• CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO
A resolution congratulating Bacoleño Dondy Santillan Jr., for bringing glory and honor to the Philippines by winning the gold medal at the Asian Cadet Taekwondo Championships 2025, was approved by the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod Wednesday.
Authored by Councilor Al Victor Espino, the resolution said Bacoleño Jin Dondy Santillan, Jr., clinched the gold medal at the Asian Cadet Taekwondo Championships 2025 in Sarawak, Malaysia on July 27 to 28.
Santillan is a sports scholar at Living Stone International School, where he has consistently demonstrated excellence in both academic performance and athletic discipline, it said.
He trains under the mentorship of Pauline Sabido of the Negros Taekwondo Union – Tigers, a taekwondo club recognized for its contribution to the development of grassroots talent in the region, the resolution said.
Santillan exhibited exceptional determination and discipline, by triumphing over elite competitors from Thailand, Chinese Taipei, Malaysia, and Kazakhstan, thereby securing the coveted gold medal, it said.
His victory marked a historic milestone, as it was the Philippines’ first gold medal in the Asian Cadet Taekwondo Championships in over a decade, bringing honor and pride to the nation and to the people of Bacolod City, the resolution said.
His achievement serves as an inspiration to young Filipino athletes, exemplifying the values of resilience, perseverance, and national pride, it said.
This remarkable feat reflects the positive impact of community-based sports organizations, educational institutions, and dedicated coaches in nurturing young talent, the resolution added.*
