Young Sebastinian jin bring home medals from the recently held 2008 World Taekwondo Expo Festival

The Philippine Team, including two kids of the big group of Smart/Petron taekwondo jins who competed in the 2008 World Taekwondo Expo Festival held in Muju and Jeonju last July 4-11, brought home medals and glory for the country.

Rannie Stefano Pabilico won gold medals for both kyorugi and poomsae events for the 13-year-old and below male category.

Rannie is one of the young members of the Philippine Taekwondo Demonstration Team and is a grade school student of San Sebastian College-Recoletos Manila.

"He trained hard for the event" said Randy Pabilico his very supportive father. "With the support of the San Sebastian Taekwondo Club, his team mates and coaches, Rannie made it sure that he will bring home the medal", he added.

Rannie underwent extensive training with the effort and close guidance of Asst. Coach Roger Arroyo.

The SSC-R jins are under the supervision of the very known Coach Jec Panotes who also is a world champion in the same sport.

Another young jin, Melanie Hope Douglas, a 12-year old jin of Alaminos City National High School in Pangasinan brought home the gold at the 13-year-old and below female division of the poomsae event and a bronze at the kyorugi event.

The poom sae category requires a participant to show the correct defensive and offensive form of taekwondo. This includes the way a participant forms his defense and throws his punches and kicks. The kyorugi (sparring) on the other hand, is the display of ones prowess in the taekwondo fighting technique in a man-to-man combat scheduled in rounds.

The members of the team supported by Smart Communications, PLDT, Petron, Philippine Sports Commission and Adidas are (in alphabetical order):

Sabrina Rae Aquino, Lee Angelo Ariston, Clyde Men Kent, Batangan, Stephanie Ann Cochico, Matthew Cordero, Melanie Hope Douglas, Danille Encinares, Toni Encinares, Beatrice Anne Escriba, Dave Ivan Hezeta, Adellyne Rochelle Javier, Seth Jairo Macaraig, Jojie Manluctao, Marfred Marasigan, Ysabel Kate Mercado, Kiela Therese Montinola, Paulino Naguiat, Rannie Stefano Pabilico - SSC-R, Jeffrey Paulite, Tristan Jay Rapista,
Romelle Roa, John Rainart Onofre Santo IV, Ron Servito,
Catherine Kaye Tandingan, Maria Jessica Tolin, Eugene Torres and Crizabelle Gayle Vargas

Team officials are Ricardo Santiago Jr. and Cmdr Loreto Velasquez.

The 2nd World Taekwondo Culture Expo was attended by participants from over 50 countries including the US, China, Spain, France and Germany.

The powerhouse Philippine team sent to South Korea has won 21 gold medals, 21 silvers and 17 bronzes.

With excerpts from: ABS-CBN, The Manila Times