MANILA, Philippines — Philippine Sports Commission chairman Patrick Gregorio raised a glass to the country’s record-breaking campaign in the 13th Asean Para Games which came to a close yesterday in Nakhon Ratchasima in Thailand.
The Philippines fielded 211 competitors in 14 of the 19 sports on tap, and will bring home 45 gold, 37 silver and 52 bronze medals, the most for the country since its participation in 2001.
Chess player Darry Bernardo made all the right moves and won six golds while swimmer Angel Otom and chess player Sander Severino had five golds esch. Swimmer Gary Bejino had four golds to lead the charge of Team Philippines.
The medal haul in Thailand was the most for Team Philippines in the ASEAN Para Games, and was good for fourth place overall behind host Thailand (175-155-158), Indonesia (135-144-114) and Malaysia (64-64-73).
In Cambodia in 2023, Team Philippines fielded 173 athletes in 14 sports and bagged 34-33-50 (gold, silver, bronze for fifth place.
‘Great achievement. Better than Cambodia (in 2023). You made us all proud. The PSC gave all out support and it paid off,” said Gregorio.
The gold haul in the ASEAN Para Games came a month after Team Philippines vied in the 33th Southeast Asian Games also in Thailand, and finished sixth place overall with 50 gold, 73 silver and 154 bronze medals.
It was hailed as a success in that Team Philippines won the gold medals that it was supposed to win and struck in events where it went against all odds, against the home bets.
Gregorio said the gold medals won by Filipino athletes in the ASEAN Para Games glittered like those won in the SEA Games.
“Parehong bandila. Parehong Lupang Hinirang. Parehong sakripisyo PARA sa Pilipinas,” said the proud PSC chairman.
President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. hailed Team Philippines that vied in the last SEA Games, and rewarded the medalists with additional cash incentives of P300,000 for every gold, P150,000 for silver and P60,000 for bronze.
“Batid nating walang katumbas na halaga ang inyong sakripisyo, ngunit tanggapin ninyo ito bilang simbolo ng pagpupugay at pasasalamat ng mamamayang Pilipino sa inyong kabayanihan,” said the President in front of the SEA Games medalists.
“Nawa ay marami pang kabataang Pilipino ang tumahak sa katulad na landas na inyong nilalakbay,” Marcos added.