Biography:
Arianne Cerdeña is a Filipino ten-pin bowling player who made history by winning the first gold medal for the Philippines in the Summer Olympics. Born on March 11, 1962, Cerdeña gained recognition for her remarkable achievements in the sport, leaving a lasting impact on the bowling community and the nation as a whole.
Cerdeña’s journey in the world of bowling began when she debuted for the Philippine national team at the 1981 Southeast Asian Games. Throughout her career, she showcased exceptional talent, earning a total of six gold medals in the regional games. Notably, she secured the single medal won by the Philippine bowling delegation in the 1999 edition in Brunei, highlighting her dominance in the Southeast Asian region.
In 1983, Cerdeña teamed up with Bong Coo and Lita de la Rosa to win a silver medal in the Trios event at the Fédération Internationale des Quilleurs FIQ World Championship, now known as the WTBA World Tenpin Bowling Championships, held in Caracas, Venezuela. Her performance demonstrated her skill and contributed to the Philippines’ growing presence in the international bowling scene.
The pinnacle of Cerdeña’s career came in 1988, when she represented the Philippines in the Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. Although bowling was a demonstration event at the Games, Cerdeña’s achievement was remarkable nonetheless. Coached by Ernesto Lopa, she went on to win the first Olympic gold medal for the Philippines, outshining Atsuko Asai of Japan. However, due to the event’s demonstration status, the medal was not officially counted in the medal tally for the Games.
Throughout her career, Cerdeña also claimed noteworthy victories in other international competitions. At the 1986 Asian Games in Seoul, South Korea, she was a member of the gold medal-winning Team of 5 event, alongside Bong Coo, Catalina Solis, Cecilia Gaffud, and Rebecca Watanabe. Furthermore, she earned a doubles bronze medal with Bong Coo. In addition, she secured two silver medals at the quadrennial World Games, held in Karlsruhe, West Germany, in 1989, in the singles and mixed doubles categories with Jorge Fernandez.
Cerdeña’s success continued at the 1993 Bowling World Cup in Johannesburg, South Africa. In this prestigious event, she won the Brent Peterson Country Award alongside Paeng Nepomuceno and placed third in the singles event. These accomplishments solidified Cerdeña’s standing as one of the top bowlers in the world, further elevating the Philippines’ reputation in international bowling.
After participating in the 2001 Southeast Asian Games, where she clinched her last gold medal in the doubles event with Liza del Rosario, Cerdeña decided to retire from competitive bowling. She made this choice in order to focus more on her family, leaving behind a legacy of excellence that continues to inspire aspiring Filipino bowlers.
Following her retirement, Cerdeña settled in the United States in 2002 to join her husband, Raymond Valdez, who had been living there since 1988. However, she faced challenges finding employment in her new home and decided to pursue a career in nursing, following in the footsteps of her husband. She enrolled in nursing school in Los Angeles and successfully became a registered nurse. In 2004, Cerdeña bravely fought and overcame ovarian cancer, demonstrating her resilience and determination.
As of 2021, Cerdeña has been working at the California Hospital Medical Center for at least five years, continuing to make a positive impact on the lives of others through her nursing profession. Her contributions to the sport of bowling and her personal journey serve as an inspirational tale, acknowledging her resilience, determination, and dedication to both her family and her community.
Awards:
– Olympic Gold Medal (Demonstration Event), 1988 Summer Olympics
– Southeast Asian Games Gold Medals, 1981-1999
– Silver Medal, Trios Event, FIQ World Championship, 1983
– Asian Games Gold Medal, Team of 5 Event, 1986
– Asian Games Bronze Medal, Doubles Event, 1986
– Silver Medals, Singles and Mixed Doubles, World Games, 1989
– Brent Peterson Country Award, Bowling World Cup, 1993
– Southeast Asian Games Gold Medal, Doubles Event, 2001