Love conquers gold
It’s a balance of everything. It makes it easier to produce the feelings
CAPAS CITY — Love keeps the partnership of Mark Jayson Gayon and May Joy Renigen going and stronger.
The Philippine duo copped two golds and one silver in the dancesports competition of the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games at the Royce Hotel and Casino here and being partners for four years helped them achieve their labor of their affection.
“It’s a balance of everything. It makes it easier to produce the feelings,” the 25-year old Renigen said. “And the conflict when you fight, it becomes harder. But it’s all worth it.” Gayon and Renigen were classmates at University of Makati and started to dance together in 2014, but put their partnership to another level the following year. Since then they compete in dancesports in various local and international tournaments.
Performing for the first time in front of the hometown crowd, the 26-year old Gayon and Renigen captured the gold medals in the Single Dance Waltz and Single Dance Foxtrot before they settled for the silver in the Single Dance Quick Step.
The duo delivered the first gold medal in the dancesports meet that offered 14 gold medals.
“We’re really overwhelmed because it’s our first time to compete with this kind of support,” said Gayon, who unlike his girlfriend has yet to finish his college degree.
While love bonded Gayon and Renigen, the partnership of Sean Mischa Aranar and Ana Leonilla Nualla was not built in ideal way but the duo swept its three events, highlighting the domination of the national team.
Six years ago, Aranar and Nualla were looking for their dance partners and found each other in a dance studio in Manila. Now, they were the country’s triple gold medal winners in the biennial meet.
The Filipino pair won the golds in the Single Dance Tango, Single Dance Viennesse Waltz and All Five Dance to hike the country’s haul to five golds and one silver in the morning session of the competition.
“It’s really tiring. We prepare for this for one year and we just did it in less than one day. Finally, the pressure was off and we’re very happy. It has yet to sink in,” the 27-year old Nualla said.
The 23-year old Aranar said the crowd gave them a big lift and inspired them to be in their best form.
“All of our victories we offered them to God, to our kababayans and to our country,” Aranar said. “It’s really overwhelming.”