MANILA – The country won’t have to look far for the next Margielyn Arda Didal, the 2018 Asian Games street skateboard gold medalist and latest Pinay sports icon, according to Skateboarding and Roller Sports Association of the Philippines, Inc. president Monty Mendigoria.
“Princess Jaramillo could be our next Margie. She definitely has that potential,” said Mendigoria, who came with the athlete in tow, Tuesday during the Philippine Sports Association (PSA) Forum at the Amelie Hotel-Manila.
A native of Dasmarinas, Cavite, Jaramillo, 23, took runner-up honors behind the illustrious Didal, scoring 24.57 points behind the latter’s 28.73 points in the women’s street finals of the National Skateboarding Championships held over the weekend in Barangay Tapo, Sta. Rosa, Laguna.
“Gusto ko po talaga maging miyembro ng national team. Yun po ang pangarap ko (I really wanted to become national team member. That’s my dream),” said Jaramillo, who took up street skateboarding at the age of 16 after being drawn to the sport by the male streetboarders in her Parañaque neighborhood.
“I have witnessed Cess (Jaramillo’s nickname) for quite some time. What I admire about her just like Margie is her consistency,” noted Mendigoria, adding Jaramillo still has to go through the screening process to make it to the national team in the 30th Southeast Asian Games where skateboard will make its debut as a medal sport.
Only two entries are allowed in each of the eight events -- four in the men’s and four in the women’s divisions -- that are included in skateboarding in the 30th SEA Games, and Didal and Fil-Am Christiana Means are already seeded in the street skateboard competitions, he explained.
“If Ces doesn’t make the cut, she definitely be a part of our national pool because, as we said, we would like to groom a new generation of Margie Didals,” added Mendigoria in the session presented by San Miguel Corp., Braska Restaurant, Amelie Hotel, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation.
Currently a dental technician who makes protective mouth guards, Jaramillo said she practices after work at a makeshift street skateboard park with other enthusiasts near the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 in Pasay City.
“Ang favorite ko pong (My favorite) trick is the 50-50 explosive grind,” bared the petite skateboarder of the routine where she skates over a rail or ledge then suddenly leaps in mid-air then lands back on the rail again.
Mendigoria bared that the skate park being built in Tagaytay, Cavite, which will be the sight of the street and park events, is facing some slight delays due to the onset of the rainy season.
“Being sport making its debut in the SEA Games, we are supposed to have a test competition but the rainy season is causing some delays in the construction of the skatepark in Tagaytay,” he said. “The skatepark is supposed to be finished by September but it could be done in October.”
As the competition manager for skateboarding in the SEA Games, Mendigoria, however, was confident “that we will have a truly world-class facility once the skatepark in Tagaytay is done.” (PR)
