The resounding slashing of baston in the air made another history in the record of Philippine Pencak Silat Team as Edmar Tacuel of Tubungan Iloilo made another remarkable performance.

Tacuel brought pride and honor to the Philippines by bagging up a silver medal in the 1stWorld Beach Pencak Silat Championship held at Patong Beach Phuket Thailand, October 1, 2019.

Amidst the cheers and yells that are echoing the venue, Tacuel made his opponents scratch from gold to morsel as he gave his best to earn the title in Mens Sine Tunggal category.

Tunggal individual performance consists of dancing showing graceful movements and good balance.

Tacuel bested from other competing countriesstar players like Singapore, Vietnam, Laos and Thailand.

Thank you dahil lahat ng pinaghirapan ko ay nagbunga na rin sa wakas. I know patikim lang to sa akin ni God at kailangan ko pa mag pursigi pa sa training,Tacuel said.

He also wanted to thank the people behind his success; his coach the Philippine National Coach of Sine, Diosdado Cantomayor, PhilSilat Sports Association, Philippine Sports Commission and Indonesia National Head Coach of sine to name a few.

“I am so proud of my brother. Our family is always here to fully support him in all his endeavors,”said Michelle Tacuel.

Ariel Tabares his coach, faculty of Tubungan National High School, discovered his potential during the School Intramurals.

“I discovered his potential when we recruited players to play for Tubungan in the First Congressional District Sports Association Meet and he got gold in Arnis,”Tabares said.

Seeing his ability, Tabares got him into rigorous training and joined him at the 2013 Batang Pinoy in Maasin City, Southern Leyte where he got silver in Pencak Silat.

“There was even a point na gusto ko mag back out pero dahil sa kahirapan nagpursigi ako para maiangat ang buhay at sinamahan nalang panalangin para maging successful ang dream ko,”Tacuel said.

His coach disclosed that he is proud of Tacuel because he can balance academics and sports as well.

“As a coach I am proud of him. I teach them reverse psychology. If ever I cannot achieve such awards my students instead brought such award for the country and that makes me thrilled,”Tabares said.

Tacuel also encourages younger generations to learn martial arts.

Pencak Silat being a combat sport teaches us the self defense and it is useful when we protect ourselves from danger aside from gathering awards, he added.

Tacuel is now preparing for Pre SEA (South East Asia) Games this upcoming October 13- 15 in Manila and 5th Asian Pencak Silat in China dated December 26-30, 2019.

Tacuel is a native of Brgy Nagba and is currently studying Bachelor in Industrial Technology at Iloilo Science and Technology La Paz Campus./FLORY ANN TACUBAN, University of the Philippines Visayas