These bemedaled athletes will definitely achieve more: Camille will pursue law studies; Janice hopes to be a full-fledged nurse; and Rani will take up a masters degree in Sports Nutrition.

They are pretty, young, intelligent – and they can definitely kick ass!

Dubbed as Philippine taekwondo’s Triple Threat – Rani Ann Ortega, Camille Alarilla, and Janice Lagman have turned into overnight
celebrities after bringing home the gold medal for the poomsae event from the last Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) in Vientiane, Laos.

Prior to competing in SEAG, the girls had also clinched the gold in the women’s team event at the 4th World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships held in Cairo, Egypt, besting participants
from 18 other countries.

All over TV, in the newspapers, and the internet these weeks past, yet the three remain unfazed by all the attention showered upon them, opting to keep their focus on nothing but taekwondo and the prospects of bringing more honor to the country.

“We didn’t expect to win but we nevertheless trained hard for it. We even trained in Korea. At this point, we are preparing for this year’s competition,” relates
the 22-year old Rani Ann Ortega.

With achievements that are unrivalled, especially in a country where majority of sports heroes are male, Rani, Camille and Janice were named 2009 Athletes of the Year by the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA), the first time that a group of female athletes was recognized.

Balancing act

Poomsae is the non-contact side of taekwondo where the emphasis is form or choreographed movement against an imaginary opponent.

“Poomsae is more difficult and more nerve-racking than sparring because you need to maintain your balance. One wrong move can cause your team’s downfall,” explains Rani.

It is no surprise that the three sports heroines – who are similar in height, physique and good looks – would engage in the same sport. The three are first cousins who grew up together!

“We’re really close. Lagi kaming magkakasama. Dati nag-swimming kami, nag-tennis kami, sabay-sabay kami, pare-pareho always. Actually lahat ng cousins namin na girls also do taekwondo,” says Rani who shares that all three of them went to Miriam College for grade school and high school.

Rani, a Sports Science graduate from the University of the Philippines, was the first to get into the martial art.

“My sister and I originally wanted to get into gymnastics. But our dad said taekwondo would be better for us to learn self-defense, and to build our self-confidence. Eventually, nagustuhan namin. Another reason is the sense of achievement that we are poised to gain,” she relates.

Janice Lagman, now a registered nurse, took a liking for taekwondo next. And then Camille Alarilla, a Management Economics graduate from the Ateneo de Manila University, was encouraged by her two cousins. Camille didn’t get serious with the sport until high school when she joined the Miriam varsity taekwondo team.

“At that time it was difficult balancing time between school and taekwondo.

When we were in high school, we train three times a week. Going into college, parang nasanay na kami, managing our time and schedule. Alam na namin how to do it, how to balance ‘yung pag-aaral tapos may training pa after,” says Camille, who became even more determined in college when she joined the Ateneo varsity taekwondo team.

Eventually, the girls joined the national team under coach Igor Mella.

Paying it forward

But it is not all about them, the cousins realize. The values and discipline they have learned from taekwondo through the years are now being passing on to young people as the three teach taekwondo
in Miriam College and Claret School.

“Taekwondo and getting into sports in general taught us discipline and time management. May school sa umaga, may training sa gabi, you really have to learn how to manage your time. Natutuwa kami because if not for our parents who encouraged us to engage in sports, we wouldn’t have learned these values,” quips Janice.

They are all excited about training the future of Philippine taekwondo. “May mga kids na madaling turuan. May mga kids na medyo ok naman. Iba-iba. Syempre strict ka nang konti. You just have to adjust your teaching technique to every individual,” adds Janice.

They may be a team, but the three are also separate individuals with long-term goals and plans of their own. Rani plans to take up a masters degree in Sports Nutrition, Camille is set to pursue Law studies next year, while Janice hopes to be a full-fledged nurse.

Young people who aspire to be athletes have to be champions in life, Rani advises.

“Meaning, you have to be a champion in every thing you do. Hindi puwedeng magaling ka nga sa training, pero sa school bagsak ka naman, kailangan sa lahat. You have to excel in everything. Give your best in everything and give your all.”

Indeed, said like a true-blue champ!