YOUTHFUL former world breaking women’s champion and new Paris Olympic Games prospect Logan Edra, who recently acquired a Philippine passport, is optimistic of landing the gold medal when the sport makes its debut in the 32nd Cambodia Southeast Asian Games in May.
“Winning the gold medal in Cambodia? Yeah, that would be fun, and I’m confident that with your support we can do it,” Edra, a Fil-Am known by her handle “Logistx,” said when she was introduced as the newest member of the national team over the weekend at the Urban Arts Festival at the Ayala Circuit mall in Makati.
“I would like to introduce to you our future Olympian and gold medalist in the Paris Olympic Games! Mabuhay si Logan at Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!” said Philippine Dancesport Federation president Becky Garcia of the country’s newest athletic prize find.
An appealing millennial sport, breaking, as break dancing is known, made its debut in the 2018 Buenos Aires Youth Olympic Games and will make its maiden appearance as a full-pledged Olympic sport in the 2024 Paris Summer Games.
“My heart is full for such a warm welcome. I am proud to represent the Philippines.
Maraming salamat po,” said Edra, whose grandparents are pure Filipinos.
She emerged as the Red Bull World Final B girl champion in 2021 at the Ergo Arena in Gdansk, Poland.
Proving that her first title was no fluke, she reached the final of the Red Bull BC one 2022 edition in New York City, the home of hip-hop, last November, narrowly losing to a Dutch entry who goes by the moniker “India.”
“I am proud to represent the Philippines because it has always been in my blood. Now I can do it with more meaning and with a much deeper purpose,” said Edra, who was born in California to parents with Filipino heritage but is now based in South Florida.
Former roller sports chief Monty Mendigoria, who is credited for discovering street skateboarder and 2018 Asian Games gold medalist Margielyn Arda Didal, said that Edra, 18, was wooed to acquire a Philippine passport with the help of national breaking coach Melvin Jansen Ang.
“She (Edra) was willing to acquire a Philippine passport and play for the country,” said Mendigoria, a local break dance pioneer, and thanked Philippine Olympic Committee president Abrham Tolentino and his brother, Sen. Francis Tolentino, for helping with the passport right.
“Now our Filipino break dancers have a career path to follow and aspire to be an Olympian just like Logistx,” he noted.
Expected to join Edra in Cambodia is local breaking sensation Yer Lord Gabriel, who engaged in a friendly competition with the Fil-Am breaker that ended in a standoff after three rounds.
“Masaya ako na makakasama ko si Logistx sa Cambodia. Malaking karangalan na mapasama sa national team,” said Gabriel, who goes by the moniker “Bboy Dudut” in local hip-hop circles.
Ang said Edra would be back in early May before the PH breaking team competes in the regional meet set May 5 to 17 in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh and the northwestern city of Siem Reap.
