By: Vanessa Bugtong
An eight-year-old girl from Baguio City made her mark in this year’s Palarong Pambansa, bringing home not just one, but two gold medals in taekwondo.
Zion Ysabelle Buenviaje began practicing taekwondo at just four years old after getting hooked on watching the sport.
“We’re very supportive of her, whatever she wants to do,” said her mother, Jo Ann Buenviaje. “We always stand behind her to give support.”
Zion’s coach, Arnold Oglayon, shared that even from the beginning, he could already see her commitment. “From the start, I saw her dedication. Even when she had nothing to do, she would keep practicing. And during training, she’d always watch others closely and observe.”
Now a third-grade student, Zion is already learning how to balance her time between academics and training.
“We’re teaching her how to manage her time early,” said her mom. “Thankfully, she’s doing well both in school and in sports.”
Representing the Cordillera Region in the 2025 Palarong Pambansa held in Ilocos Norte, Zion contributed to the region’s 17-gold medal haul by winning two of her own.
“I dedicate my medals to my coach and also to my proud parents,” Zion said, smiling.
Aside from medals, Zion also treasures the friendships she made and the experiences she gained during the eight-day competition.
“I want to improve my backflip,” she shared. “I’m still having a bit of a hard time with it.”
With all the recognition and achievements, Zion remains driven to push forward in her chosen sport.
But she also dreams of applying the discipline she’s learned in taekwondo to her ultimate goal, becoming a pilot one day.
