Cheyenne Suarez

Philippines’ Team Ezkrima in the Navy Open Fencing Championships 2025. Handout photo.

Article (news)

 Fencing: 51-year-old fencer leads Team PH’s 10-medal haul in Thailand tilt

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1754715907355IMG_7965.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Philippines’ Team Ezkrima in the Navy Open Fencing Championships 2025. Handout photo.Philippines’ Team Ezkrima in the Navy Open Fencing Championships 2025. Handout photo."/>Philippines’ Team Ezkrima in the Navy Open Fencing Championships 2025. Handout photo.MANILA — Team Ezkrima made the Philippines proud after bringing home several medals from the Navy Open Fencing Championships 2025 in Thailand last week.</div>The 51-year-old Filipina fencer Beverly Gay Alarcon, who was representing the country, wowed the international fencing community after she won a medal in each of her six events across all weapons: foil, épée, and sabre.“At 51, as a Filipina, I wanted to prove that age and womanhood are not limits — they are strengths,” shared Alarcon, who competed in mixed-gender 50+ foil and sabre preliminary pools, where she fought and defeated male fencers.“I fought men in the mixed pools. I faced younger women in the 35+ division. I competed in six events across three weapons. It was exhausting, but I gave it my all. This was more than a tournament. It was personal growth, a moment of empowerment, and an honor to represent the Philippines on the world stage,” she added.Alarcon also fenced in the Veterans 35+ Women’s category, going up against opponents at least 16 years younger, and won medals in every single event.Overall, her medal haul includes Gold – Women’s Foil 50, Gold – Women’s Épée 50+, Gold – Women’s Sabre 50+, Silver – Women’s Foil 35+, Silver – Women’s Sabre 35+, and Bronze – Women’s Épée 35+.Meanwhile, her husband, Rodolfo Alarcon Jr., also brought pride to the country by earning three medals in the Veterans Men’s events: Silver – Vet-50 Men’s Sabre, Bronze – Vet-50 Men’s Foil, and Bronze – Vet-40 Men’s Sabre.Their student, Ferdinand Barroquillo Jr., earned a Blue Medal, finishing Top 7 in Veterans Men’s Sabre 40+.Also competing was Beverly’s 16-year-old son, Jacob Lucas Alarcon, who took on the highly competitive Senior Men’s Sabre category and placed 44th out of 80.As one of the youngest in the senior division, his performance marked the next generation of Filipino fencing excellence.Together, the Alarcon fencing family from Carmona, Cavite, and veteran fencer Ferdinand Barroquilo, Jr. from San Pedro, Laguna took pride in helping lift the country on their sport’s international stage.Aside from their medals, the Ezkrima Men’s Sabre Team, composed of Jacob Lucas Alarcon (16), Rodolfo Alarcon Jr. (52), and Ferdinand Barroquillo Jr. (40), ranked 16th out of 22 teams in the Senior Men’s Team Sabre event.Entering the round ranked #17, the team pulled off a hard-fought upset, defeating Thailand’s Phomyuttanawee Fencing Club (Rank #16) with a thrilling score of 45–42.“We are all doing this for personal growth,” Beverly said. “And it was a pleasure and a deep honor to carry the Philippine flag with us, fight our best, and share the stage with fencers from all over the world.”In total, Team Ezkrima brought home 10 medals from the Navy Open 2025 for the Philippines.

Team Ezkrima made the Philippines proud after bringing home a 10-medal haul from the Navy Open Fencing Championships 2025 in Thailand last week.

Team Ezkrima made the Philippines proud after bringing home a 10-medal haul from the Navy Open Fencing Championships 2025 in Thailand last week.