KUALA LUMPUR -- Medals poured in Wednesday for the Philippines Para Swimming at the National Aquatic Center as Team Philippines won two golds and one silver, improving its medal haul the previous days of competition in the 9th ASEAN Para Games here.
Philippines para swimming team now has 2-3-2 (gold-silver-bronze) medal output.
Veteran para swimmer Gary Bejino, 21, native of Albay Province, Bicol Region, proved superior during the morning session by setting a new meet record in the men’s 400-meter freestyle S7 with a blistering 5:33.81, eclipsing the six-year old mark of 5:55.92 set by Somyot Sitichai in 2011.
“Wala akong alam na nangunguna ako,” exclaimed Bejino, a four-time veteran of the games. “Basta umasa ako na ibibigay ko lahat ng aking makakaya.”
It was also his second gold in the regional para games since he opted to become a full time swimmer.
“Regular at maganda ang training program na ibinibigay ng coaching staff namin,” said Bejino adding that he was able to buy a 100-square meter residential lot in their province through the cash incentives he received way back in 2015 from the government by virtue of the 2015 law expanding support to differently-abled Filipinos who excel and win a medal in international competitions like para games.
Ernie Gawilan, 26, of Sasa, Davao City, gave the Philippines its first gold in swimming when he splashed his way to rule the men’s 400 freestyle S8 ,clocking 4:57.49 minutes, shy to break the meet record of 4:48.49 which he established in the 8th edition of the games in Singapore.
It was the 12th gold medal of Gawilan, a veteran of five editions of the ASEAN para games. Hours later, Gawilan, also a product of Palarong Pambansa, settled for the silver in the men’s 100 butterfly S8, submitting a time of 1:19.86.
“Masaya ako na nakapagbigay na naman tayo ng karangalan para sa bayan,” said Gawilan whose father had just passed away last September 13, the day the Team Philippines flew here to compete.
Like Bejino, Gawilan, who loves gardening, also was able to buy a residential lot (130 square meters) in their hometown (Davao City) out of his incentives.
The other medalist Roland Sabido, 27, of Balangiga, Eastern Samar, settled for silver in the men’s 400 freestyle S9 with a time of 5:15.66, and through his incentives, he was able to buy for his family a “banca” for fishing being a three-year veteran of the games, producing three silvers and two bronze. (PNA)
