The SUN HK : Taekwondo group goes sailing to celebrate Christmas

04 December 2018

Upto members gather for souvenir photo before disembarking.

By The SUN

They’re fit and healthy and they know it – but don’t flaunt it.

These are the members of the United Philippine Taekwondo Organization (Upto) Hong Kong who went sailing around Saikung on Dec. 2 aboard the pleasure yacht Angus, for a Christmas and 6^th anniversary celebration.

Part of the entertainment was a limbo-rock contest, and many of the contestants were limber enough to go under a bar set barely four feet above the ground. A bit higher up, and even a heavily pregnant member managed to clear the hurdle.

Members show their form in the limbo-rock contest

This is obviously what engaging in taekwondo does to anyone who regularly engages in the sport, which is what Upto is all about.

Regular practitioners are fit and nimble and have bodies to die for, but they see no reason to flaunt them.

The first Filipino Taekwondo group in Hong Kong formed in June 2012 has four 3^rd dan Kukkiwon Taekwondo black belters, including three of its founders and members of the Board of Directors: Mercy Permales, Eric Jacinto and Ednalyn Serran.

A demo performance on Chater Road

Two are 2^nd dan black belters, including the current president Wilma Colobong, and Christine Gaylan.

Below them are many members who regularly take part in competitions held around Hong Kong, with the next one coming up in January.

Upto members are happy enough attending regular training and competitions, but also take time off to have fun, like holding a hula contest in Repulse Bay, or going on charity walks.

As a public service, they also provide free training on Sundays to Filipinos interested to join them at four places across Hong Kong: Sheung Wan, Western, Tung Chung and Shatin.

The other officers, apart from Colobong are: Marilyn Anorico, vice president; Melinda Monsalud, internal secretary; Rizalyn Magon, external secretary; Soledad Flores, treasurer; Lerma Mansilungan, auditor; Josephine Rebenque, PRO; Letecia Cayudong and Virginia Isla, business managers; and Joyce Ramirez, coordinator.

The instructors are Permales, Jacinto, Serran, Colobong, Gaylan, Rebenque, Ruth delos Santos, Rey Aldea and Margie Nava. Their technical adviser is Master Tze Hong Lai.

Below is the schedule of their free Sunday training sessions: