April 17, 2014 — THE Philippines faces stiff opposition against 14 countries in the International Skating Union (ISU) World Development Trophy on April 21-26 at the SM Megamall Ice Skating Rink, 2014.

Organized by the ISU in partnership with the Philippine Skating Union (PhSU), the six-day tournament promises to be even bigger and better this year with a total of 56 skaters from the host, Argentina, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, New Zealand, Korea, Singapore, South Africa, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, United Arab Emirates and Uzbekistan vying for the crown.

Last year, the PhSU hosted the 2013 ISU Development Trophy where 11 countries participated.    

The Philippines will field entries in three categories: Juniors, Novice A and Novice B, with Sofia Guidote, Audrey Alcaraz, Alyssa Comia, Elia Mendoza, Keith Stephanie Angeles and Dominique Katigbak hoping to bring honors for the country.

With the sustained support and confidence of the ISU, the PhSU is geared towards hosting future international events such as the Asian Short Track Speed Skating Development Trophy, the 1st ISU Asian Figure Skating Championship and eventually the ISU World Juniors and the ISU Four Continents Championships.

The PhSU received accreditation from the ISU in 2006, coinciding with the opening of the Olympic-sized SM Mall of Asia skating rink that year. The PhSU, as the sole governing body for Figure and Speed Skating, provides mall magnate SM and its ice skating rinks with marketing tools such as local and international skating events and its network of skating athletes.

(Theodore P. Jurado)