CEBU CITY, Philippines – Three promising Cebuana weightlifters received recognition and cash incentives from their school during a simple but meaningful ceremony on Monday, August 17, at the University of Cebu (UC) Main Campus.
Weightlifters Althea Bacaro, Rhianne Cabalida, and Jea Mae Palagtiw received their rewards from UC President Atty. Augusto W. Go, who pledged more support as they continue their rise in competitive weightlifting.
Bacaro, Cabalida and Palagtiw represented the Philippines in the 2026 International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) Youth World Weightlifting Championships in Cali, Colombia last July.
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Medals for Cebuana weightlifters
Bacaro, the daughter of a mop man at the Cebu Coliseum, delivered the best performance among the three in Colombia. She won a silver and a bronze medal in the women’s 44-kilogram category. She had earlier won two gold medals at the Asian Youth Weightlifting Championships in Uzbekistan.
Cabalida also had a strong showing in Colombia, winning two silver medals and a bronze
Palagtiw collected two silver medals. Both had previously placed fourth in their divisions at the Asian Youth Championships in Uzbekistan.
Their performances helped them retain their spots in the Philippine national youth weightlifting team, according to their coaches Christopher Bureros and former Olympian Ramon Solis.
Aiming for a world championship in March
Palagtiw missed the awarding since she just came from a training camp in Manila and arrived in Cebu City late Monday evening.
Bureros said the trio has officially wrapped up their 2026 campaign. They opted not to compete in the Youth Olympics in November in South Africa. Weightlifting will only be an engagement program at the event and will not be included in the official medal tally.
“Atong target, March Paraguay World Youth, mao na among target,” Bureros said. (Our next target is the World Youth Championships in Paraguay in March.)
Bureros believes that all three Cebuana weightlifters have the potential to become Olympians, particularly with the 2032 Olympics in sight.
Olympic dreams
“Kani sila, sa ilang pagsugod pa lang, naa gyud potential ug dakong chance mo puli, dako gyud ug chance makapuli makaduwa sa Olympics, continue lang training, maayo na ilang performance. Dako ko ug pagsalig inig 2032, 21 years old na sila, pwede gyud sila makaduwa sa Olympics,” Bureros said.
(From the time they started training, their potential was clear. They have a big chance they can compete in the Olympics. They just need to keep on training; their performance is already good. I believe that in 2032, when they will be 21 years old, they’ll be able to compete in the Olympics.)
For UC athletic director Jessica Honoridez, the incentives are the school’s way of recognizing the athletes’ hard work and dedication.
“I’m elated and proud of their achievements. Their dedication and hard work paid off. I thank the coaches for their guidance, strategy and mentorship. Lastly, we thank Chairman Augusto W. Go and President Ms. Candice Gotianuy for their continued support to the athletics program in general,” Honoridez said.
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