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A 15-year-old Boholana-American
won the Philippine National Figure Skating Championship in what could be her dream's
skillful slide-spin into the ice of the Winter Olympics.
Catherine
"Katy" Dano outperformed all other Filipino nationals whose blood have
foreign mixtures, too, and many local entries who could equally intimidate.
The
California girl, whose father is Sevillahanon Melchor Dano and mother an American,
had to fly to Manila just to join the tournament in her father's land as her passport
to the Olympics. | Because
she keeps her Filipino citizenship, Dano should qualify in a major competition
here and don the Philippine colors in joining the world's greatest convergence
of athletes.
For
her winning the Philippine competition venued at the Mall of Asia last June 20,
Dano is now automatic member of the country's team of champions in various categories
to the World Junior Skating Competition in August.
Katy,
who started skating at age five, confided to the local media her Olympic obsession
as the greatest motivator for her joining the Philippine national tournament.
She
and her father met with some members of the Bohol media when they proceeded here
to thank Rep. Edgar Chatto.
The
solon, his wife Pureza and daughter Trisha tendered the champion and her father
a thanksgiving dinner at the house of the Chattos here Thursday.
Dano
and Chatto's daughter have two in common---they are both 15 and only kids of their
respective parents. | | |
The
father Dano then sought the assistance from the congressman in facilitating their
coming to the Philippines for the competition.
Chatto
and Jenju Lapez, president of the Bohol Association of Metro Manila, Inc. (BAMMI),
linked efforts and assisted the girl, her father, mother and coach coming all
the way from the United States.
At
12, Dano participated in an international competition in Belgium where she grabbed
the silver for the United States.
Dano's
stay here in just past few days was her first "conscious" visit to Bohol
since birth almost 16 years ago. Her first parents brought her to Bohol from the
US when she was yet six months old.
She
planned to spend her "longest christmas" here hopefully this December.
Dano
will soon fly to Europe and celebrate there her 16th birthday, which she teasingly
said will coincide the birthday of her idol Hollywood superstar Jessica Simpson.
(Ven rebo Arigo) | 
