Beyond the mat: CatSU’s Gianan kicks past doubt at national SCUAA
StudentsNo roar of the crowd. Just a sharp breath, a fighting stance—and impact. Ericka Jossaine Gianan, a first-year student from Catanduanes State University (CatSU), stepped onto the mat for her first-ever national match at the SCUAA Games 2025, and walked off with a bronze medal in the kyorugi division of taekwondo. She did it while carrying more than just the weight of competition. Born with a cleft palate, Gianan has lived with a condition often mistaken for weakness. On the national stage, she proved otherwise. “It’s not a hindrance. I trained hard and believed in myself,” the 18-year-old said in Filipino, after finishing third against top fighters from across the country. Representing the Bicol Region, Gianan was the region’s only taekwondo medalist, punching above expectations in a tough bracket. She took up the sport only in senior high school at Calatagan High School and trained nightly after her agriculture classes in CatSU—balancing academics with discipline and sweat. “I had no choice in my course back then, but now I love BS Agriculture. I enjoy it,” she shared. Her path, like her match, wasn't scripted—but it became her own. On the mat in Camiguin, the nerves were real. But so was the preparation. Her coach, Karl Bogabil, stood ringside. “I don’t just train their skills. I build their character.” According to him, Gianan’s focus and quiet determination set her apart. “She listens, she works hard, and she trusts the process.” The CatSU team stood behind her—providing sparring partners, moral support, and an environment where she could grow strong both in body and in spirit. “I’m thankful to my coach, teammates, and friends who believed in me,” she said. Despite her disability, Gianan says she’s never been underestimated in the ring. But she knows what it took to reach the podium: sacrifice, time management, and a refusal to give up. She now juggles her dual life as an agriculture student and a budding national athlete. “I make sure I finish my school tasks so I can train without distractions. I give my best in both.” Next goal? Finish her degree. Help her family. Win gold at SCUAA. And her message to others who may be facing their own battles—physical or otherwise? “Trust in your abilities. Improve for yourself. Don’t let other people’s doubts stop you.” In Camiguin, she didn’t just win a medal. She won something harder: respect, resilience, and a fight well fought.
