Japan Campaign Marks Milestone for Yape and Candelaria
Jeus Yape and Juliana Candelaria will represent Philippine taekwondo when both athletes make their Asian Games debuts in Japan. Yape will contest men’s individual poomsae and virtual taekwondo, while Candelaria enters the women’s individual poomsae competition.
Yape Embraces Individual Poomsae Challenge
Paige Javier of ABS-CBN News detailed Yape’s preparations as the 22-year-old approaches his first Asian Games appearance. The Leyte native enters with international experience after helping the Philippine mixed freestyle poomsae team capture Southeast Asian Games bronze.
Yape acknowledged that individual poomsae creates a different competitive environment after previously drawing energy from teammates during group events. Competing alone requires him to generate that intensity independently while maintaining technical control throughout each performance under tournament pressure.
“Medyo iba po yung feeling talaga na ikaw lang mag-isa.”
“Yung kaibahan lang siguro sa individual po is kung paano i-hype yung sarili ko po ng mag-isa.”
Image from: Sports Center PH
Individual Competition Changes Mental Preparation
Yape’s comments identify self-motivation as an important adjustment when moving from successful team competition toward an individual Asian Games event. His previous international appearances nevertheless provide competitive experience before facing another demanding continental field while representing the Philippine delegation.
Virtual Taekwondo Adds New Medal Opportunity
Yape will also represent the Philippines in virtual taekwondo as the technology-based discipline joins the Asian Games medal program. He prepared with coach Jeordan Dominguez during a South Korean seminar focused on understanding the competition’s technical and spatial requirements.
Dominguez identified distance perception as one challenge because virtual equipment changes how athletes interpret positioning during competitive exchanges. The preparation gave Yape and his coach practical exposure to a format requiring coordination between physical movement and technology.
“May problem with the distance.”
Philippines Brings Virtual Taekwondo Experience
Philippine taekwondo enters the developing discipline with previous international success after Zyka Santiago captured a virtual taekwondo world title. That background gives the national program experience within a competitive format expanding beyond traditional kyorugi and poomsae disciplines.
Candelaria Represents Filipino and Igorot Roots
Candelaria enters women’s individual poomsae at 18, making the Asian Games her first appearance at a major multi-sport competition. Born and raised in Illinois, she previously collected medals while representing Team USA across cadet and junior international competition.
She returned to the Philippines during November 2022 while pursuing an opportunity within the country’s national taekwondo program. Candelaria has connected that decision directly with her Filipino and Igorot heritage ahead of her first Asian Games appearance.
“I’m Filipino. I’m an Igorota.”
“I wanted to represent where I came from, where my parents came from.”
International Experience Precedes Philippine Debut
Candelaria’s previous international competition provides experience with high-level poomsae before representing the Philippines at her first Asian Games. Her transition also adds a personal dimension because she deliberately chose to compete internationally for her family’s country of origin.
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Training Shapes Candelaria’s Competitive Approach
Candelaria has focused her expectations on delivering a complete performance rather than allowing medal outcomes to dominate her preparation. Months of training have shaped an approach centered on trusting preparation once competition begins against leading practitioners from across Asia.
The teenager described maximum effort as her central objective while preparing to represent both her country and national teammates. Her comments place execution and preparation ahead of predicting results before her first appearance on the Asian Games stage.
“Goals and expectations for myself is to just give my 100%.”
“I will just perform my very best for the country, for my team.”
Preparation Centers On Complete Performance
Candelaria’s approach reflects an emphasis on controllable performance factors rather than setting public expectations around a specific medal outcome. That mindset aligns with months of preparation before she encounters the broader pressure surrounding her first major multi-sport competition.
Poomsae Format Requires Greater Versatility
Asian Games poomsae requires athletes to prepare across recognized and freestyle disciplines, creating contrasting technical and performance demands. Head coach Rani Ortega said Philippine coaches deliberately developed younger athletes capable of competing effectively across both formats.
Recognized poomsae emphasizes prescribed movement sequences and technical precision, while freestyle incorporates greater athletic and creative performance elements. Preparing athletes across both disciplines reflects the national program’s response to evolving competitive requirements within international poomsae competition.
“We started building and making the younger players do both.”
“It’s part of the upgrading of poomsae and taekwondo. So we need to adapt.”
Coaches Build Athletes Across Disciplines
Ortega’s comments show Philippine coaches are developing younger practitioners for broader competitive demands rather than emphasizing only one poomsae discipline. That approach could expand future lineup options as international competition continues incorporating recognized, freestyle, and technology-based taekwondo formats.
World Championships Provide Final Asian Games Test
Yape and Candelaria will compete at the World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships in Chuncheon before beginning their Asian Games campaigns. The September 16-20 competition provides high-level opposition and a late benchmark following months of preparation for both Philippine representatives.
Ortega views the championships as an opportunity for both athletes to evaluate their readiness before the continental multi-sport competition. Coaches can use their performances to identify areas requiring targeted adjustments during the short period preceding their Asian Games appearances.
“It’s a very good opportunity for them to know themselves better and to gauge themselves.”
Chuncheon Offers Competitive Benchmark
The World Championships give both athletes competitive feedback shortly before facing another international field at their first Asian Games. With limited adjustment time afterward, Chuncheon can help coaches prioritize specific technical details rather than undertaking substantial preparation changes.
Industry Analysis: Testing a New Generation
Philippine taekwondo’s preparation reflects a broader development strategy emphasizing younger athletes capable of competing across increasingly varied formats. Building proficiency in recognized poomsae, freestyle, and virtual competition can create greater flexibility as international taekwondo programs continue evolving.
Yape and Candelaria also represent different development pathways within that strategy, combining domestic training with substantial international competitive exposure. Their Asian Games debuts provide an important benchmark for evaluating how effectively that youth-focused approach translates into continental competition.
Source Note: This report draws primarily from Paige Javier’s ABS-CBN News coverage featuring interviews with Yape, Candelaria, Dominguez, and Ortega. Additional context reflects international competition records, athlete backgrounds, and technical information surrounding poomsae and virtual taekwondo competition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are Jeus Yape and Juliana Candelaria?
Yape and Candelaria are Philippine national taekwondo athletes preparing to make their first Asian Games appearances in Japan.
Which Asian Games events will Jeus Yape enter?
Yape will represent the Philippines in men’s individual poomsae and virtual taekwondo during his first Asian Games campaign.
Which Asian Games event will Juliana Candelaria enter?
Candelaria will represent the Philippines in women’s individual poomsae while making her Asian Games debut at 18.
Has Jeus Yape won an international medal?
Yape previously helped the Philippine mixed freestyle poomsae team capture a bronze medal at the Southeast Asian Games.
When will Yape and Candelaria compete before the Asian Games?
Both athletes will compete at the World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships in Chuncheon, South Korea, from September 16-20.
Disclaimer: Headline Image from ABS-CBN Website.
