A 16 year-old Filipina ballerina danced her way to the top at the recently held Hong Kong Challenge Cup Dance Competition.
Julianna Monique Liwanag, a native of Pampanga bagged three medals at the said international dance contest.
“‘Yun po kasi ang passion ko. Like gustong-gusto ko pong gawin talaga,” Liwanag told ABS-CBN News.
She won the gold for the solo dance contemporary category. Liwanag also won a silver medal at group jazz contemporary and a bronze medal for solo classic category.
Liwanag entered the world of ballet at the age of 13. She said that competing at the international stage wasn’t easy.
“Inisip ko na lang na parang nasa studio ako tapos ‘yong teacher ko na lang po ‘yong nanonood sa’kin,” Liwanag said.
She started learning ballet by watching video tutorials until her parents decided to enrol her in a formal ballet class.
Liwanag is now gearing for the Association of Ballet Academies of the Philippines on August 24-25.