Auckland Pinoys, Filipino people, Hongkong, Malaysia, New Zealand, NewZealand, OFW, Papua New Guinea, Philippine, Philippine team, Pinoy, Pinoy culture, Rotorua, Sultan Kudarat, Wellington Pinoys

we’re number one in rotorua!

Noel Bautista

07/03/2013

H.E. Ambassador Virginia Benavidez with the understandably happy IPSC 2013 champions, the Philippine team. Yehey!

UNBEKNOWNST TO many kabayan in New Zealand, the Philippine team was stamping its class all over the Australasia 2013 International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC) Handgun Championships (also known as AA 2013) in Rotorua, one the country’s most famous tourist spots. And just to make it more interesting, our boys and girls from Team Philippines won first or second place in no less than eight events, besting their counterparts from Australia, Hongkong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and guest competitors from Europe. Gold medal performances in the Classic, Open, Production, Revolver and Standard events, silver medal finishes in the Open-General, Open-Ladies and Open-Senior events as well as outstanding individual performances by many of our kabayan simply overwhelmed the event, as so many of our athletes came up to the podium over and over in an embarrassment of riches. As a result, the Philippine national anthem was also played around a dozen times to honor the winners. Standing out for Team Filipinas were Kenneth Ray Agustin, Sonny Cu, Lydia Cuyong, Edcel John Gino, Nolito Ladroma, Nelson Uygonco, Jerome Jovanne Morales, Edwin Peter Lim, Suharto Al Wali Mangundatu, Mariam Mangundatu, Agustin Morales III, Christopher Panganiban, Angela Mariz Ramos, Mary Grace Tan, Daniel Torrevillas, Tilton Yohan Tsoi and Keo Dayle Tuan.

A member of the Wellington Pinoy community, our very own Lt Col Marcelo Esparas (Phil Army Reserve – Inactive) served as a member of the AA 2013 Secretariat (as Traffic Control Officer during registration), and was Committee Finance Assistant in the said event.

Her Excellency Ambassador Virginia H Benavidez also graced the event and served as an inspiring cheerleader for the Philippine team, while Datu Suharto T. Mangudadatu (Al-Haj), Provincial Governor of Sultan Kudarat & Philippine Practical Shooting Association President provided leadership as head of the Philippine Delegation.

Our countrymen emerged as the most bemedalled and recognized team, finishing with the most number of 1st place finishes in both team and individual events. Mabuhay ang International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC) Philippine team!