Sun.Star: Pangasinan team rules national karate tour

SAN CARLOS CITY -- The Wado Ryu Karate-Do Institute based here brought home the championship belt in the recently held National Best of the Best Karate Championships. The national competition was held in Angeles City on July 1. The 25-man Pangasinan team collected seven gold, four silver, and eight bronze belts after beating 234 other teams from all over the country. The champion team led by head coach Ronald Vistro on Tuesday paid a courtesy call on San Carlos Mayor Julier Resuello and Vice Mayor Joseres Resuello. The gold medallists were Frankie Sunga, Rocky Benitez, and Jonathan de Vera (Men's Kumite, +18 years old, 55 kilograms), Kareen Joy dela Cruz (Women's Kumite, +18 years old, 50 kilograms), Catalina Roman (Women's Kumite, +18 years old, 55 kilograms), Jogebeth Cabrera (Girl's Kumite, 10-11 years old) and McNick Ferrer (Boy's Kumite, 12-13 years old). Vistro said they have been joining national and international competitions since the 1990s. He said they competed in the World Wadu Karate Championships in Japan in 1996 and in England in 1998 and 2001. He said they are now preparing for the Ultimate Pinoy Karate Championships, which will be held in San Fernando City, Pampanga on August 19, and Philippine Olympic Festival in Palayan City, Nueva Ecija in September. They will also compete in the International Wado Ryu Karate Games in Bristol, England in November, said Vistro. - Sun.Star