A Grade 7 student from Barangay Manggahan, Puerto Princesa City, secured two podium finishes in separate national taekwondo competitions in Manila within eight days.
Mickhael Stefan Dequiña De Leon and his teammates won the gold medal in the Cadet Male Team Division, Black Belt, at the 2026 National Best of the Best Taekwondo Championships on September 6.
The poomsae competition was held at the Philippine Taekwondo Association Gym inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila.
De Leon competed alongside Kian Barchita and Gregory Banez. The three represented the META Taekwondo Training Center under Sir Igor Mella, Coach Rico Mella, and Coach Miguel Baladad.
The victory came eight days after De Leon earned a bronze medal at the 2026 National Interschool Poomsae competition on August 30 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
He represented the Ateneo de Manila Poomsae Team in the Cadet Male Team Division, Black Belt, under Coach Roel Borjal Jr.
De Leon also competed in the Mixed Pair Cadet Category with Alex Ermino. The pair reached the finals of the event.
A former student of Holy Trinity University in Puerto Princesa, De Leon is now studying at Ateneo de Manila University.
His training began in Puerto Princesa through the Palawan Mustang Knights under coaches Bryan Aquino and Reymark Marianito.
His two national podium finishes reflected the training he received in Palawan and his continued development after moving to Manila.
