Para athletes move forward

Philippine Paralympic Committee (PPC) president Mike Barredo has a lot to crow about.  At the Asian Youth Para Games in Dubai last December, the Philippine delegation of 50 athletes delivered eight golds, 13 silvers and 10 bronzes.  And last month, Barredo’s gritty battalion of 211 athletes bagged 45 golds, 37 silvers and 52 bronzes at the Asean Para Games in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.

PPC secretary-general Goody Custodio said the recent Asean Para Games performance was a significant improvement from the previous haul in Cambodia where the country brought home 34 golds, 33 silvers and 49 bronzes.  “Of our 211 athletes in Thailand, 11 competed at the Asian Youth and six were medalists,” noted Custodio. “Rodrigo Podiotan, who’s 46, was our oldest gold medalist at Asean with two in athletics while Ariel Joseph Alegarbes, who’s 21, was the youngest with a gold in swimming.”  Podiotan took the gold in the 400m T52 and hit paydirt again in the 100m T52.  The classification T52 is for wheelchair track athletes with impairment in the legs and trunk.  Alegarbes snatched the gold in 100m backstroke S14 with a time of 1:02.52.  The classification S14 is for para swimmers with an intellectual impairment.

Custodio pointed out that swimming produced six golds at the Asian Youth and athletics, 16 at Asean.  He cited several factors that led to the impressive showing.  “First, we recruited young athletes from the provinces,” said Custodio.  “Next, we coordinated with provincial coaches for talented para athletes.  Then, we organized and recruited at the Philippine National Games.  We also scouted para athletes at the Palarong Pambansa and Batang Pinoy.  We increased the number of entries in paralympic sports. Lastly, we strengthened partnerships with institutions for improvement of professional classification processes.”

Although para athletes receive incentives half of what abled medalists are given, it’s still a benefit that reverberates and motivates. “PSC has given our para athletes full support in their training, equipment and other essential elements,” said Custodio.  “We wouldn’t be able to achieve what we did without PSC’s support.”

Custodio said beyond actively competing, some para athletes make the transition to coaching and it’s a positive development as a career path.  Examples of para athletes who’ve become coaches are Adeline Dumapong of powerlifting and Marlon Nacita, Juanito Mingarine and Rene Macabenquil of wheelchair basketball.  Asian Youth Para Games gold medalists will be recognized at the San Miguel Corp.-Philippine Sportswriters Association 2025 Awards Night at the Diamond Hotel Manila on Monday.