Toni Leviste
Encyclopedia
Marie Antoinette Sarangaya "Toni" Leviste (born August 5, 1973), is a Filipina equestrian
athlete. Leviste represented the Philippines in international competitions, such as the FEI World Cup Show
, the Southeast Asian Games
, the Asian games
and the Summer Olympics. Leviste has also been awarded the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Rider of the Year award from 1992 until 2005.
in the World Cup. Leviste then went on to represent her country in the 2000 Summer Olympics
at Sydney, Australia, though eventually finishing at 61st place and failing to medal, she noted that it was more important for her during that time to take part in the games rather than winning. Leviste competed again in the 2008 summer games
and is currently preparing for a final run at the 2012 London Olympics. At the 2002 Asian games, Leviste alongside Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski
won team silver in the team jumping event. She has also won several regional tournaments, such as winning the 2004 Globe Platinum Cup in Manila, the 2004 Merdeka Masters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the 2005 Sony Ericsson Cup in Manila and the 2005 Malaysian Open in Kuwang, Malaysia. Her last major tournament win was in 2008 when she won first place in the CSI-Dinard young horse competition in Dinard, France
. In 2010 she was initially named to the Philippines team for the Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, but she did not compete because the Philippine Olympic Committee decided not to field an equestrian team in order to avoid the high cost of transporting horses to the games.
s where horses can graze individually or communally. The facility also has a manor
in which athletes can be housed while training in the facility.
Governor Antonio Leviste and his first wife Celia Sarangaya. She has been a practicing Muslim
since 2004 and has been active in the World Islamic Economic Forum since 2010. Leviste dated basketball
player Vince Hizon from 1998 until 2001, the couple eventually split and Hizon went on to marry Patricia Bermudez-Hizon
. Leviste has also been featured as an image model for local Philippine clothing brands such as Bayo, Freeway, Tango and other popular brands like Globe Telecom
, Sony Ericsson
, Cebuana Lhullier and Clinique
.
Equestrianism
Equestrianism more often known as riding, horseback riding or horse riding refers to the skill of riding, driving, or vaulting with horses...
athlete. Leviste represented the Philippines in international competitions, such as the FEI World Cup Show
Show Jumping World Cup
The FEI World Cup Show Jumping Final, is an annual international competition among the world’s best show jumping horses and riders. The series, created in 1978, today comprises 14 leagues on all continents. The best riders from 132 preliminary competitions qualify for the final. The FEI World Cup...
, the Southeast Asian Games
Southeast Asian Games
The Southeast Asian Games , is a biennial multi-sport event involving participants from the current 11 countries of Southeast Asia...
, the Asian games
Asian Games
The Asian Games, officially known as Asiad, is a multi-sport event held every four years among athletes from all over Asia. The Games were regulated by the Asian Games Federation from the first Games in New Delhi, India, until the 1978 Games. Since the 1982 Games they have been organised by the...
and the Summer Olympics. Leviste has also been awarded the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Rider of the Year award from 1992 until 2005.
Career
Toni Leviste first gained local media attention in 1999 when she won third place in the little known Sunshine tour grand prix which was held in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. In the same year, she competed at the World Cup Showjumping Finals, held at Goteborg, Sweden. During this time, she was the first equestrian to represent a country within the Southeast Asian regionSoutheast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
in the World Cup. Leviste then went on to represent her country in the 2000 Summer Olympics
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
at Sydney, Australia, though eventually finishing at 61st place and failing to medal, she noted that it was more important for her during that time to take part in the games rather than winning. Leviste competed again in the 2008 summer games
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
and is currently preparing for a final run at the 2012 London Olympics. At the 2002 Asian games, Leviste alongside Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski
Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski
Mikaela María Antonia Cojuangco-Jaworski, , better known simply as Mikee Cojuangco or Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski, is a Chinese Filipino equestrianne, local television host and actress from the Philippines...
won team silver in the team jumping event. She has also won several regional tournaments, such as winning the 2004 Globe Platinum Cup in Manila, the 2004 Merdeka Masters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the 2005 Sony Ericsson Cup in Manila and the 2005 Malaysian Open in Kuwang, Malaysia. Her last major tournament win was in 2008 when she won first place in the CSI-Dinard young horse competition in Dinard, France
Dinard
Dinard is a commune in the Ille-et-Vilaine department in Brittany in north-western France.Dinard is on the Côte d'Émeraude of Brittany. Its beaches and mild climate make it a popular holiday destination, and this has resulted in the town having a variety of famous visitors and residents...
. In 2010 she was initially named to the Philippines team for the Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, but she did not compete because the Philippine Olympic Committee decided not to field an equestrian team in order to avoid the high cost of transporting horses to the games.
Equestrian park
Leviste opened a 10-hectare Equestrian park in the outskirts of Lipa city, Batangas. The facility, which Leviste describes as a "horse spa", includes a "European-style" barn and grass paddockPaddock
A Paddock is an enclosure for horses. It may also refer to: People*Algernon Paddock , American politician*Charlie Paddock , American athlete and actor*Del Paddock , American baseball player...
s where horses can graze individually or communally. The facility also has a manor
Manor
-Land tenure:*Manor, an estate in land of the mediaeval era in England*Manorialism, a system of land tenure and organization of the rural economy and society in parts of medieval Europe based on the manor*Manor house, the principal house of a manor...
in which athletes can be housed while training in the facility.
Personal life
Toni Leviste is the daughter of detained former BatangasBatangas
Batangas is a first class province of the Philippines located on the southwestern part of Luzon in the CALABARZON region. Its capital is Batangas City and it is bordered by the provinces of Cavite and Laguna to the north and Quezon to the east. Across the Verde Island Passages to the south is the...
Governor Antonio Leviste and his first wife Celia Sarangaya. She has been a practicing Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
since 2004 and has been active in the World Islamic Economic Forum since 2010. Leviste dated basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player Vince Hizon from 1998 until 2001, the couple eventually split and Hizon went on to marry Patricia Bermudez-Hizon
Patricia Bermudez-Hizon
Patricia Bermudez-Hizon is a sportscaster and television host in the Philippines. She is the first ever female basketball television and radio anchor in the country. She started as a courtside reporter for the PBA in...
. Leviste has also been featured as an image model for local Philippine clothing brands such as Bayo, Freeway, Tango and other popular brands like Globe Telecom
Globe Telecom
Globe Telecom , commonly known as Globe, is a telecommunications company in the Philippines. Globe provides mobile, fixed line, and broadband Internet services.- History :In 1928, Congress passed Act No...
, Sony Ericsson
Sony Ericsson
Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB is a joint venture established on October 1, 2001 by the Japanese consumer electronics company Sony Corporation and the Swedish telecommunications company Ericsson to manufacture mobile phones....
, Cebuana Lhullier and Clinique
Clinique
Clinique is a manufacturer of skincare, cosmetics, toiletries and fragrances, owned by the Estée Lauder Corporation.- History :In 1967, American Vogue magazine published an article called “Can Great Skin Be Created?”, written by beauty editor Carol Phillips with Dr. Norman Orentreich, discussing...
.