RILI dominates Pila dancesport contest anew

In the Latin category, Careyn Lhyne Abogado and Mark Herson Vargas amazed judges and audience with fancy moves and precise steps.

Champions once again!

The Rainbow Institute of Learning, Inc. (RILI) Dancesport Team has again claimed top spot in both Standard and Latin categories of the dancesport competition of this year's District Meet in Pila, Laguna.

Mark Herson Vargas (Grade 8) and Careyn Lhyne Abogado (Grade 8) are this year's champion in the Latin category of the competition. Vargas and Abogado used their experience to defeat eight other pairs from different schools in Pila. Don Manuel Rivera Memoral National High School (DMRMNHS) landed second place, while Linga National High School (LNHS) settled for a third place finish.

Four schools competed in the event: RILI was represented by the lone pair of Vargas and Abogado, DMRMNHS sent three pairs, LNHS also sent three pairs, while San Antonio de Padua College Foundation of Pila, Laguna, Inc. (SAPC) was represented by two pairs.

The dancers were required to dance the Cha-cha-cha, the Rumba, and the Jive. The competition began with a showdown where all the competing pairs danced simultaneously as judges assessed their performances. This was followed by individual performances of each couple.

After all the couples had performed, the judges chose the top five pairs. Included in the top five were RILI's Vargas and Abogado, two pairs from LNHS, a pair from DMNMNHS, and a pair from SAPC.

The top five pairs again performed all three dances before the winners were announced.

Timothy James Manalo and Janne Gladys Tiosen glided across the dance floor during their honor dance. They are the only pair to compete in the Standard category.

In the Standard category, Timothy James Manalo (Grade 8) and Janne Gladys Tiosen (Grade 9) represented RILI. They performed an honor dance which included the Waltz, the Tango, and the Quickstep. No other competitors participated leaving Manalo and Tiosen with an easy defense of RILI's championship of the Standard category from last year.

Vargas and Abogado, and Manalo and Tiosen will represent RILI in the coming Unit Meet on Oct. 8-9. All four are members of the Bahaghari Cultural Dance Group, the school's official folk dance group.