The United Negrense Archery Club announced the winners of the 1st Mayor Albee Benitez Archery Cup on Monday, October 10.
The event held in partnership with World Archery Philippines (WAP) and Yuhum Foundation was held at The Upper East Bacolod Grounds.
Jose Blaire Ejercito, United Negrense Archery Club president, said the main goal of the event was to bring the City of Smiles back on the map of archery in the country as it has been decades since the city has had active organizations and activities related to the sport.
The event was conceptualized after a conversation with WAP Secretary General Don Sombrio at the Philippine Archery Cup in July and it was decided that the perfect time to hold the event was during the Masskara Festival, he said.
More than 70 archers from Barotac Viejo, Antique, Iloilo City, Mandaue City, Cebu City, Dumaguete City, Bayawan, Butuan City, with old and new archers from Bacolod City participated.
In the men’s Compound category, Niño Maandig defeated Jon Allen Tabuada and Benny Casana to win the gold medal. During the Olympic Round, Casana clinched the gold medal, winning over Maandig and Tabuada.
Other Gold medalists were: Olympic Round (Recurve) – Jaden Jarbonido (Boys U-10), Miska Blu Ejercito (Girls U-10), Lance Reuben Mikhail Yu (Boys U-13), Isabella Unna Ejercito (Girls U-13), Rapha Eliel Velasquez (Boys U-15), Penelope Juli Aldiano (Girls U-15), Shawn Michael Sumagaysay (Boys U-18), Micaela Manaloto (Girls U-18), Dollyn Grace Llaguno (Girls U-21), Hernan Mervyn Veñegas (Men’s Barebow), Christian Caresosa (Men’s Open Recurve) Gabrielle Monica Bidaure (Women’s Open Recurve); Olympic Round (Compound Men) – Daryl Eslita; Olympic Round (Compound Women) Kesia Ferraris. (See full list of winners.)
Ejercito thanked Bacolod City Mayor Albee Benitez and Yuhum Foundation headed by Pinky Mirano Ocampo for the support in the event.
“We are hoping that this will not be the first and last but a regular and yearly event for archers in our city. We will grow archery here through the development of the grassroots. With the massive success of the event, I can definitely feel that Archery is back in Bacolod,” he added.*PR