The Philippine Senate commended the 6-year-old Filipina, with roots in Negros Occidental, on Wednesday, Nov. 22, for winning her second gold medal at the Abu Dhabi World Festival Jiu-Jitsu Championships early this month.
Aleia Aielle Aguilar, the youngest Jiu-Jitsu world champion, is the daughter of Filipino martial artists Alvin Aguilar from Bacolod and Maybelline Masuda, and the granddaughter of Negrense Art Aguilar.
“Our athlete who was honored in the Senate is different- very cute but able to upset an opponent in jiu-jitsu…The talent of our young Filipino athletes is really fun and makes us proud,” Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said.
Maybelline Masuda thanked Zubiri for the honor given her daughter.
“Instances like this where the legislators are proud and pay attention to the victories caused by the sacrifice of the young athletes will help and serve as inspiration for them to continue preparing for the next matches,” she said.
“Thank you very much for welcoming and supporting us. I hope to encourage more children to work hard and become World Champions in whatever sports they participate in like Jiu-jitsu”, she added.
Senator Grace Poe said “the Senate celebrates her achievement for bringing home the gold”.*