MANILA, Philippines -- The Philippine Taekwondo team scored the country’s first gold medal in the 2009 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games Wednesday in the Women’s Poomsae event at the Booyoung Gymnasium National University in Vientiane, Laos.

According to the SEAG Games Website, the trio of Carla Lagman, Rani Ann Ortega and Francesca Alarilla duplicated their recent victory in the fourth World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships with a top place finish in the SEA Games.

Poomsae is the non-contact form of taekwondo that emphasizes correct form. It is the counterpart of kata in karatedo.

The country’s taekwondo team also scored two bronze medals in two other poomsae events.

Antony Matias, Brian Sabido and Jean Sabido won third place in Men’s Poomsae. Jean also partnered with Ortega for a third place finish in Poomsae Mixed Pair.

The Philippines now has 1 gold, 1 silver and 4 bronze medals.

The Philippines' first medal in the 2009 edition of the SEA Games came from a silver finish by the RP Water Polo Team.

The country also scored 2 bronze medals in Sepak Takraw (Women's Hoop and Men's Hoop).

The Philippines is looking to improve from its 6th place finish in the 2007 Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand SEA Games where it hauled 41 gold, 91 silver and 96 bronze medals.