The Philippines has got what it takes to be world-class. A group of Filipino karatekas brought this to the fore anew today as they called on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo following a successful stint abroad that brought honor and glory to the country. Feted by no less that the Chief Executive were members of the Philippine karate team that won two gold medals during the recent 5th World Shitoryu Karatedo Championships.

"Congratulations," the President told the Filipino karatekas on their triumph in the Sept. 16-18 tournament held at the Tokyo and Nippon Budokan hall in Tokyo, Japan.

Members of the Association for the Advancement of Karatedo (AAK) Philippines sent a delegation of six athletes and two officials in the biennial world championships that was participated in by more than 3,000 athletes from more than 50 countries.

The two Filipinas who brought home the gold medals were 11-year-old Alisa Karmina Veguillas Cifra, a sixth grader from the De la Salle Zobel School, who won in the 11-12 years old Girls Kumite event; and Ana Ecaterina Cordero Tan, an 18-year-old University of the Philippines freshman, who won in the 17-18 years old Girls Kata.

Karateka Oliver Neil Manalac also finished fifth in the Men’s Open Weight Kumite event.

Other members of the Philippine delegation were karatedos Gerardo Rodrigo Anonas, Lemuel Alfonso Ferrer, Ven Laurence Silangil, coach Juan Carlos "Chino" Veguillas, and World Karate Federation (WKF) referee/judge Richard Anthony Lim.