HS duo entice national dancefloor Sareinah Ruth Gay Artates and Tito Fantillaga III stole the spotlight as they emerged as national qualifiers at the prestigious dancesports event during the National PRISAA Games 2024 in Legazpi City, Albay, July 22. Competing in the Junior Division with their captivating Latin American routine, the duo representing Western Visayas mesmerized the audience.

“This is my first time competing in the National PRISAA Games also in Dancesports Competition, we did not have a trainer in the national competition but we want to experience how the National Games feels like. We decided to go on and show what we’ve got on the floor. This is our first national competition so we did not give up the opportunity that the Lord offered to us,” Fantillaga shared as he reminisced his time at the National Games.

“I felt a little bit scared because during our competiton in the nationals, the other competitors were really tall and super mag hulag sila dako-dako ang hulag nila but akon nalang hambal sakon self I will trust in my self and to my partner, and we will dance in the dance floor with a powerful body and energetic mind. We did think that the National PRISAA is bihira lang matabo or makasulod that’s why we did give our best and all. I do trust that there is always room for improvement.

This is not our last so we will try and try, because we’re proud to represent Filamer Christian University and the Region 6,” he added, feeling proud of the achievement. Coached by the talented Sarah Rachel Gay Artates, Sareinah and Tito showcased skill and flair, and their dynamic performance added a touch of excitement and vibrancy to the competition, earning them well-deserved recognition as they continue to make their mark on the national dancefloor.

“The pressure was definitely on, but we were still able to enjoy ourselves. Walking in the opening parade, competing in a new environment, visiting new places in the city, and spending time with our team are some of my favorite moments. Hopefully, this nationals will not be our last,” junior dancer, Artates, expressed her hope for their future ventures.

“Even though we didn’t get to secure our place in the finals, it’s important that we gave our best and are proud of ourselves and our performance. Tito and I will continue to work harder and improve for better results. We will come back stronger next year!” she added.

Meanwhile, Senior Division dancers, Pierre Angelique Rae Rose and her partner Mark Jaen, captivated the audience with their glamorous performance to snag the fourth place in the national event. In the fiercely competitive Modern Standard Category, the duo awed the spectators with their radiant elegance, earning well-deserved accolades for their outstanding performance under the guidance of their coach, Dr. Joy Maravilla.

Story by Angel Asabasan Photos courtesy of Sarah Rachel Artates Layout by John Vincent Santiago