Mikaela Calamba: A winner among winners

At the beginning of each year, the sports writers of Cebu gather to recall the past year and the mull over the excellent sporting performances from local athletes and sportsmen.

Each year, editors, reporters and columnists from all three of Cebu’s local dailies, Cebu Daily News, Sun Star and The Freeman, make a list of achievements and decide who gets a citation and who makes it to the list of major awardees. Those who make it are usually the consistent winners in their respective fields, while the newbies who make it to the list has had a sporting achievement so exemplar, it doesn’t matter that it was his or her first win.

Deciding on who makes it to the list of major awardees is crucial because from this list comes the ultimate award of Athlete of the Year. Thus, making the recipient of the Athlete of the Year Award the ultimate winner among winners.

This year’s major awardees are: (athletics) Daniel Noval, (arnis) Trixie Mary Lofranco, Reynaldo Combate, (basketball), Jerie Pingoy, June Mar Fajardo, (beach volleyball), Jonrey Sasing, Edward Ybañez, (boxing), Johnriel Casimero, Donnie Nietes, Michael Aldeguer, (chess), Enrico Sevillano, (cycling), John Mier, (dancesport), Mae Lozada , (football), Don Bosco elementary team, Cebu Football Association, (golf) Cebu Country Club, Gio Gandionco (gymnastics). Carmelli Garrovillo, (mixed-martial arts), Victor Cui, (running), Mary Grace delos Santos, (swimming), Bea Riza Roble, (table tennis), Dannel Jay Tormis, Stephen Jaca, (taekwondo), Mikeala Calamba, (triathlon/duathlon), Justin Chiongbian.

After a first round of voting, the list of possible awardee for Athlete of the Year was narrowed down to three which included– chess Grand Master Enrico Sevillano, Johnriel Casimero who became a world champion last year by defeating Luis Lazarte for the IBF light flyweight title only to be lynched right after the match by an irate mob of boxing fans in Argentina, and last but not least Mikaela Calamba the high schooler from University of San Carlos who won a gold medal for the country in the individual freestyle event in the World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships last December in Colombia, besting jins from Vietnam, India and the USA.

Of the three, the fifteen-year-old stunner won the final voting with 75% of the total votes going to Calamba. But results of the voting are kept secret until the day of the awarding itself.

Calamba was honored as the Athlete of the Year during last Sunday’s 31st Sportswriters Association of Cebu (SAC)-San Miguel Brewery, Inc. (SMB) Cebu Sports Awards held at the North Wing Atrium of SM City Cebu. Calamba’s name was announced amidst cheers from her teammates at the Team Cebu City Taekwondo team.

Just the day before, Calamba, Kokoy to her friends, picked up her award for Player of Year in Taekwondo at the Philippine Sportswriters Association Annual Awards at the Manila Hotel again for winning the only gold medal for the country in the world poomsae tournament in Tunja, Colombia.

Interviewed by reporters including Cebu Daily News’ Mars Alison, Calamba recalled how her victory was both sweet but unexpected. “I worked hard but that victory was really unexpected because I was the youngest in that event,” said Calmba. “I am really happy, thankful and feel so blessed.”

Calamba took up taekwondo three years ago as a kid. Now a teenager with an international medal under her belt, Calamba shares her advice to other kids who, like her, once dreamed of excelling in sports. “I was once like them before, I was not famous but all you have to do is really train hard and prayers,” Calamba said.

I think SAC picked not just a winner this year, but also a role model and inspiration for little kids everywhere, not only to take up taekwondo, but to work hard at whatever sport they choose to pursue.