Baguio City- From winning gold medals while competing for USA Taekwondo to proudly wearing the Philippine colors on the international stage, Juliana Mykhail Candelaria has always carried a dream close to her heart: to represent her Filipino roots.
The Chicago-born taekwondo jin recently realized a major milestone after winning a silver medal for the Philippines in the poomsae competition on the opening day of the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
For Candelaria, representing the Philippines means more than competing for a medal. It is an opportunity to honor her Filipino heritage, particularly her Cordilleran roots through her father, who hails from Baguio City.
“Gusto ko po kasi talagang makapag-represent ng Philippines since Pinoy po ako, lalo na taga-Baguio yung daddy ko. So ako, as an Igorota rin, I wanted to represent my Pilipino blood,” said the 18-year-old athlete.
She added that competing in the Southeast Asian Games and the Asian Games had long been among her biggest ambitions.
“Ito rin po ang gusto ko talaga, maglaro sa SEA Games at Asian Games. At ito, natupad na yung first kong pangarap—naka-Asian Games na ako,” she said.
Now a full-time varsity athlete at the University of Santo Thomas, Candelaria is set to be recognized during the flag-raising ceremony at Baguio City Hall in honor of her achievement. Her silver-medal finish not only marks a significant milestone in her sporting career but also highlights her pride in representing the Philippines and her Igorot heritage on the international stage.
