SEA Games: Tacloban native Franco brings cheer to flood victims with karate gold

Tacloban native Niño Franco earned the first gold medal in karate for the Philippines in the 2013 Southeast Asian Games on Saturday in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar.

An inspired Franco edged out a Brunei karateka, 8-6, on Saturday in the men’s individual kumite 55kg to claim the gold medal for the Philippines.

It was a sweet victory for Franco, whose family survived super typhoon ‘Yolanda’ that wrecked Tacloban and several parts of the Visayas region.

According to Philippine Karatedo Federation secretary general Raymond Lee Reyes, Franco couldn’t contact his family while in the middle of training in Iran for the SEA Games days after Yolanda struck his hometown.

Fortunately for Franco, his family was safe.

“Para ito sa mga Taclobanon at sa mga tiga-Leyte at Samar,” said the 29-year-old Franco.

Mae Soriano settled for the silver medal of the women’s individual kumite 55kg after bowing in the finals against a Malaysian foe.

Joanna Mae Ylanan won a bronze medal. - Reuben Terrado, SPIN