FMN No 135 Gilas Pilipinas

FILIPINO-KIWI HERO AWARDS ISSUE 135 | www.filipinonews.nz | email: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz | www.pinoynzlife.nz 5
www.filipinoheroes.nz : Over a 100 Filipino Kiwi Heroes have been recognised over the years by Filipino Migrant News.
BUHAY
NZ
Kenzo Santayana
vaults to success
in gymastics
championships
By STAFF WRITER
AUCKLAND – Young
Filipino-Kiwi gymnast
Kenzo Santayana cherishes
fond memories of his
15th birthday in October
this year, as on that very
day he emerged as New
Zealand’s 2019 National
Champion in Men’s
Artistic Gymnastics Level
7. Additionally, he was
declared the 2019
Gymnast of the Year for
Levels 7, 8 and 9 in NZ’s
Gymnastics Championships,
held at the Trusts
Stadium Arena in
Auckland.
What makes this victory
more significant is its
back to back nature -
because Kenzo was also
the 2018 New Zealand’s
National Champion in
Men’s Artistic Gymnastics.
In February this year
Kenzo represented New
Zealand in the Valeri
Liukin Open Invitational
in Dallas, Texas, USA and
topped the competition as
the Champion for his
level.
2019
Kenzo, who was born in
the Philippines, is a Year
10 student at Westlake
Boys High School.
According to his family,
gymnastics has been a
way of life for Kenzo. “He
has been practising at
North Harbour Gymnastics
since he was 5 years
old.
This has moulded him
to be disciplined in how
he takes care of his body,
how he manages his time
and how he deals with
challenges that confront
him as a student and as a
The Filipino Migrant News
Outstanding Sports Person Award
for 2019 goes to Kenzo Santayana.
He is New Zealand’s 2019 National
Champion in Men’s Artistic Gymnastics
Level 7. Additionally he is the 2019
Gymnast of the Year for Levels 7, 8 and 9
in NZ’s Gymnastics Championships.
maturing young adult.”
His Filipino family’s
support was pivotal in
paving the way for the
journey towards being a
champion.
As most sports people
will attest, the road to
excellence is not easy. It
can be physically gruelling,
time-consuming
and financially draining,
however, the rewards are
seen from the perseverance
that leads to confidence
and self-esteem.
Filipino Migrant News
congratulates Kenzo
Santayana for his sporting
achievements and in
recognition of his phenomenal
success will be
presenting him with the
2019 Filipino-Kiwi Hero
Award for Sports
Achievers.
Carry the New Zealand
flag, but keep the Filipino
spirit in your heart.