NEW CLARK CITY – Jedah Mae Soriano is more than just a pretty face.
The 19-year-old daughter of an Air Force officer already distinguished herself as a Southeast Asian Games champion, one of the 14 members of the Philippine arnis team that claimed a gold medal in the biennial meet.
A senior high graduate who hopes to take up Accountancy in college, Soriano won the gold in the women’s full contact-padded stick (featherweight) event by beating Man Maw Oo of Myanmar.
That should be more than enough for people to see Jedah beyond her charming looks, the arnis Filipino bet looking like a young Angel Locsin and Glaiza De Castro.
This was the first time Soriano competed in a major international competition as part of the national team, which she described as a proud moment considering that her family and loved ones were able to see her perform and win a gold.
“Sobrang proud kasi dati ang dala-dala ko lang yung LGU lang namin (Pasay). Pero eto ngayon Pilipinas na ang dala ko, kaya sobrang nakaka-proud,” said Soriano, who is the third in a large brood of eight.
“SEA Games na ito, kaya pangkalahatan na.”
A product of the Palarong Pambansa where she won a bronze medal, Soriano belongs to a family of arnis practioners.
“Simula Grade 3 pa lang nagsa-summer clinic na ako sa Air Force. So hanggang hindi ko na tinigilan. Tuluy-tuloy lang hangga’t nandito na ako,” she said.
The daughter of a master sergeant doesn’t discount the likelihood of her becoming a member of the military someday.
“Puwede,” she quipped.
How about as an actress?
“Carry lang,” Jedah answered back.
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