PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. yesterday recognized the six Filipino Paralympians competing in the 2024 Summer Paralympic Games in Paris that starts today as modern-day heroes for making the Filipinos proud and being the symbol of hope through their “extraordinary strength and dedication to compete despite their disabilities.
“Soon, the Paralympic games will start and the six Filipino Paralympians are already making us proud…The national pride they brought and continue to bring home is unrequitable — not by awards, not by effusive praises, not by incentives. We have heard their stories, we saw the glory, we did not, however, witness the discipline and sacrifice they endured to train every single day, the risks of injury, and the struggles of financial constraints. And yet we see them and they have come through,” the President said.
The six Paralympians are swimmers Ernie Gawilan and Angel Otom, wheelchair racer Jerrold Mangliwan, javelin thrower Cendy Asusano, archer Agustina Bantiloc, and taekwondo jin Allain Ganapin.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) yesterday called on Filipinos to support the six athletes.
“Buong-pusong suporta para sa Philippine Paralympic Team. Ang anim na miyembro ng Philippine Paralympic Team ay nagtungo sa Paris para sa 2024 Summer Paralympic Games kung saan sila magpapamalas ng kanilang kahusayan at galing sa kanilang sinalihang sporting event…Sama-sama natin silang suportahan sa kanilang laban para sa bayan simula sa Agosto 28! (“Our wholehearted support for the Philippine Paralympic Team. The six members of the Philippine Paralympic Team went to Paris for the 2024 Summer Paralympic Games to showcase their capabilities and abilities in their respective sporting event…Together, let us support their fight for the country starting August 28!),” the DSWD said in a social media post.
The 17th edition of the Paralympic Games will open at the Place de la Concorde and Champs-Elysees in Paris.
