SKIPPER Edgar Villapana and crew Jonalyn Parocha gave Team Philippines something to crow about after securing the bronze medal in the 470 Mixed event at the 21st Langkawi International Regatta Perdana 2025 in Kedah, Malaysia.
Villapana and Parocha, both seasoned competitors in Asia’s premier sailing events, were part of a strong Philippine delegation that featured a mix of experienced and up-and-coming athletes competing across various boat classes. This year’s regatta attracted over 300 sailors from national and international sailing federations, making it one of the most competitive editions yet.
The Philippine Sailing Association’s official delegation included coaches Bernard Floren, Joel Mejarito, and Emerson Villena, who guided the team throughout the event.
Among the Filipino sailors who competed were Daven Balangue in the ILCA 7 class, Zildjan Martin Samson in ILCA 4 (Boys), and Khim Ashley Albo in ILCA 4 (Girls). Ronello Castillo III and Samuel Rodolfo Tolentino raced in the 420 class as skipper and crew, respectively, while Rain Asejo and Carlstein Jade Dulay represented the country in the Optimist class for girls and boys.
The participation of PSA athletes in this competition highlights the Philippines’ commitment to developing world-class sailors.
Coach Joel Mejarito, who also served as the team leader, expressed his enthusiasm, stating that the regatta “provided an incredible opportunity for Filipino sailors to compete against the best in Asia and beyond.”