasizing that their victory was a testament to discipline, teamwork, and relentless training. "As a coach, I am beyond proud of my athletes for sweeping all six golds," he said. "This victory is not just about winning; it is a testament to their discipline, teamwork, sacrifices, and countless hours of relentless training." He noted that this sweep marked the second time the team has claimed all gold medals at Davraa, adding, "They did not just defend their title, they proved that excellence is a habit."
Elementary Pair Matches Junior Feats with Six Golds
In a parallel success story, the elementary pair of Yanie Mae D. Chan and Eliju Joseph C. Darvin from F. Bustamante Elementary School (FBES), guided by coach Rio Jane S. De Vera, matched their junior teammates' accomplishments. They secured six gold medals in modern standard Grade A and single dance categories, including slow waltz, tango, Viennese waltz, foxtrot, and quickstep.
Chan, a Palarong Pambansa qualifier, expressed overwhelming joy, saying, "We’re overjoyed! After three years of trying and failing, we finally clinched the championship. All the hard work, sweat, and even the scolding we endured over the years truly paid off."
Additional Medal Contributions and Future Goals
Davao City's dancesports success was further bolstered by silver medals from Chester Patt Herrera and Samantha Anne Tangara in secondary modern standard, and Khladan Ian Ji dela Cruz and Ailyn Pawin in elementary Latin American. Meanwhile, the chess team contributed significantly with six golds and four silvers, led by standout performers like Ezequiel Priel Choi, Nathan Segara, and Hannah Segara.
Other gold medalists for Davao City included Daphne Manuelle Uyking in secondary girls' archery, Rafael Angelou Albores in elementary boys' 400-meter hurdles, and Aiza Mae Pareja in elementary girls' 400m hurdles. Looking ahead, Coach Oliver highlighted the team's focus on future competitions, stating, "I am truly grateful for their trust, hard work, and commitment. After this Davraa Meet, we will start intense training for the upcoming Palarong Pambansa, and hopefully, we will sweep all the medals there as well."
