Issai Villafuerte had it again! This time, she faces a more challenging competition as she rushes to the USA for three months to compete in four (4) competitions carrying our national flag.

Truly, this girl has so much potential that nothing can stop her from winning the gold in every competition.

“Filipinos are talented in nature. People wonder, including the skaters in the US, how we excel in this sport when we don’t have snow in the country, knowing that we are a tropical climate and all.” Cited Albert Aguilar, one of Issai’s coach.

But all this fame and glory that Issai has right now is not a walk in the park, she has to sacrifice a lot in her adolescent life, studies, and even her family to stay fit and focus in the competition. And to be able to compete in these competitions, Issai has to go thru a lot of tests to be able to join.

But who is Issai anyway? A few moments of her time and I was overwhelmed by her wit, humor and charm.

DAIGDIG PINOY (DP): Among all the sports, why Figure skating?

ISSAI VILLAFUERTE: I chose Figure skating because it’s different from anything else. I was able to do other sports like soccer, basketball and swimming, but figure skating is special because first, you have to find a good rink to practice and when I am in the ice, I feel like I’m in another world.

DP: Compare the ice rink here in Manila and in the USA. Was it a big adjustment for you?

ISSAI: Rink in the USA is not located on a mall, so not as much people will go there and will not be available for the public unlike here in Manila. The ice time there varies and it depends on your category or level you are in, so it is safer for the skaters. The ice rink in the US closes at least once a year just to make the ice more smoother, unlike here in manila, the ice rink is in the mall so they have to keep it open everyday, and being open to the public, I often bump into people during practice.

DP: How do you fix your schedule between school and ice skating practice?

ISSAI: I practice around 3-4 hours a day after school.

DP: How do you keep up and balance your schedule with school, friends, practice, yourself and family?

ISSAI: Sometimes, I wish I could go to skating and at the same time go to my friend’s parties but I couldn’t because everything would get in between like my school, my personal life and skating put together, it’s like all in my lap, and it’s getting really hard for me at times.

DP: Was there a time in your life that you regret having this very demanding sport?

ISSAI: In every sport, every person  who participates in it, sometimes they get a feeling that there should be more in life that they should be doing, but that’s how life really is, you have to put your priorities first and other things next because they will always be there.

DP: During the competition itself, how confident were you?

ISSAI:  That was my first USFSA and I am not that confident. USFSA is one of the high levels in figure skating, I had a feeling I was not ready because last year I was there and it ended really bad, but now I got all these medals, I have a feeling “do I deserve this?” And when I was in Las Vegas, I got food poisoning the day before the competition. I was really sick and I couldn’t eat and doesn’t have enough energy, but still I was able to get a gold medal.

DP: What keeps you focus in the competition?

ISSAI: Sometimes when you get gold in the first event, you usually get excited, but I tell myself, it’s not over yet. But when I’m excited, I tend to relax, forgetting all the things I’ve learned, so it ends up really bad, so when I get silver or bronze, I will feel really disappointed for not focusing.

DP: Was there a time during the competition that you want to give up and just go home?

ISSAI: In the US I was so homesick because I don’t get to see anyone I know. My friends will only be there for one competition and go back home. I have no one to talk to. Sometimes my mom gets to be very busy and my sister she is always out. I get so homesick and there are times I want to go back home. But still, I always find something to do. So I go to the internet and look for things to do, and when I find a nice place, I will go there and just keep myself occupied so I won’t feel so homesick.

DP: What is the greatest challenge that you faced during the competition?

ISSAI: My training itself because I am not used to wake up at 4 a.m. in the morning and practice skating at 5am. It was so hard for me but I have no choice because that is the only schedule available. I skate from 5-6 a.m., take a rest then skate again by 11 a.m. and sometimes in the afternoon. By the time I got home I have nothing else to do so I just sleep. And the next day, I will be doing the same thing all over again.

DP: After winning these competitions, was there a special treatment that you received from your school?

ISSAI: They treat me the same in school, it will be unfair to the other students if they will treat me in a different way. They will only announce in the assembly that I have won in something.

DP: How about the family? Any special treats when you came back from the competition?

ISSAI:  The Best reward and gift that they gave me is that, they renovated my room. When I left for the US, my room was messy and looked like a basement with boxes all around. But when I got back from the US, it was really clean, with a sunset background and it’s really relaxing. So whenever I came home from school I just stay in my room and lay in my bed and think about nothing.

DP: Your message to aspiring athletes especially to those who are considering to go into figure skating.

ISSAI: If you want to go far, think outside the box because you can’t just let anyone think for you. You just have to speak out, speak what is on your mind because you have to have a voice, and you have to say if you can do this or not, if you can’t, try other sports, maybe this sport is not for you, but whatever it takes, just make yourself go there, no matter what sport you do, go as far as you can, if you can’t do anymore at least you have a taste of what it is like in that place.

During her USFSA competition that was held from June 24 – August 16, 2008, Issai was able to bring home 3 Golds, 1 Silver and 1 Bronze from the Broadmoor Open; 3 Golds and 1 Silver from Center Ice Skating Arena; 4 Golds, and 4 Silver from the ISI World Denver 2008 and 2 Golds, 1 Silver and 1 Bronze from the Last Vegas Figure Skating Club.

Because of her great achievements and overwhelming dedication to the sport, Senate President Manny Villar gave Issai an official commendation from the halls of senate via resolution #114 on October 6, 2008.

A remarkable young lady who knows how to set her priorities, and be able to focus on her work, whether it be in a classroom or on the ice skating rink. Congratulations Issai! We are proud of you!