Edito “Piso” Alcala is a local professional surfer hailing from Surigao Del Norte. He and his good friend, Philmar Alipayo have been participating in various competitions, both local and international. He has won gold in the Billabong Cloud 9 Invitational tournament, which was held in Siargao.

Philmar Alipayo, a Surigao native and good friend of Piso Alcala, made history after being awarded as the first Philippine Surfing Championship Tour grand champion for the shortboard event. Alipayo reigned as champiom in tournaments such as the 19th Siargao National Surfing Cup and REEF Pro La Union.

Bullying was the main reason why Filipina Olympian Kirstie Elaine Alora decided to pursue taekwondo. At a young age of 15, she made a grand entrance to the sport by winning her first ever gold medal in the 2005 South East Asian Games. She continued on to win more gold medals in the 2011 and 2013 South East Asian games and won silver in the 2017 South East Asian Games.

22-year-old Fil Am Trenten Beram is a track and field athlete specializing in sprinting events. A superstar both on the track and inside the classroom, Beram set the national record for the 200-meter dash and gave the country 2 gold medals and one bronze medal in the 2017 South East Asian Games, all while maintaining a stunning 3.9 GPA as a math major in the University of Connecticut.

28 year old windsurfer Geylord Coveta was the champion of the RS: One World Championships in 2017. He was also the country’s flag bearer in the previous Asian Games and has won several other international contests such as the Singapore Open.

Born in Olongapo and raised in Sacramento, Filipino-American Eric Cray is a 29-year-old track and field athlete who has been competing ever since he was in high school. Securing gold in the 2017 South East Asian Games and the 2017 Asian Athletics Championships, Cray is currently the national record holder for the 400-meter hurdles event.

Following her mother’s footsteps, 18 year old Kaitlin de Guzman is a Fiipino-American gymnast who brought home the gold for the Philippines in the 2017 South East Asian Games in the uneven bars event. Her mother, Cintamoni de Guzman, won gold in the same event in the 1995 South East Asian Games in Chang Mai.

28 year-old Karateka James Delos Santos got redemption as he bagged a medal in the 2017 South East Asian Games. Delos Santos continued his training despite the sport not being included in the 2015 games. He bounced back from his 2013 defeat and ended the 2017 games with a Bronze medal on his neck.

Filipina weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz made the country proud as she donned her silver medal in the 2016 Summer Olympics held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Diaz’s silver ended the country’s 20-year medal drought in the prestigious competition. She has also bagged twin medals in the 2017 International Weightlifting Federation World Championships in Anaheim, California.

James Deiparine is a 25 year old Filipino American swimmer from Washington State. Through his performance in other competitions, he was able to catch the attention of swimming secretary-general Lani Velasco, who recruited him to the national team to represent the country in the 2017 South East Asian Games, where he bagged Silver. Deiparine is also the national record holder for breaststroke.

22 year old Ariana Dormitorio is a cross-country phenom. Through rain or shine, she trains every day under the mentorship of her father and has brought pride and joy to her country by competing and winning in numerous events, such as the 2015 ASEAN MTB cup where she bagged gold.

19 year-old Sienna Fines is a Filipino-American BMX speedster from the United States. At a young age, she has already been dominating the competition, winning gold in the Asian BMX Championships. During an interview, she said that her ultimate goal in the sport is to represent her country, the Philippines, in the Olympics.

22 year-old Ojay Funetes is a Filipino rower who, along with teammate Hermie Macaranas, spearheaded the team that brought home the gold in the ICF World Dragon Boat Championships in Moscow. Macaranas was also part of the team that won two gold medals in the 2015 Asian Canoe Sprint and Dragon Boat Championship in Palembang, Indonesia.

Alongside Geylord Coveta, fellow surfer 23 year-old Yancy Kaibigan secured a spot at the top of RS: One World Championships. He also won gold in the 4th Asian Beach Games.

Second generation taekwondo jin Pauline Lopez had to convince her former national team member father to let her pursue the sport. But she did not disappoint as she has participated in numerous tournaments, both locally and internationally. She has bagged numerous medals for the country including the South East Asian Games in 2011, 2013, and 2015. She has won gold medals in the Asian Youth Games, Asian Championships, and was awarded as Rookie of the Year of UAAP Season 79.

19 year-old Hermie Macaranas is a Filipino rower who, along with teammate Ojay Fuentes, spearheaded the team that brought home the gold in the ICF World Dragon Boat Championships in Moscow. Macaranas was also part of the team that won two gold medals in the 2015 Asian Canoe Sprint and Dragon Boat Championship in Palembang, Indonesia.

Weightlifter Kristel Macrohon is following the footsteps of her teammate and Olympic medalist Hidilyn Diaz as she competes in various international regional competitions. A budding talent, Macrohon has won three bronze medals in the 4th Qatar International Cup and 2016 Asian Cup at the Doha Intercontinental Hotel in Doha City. She has also won Bronze in the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games.

27 year-old Kim Mangrobang holds the highest International Triathlon Union ranking in the Philippines. She claimed several medals for the country, including her stellar gold finish in the 2017 South East Asian Games, silver in the 2015th South East Asian Games, and Bronze in the 2016 Dakhla Sprint Triathlon African Cup in Morocco.

Awarded as the Best Asia Youth Boxer of the year in 2013, 22 year old Zamboangan, Eumir Marcial, won the gold in both the 2015 and 2017 South East Asian Games.

Judoka twins Shugen and Keisei Nakano won a bronze medal each in the 2017 South East Asian Games. Shugen competed in the -66kg while Keisei competed in the -73kg category.

Judoka twins Shugen and Keisei Nakano won a bronze medal each in the 2017 South East Asian Games. Shugen competed in the -66kg while Keisei competed in the -73kg category.

Filpino-British John Marvin is a 6-foot-1 light heavyweight boxer who brought the Philippines gold in the 2017 South East Asian Games. Marvin is also part of the British Army, and holds the position of lance corporal. He is a two-time Combined Services Senior Boxing champion who had an amateur record of 23 wins and 11 losses.

Ernest John Obiena is a 22 year old athlete who holds the national record for pole vaulting. Clinching bronze in the 2017 Asian Athletics Championships and silver in the 2015 South East Asian Games, Obiena is the first Filipino invited to compete with the sport’s elite and participate in the IAAF Diamond League in Rome.

Nicole Oliva first rose to glory in the Santa Clara Swim Club in the United States. At 16 years of age, this Filipino American swimmer caught the attention of many with her impressive debut in the Phil Swim National Championships in Laguna, where she won gold in her 100 meter Backstroke and 400m freestyle events.

Marella Salamat is a 23 year old cyclist who won gold in her first ever competition during the 2015 South East Asian Games. Salamat also won bronze in 2016 World University Cycling Chmpionship and competed in the 2017 South East Asian Games.

Nicole Tagle is a 16 year old archer hailing from Dumaguete City. Being no stranger to the international archery scene, Tagle has competed in numerous international tournaments, bagging medals in Myanmar, Thailand, Russia, the United States. She placed second in the 2017 South East Asian Games and is set to compete in the World Youth Championship in Buenos Aires in June.

Young star on the rise Mariya Takahashi overthrew a 5-time gold medalist in her shining professional debut in the 2017 South East Asian Games. Takahashi, then 16 years old, dominated defending champion Surattana Thongsri in a span of just 48 seconds, claiming the country’s second for Judo that year.

Filipino-Japanese Cebuana Kiyomi Watanabe is a Judo superstar, winning multiple medals for the Philippines over the past few years. She has been dominating her weight division, bringing home the gold during the 2017 , 2015, 2013 South East Asian Games.

18 year-old Manileño Carlos Yulo is a Gymnastics superstar, winning 3 medals in a span of a month in his first year of competing as a senior. He sets his eyes on the 2020 Olympics after garnering Podium positions in the Doha, Baku, and Melbourne World Cups.