International body honors ‘dream-maker’ Barredo

Michael Barredo, whose lifelong advocacy is to help differently abled athletes reach their dreams, recently received the Paralympic Order and Asian Order awards from the International Paralympic Committee.

The president of the Philippine Paralympic Committee was bestowed the highest tribute a person connected with the Paralympic movement can achieve.

Barredo, who was left visually-impaired after a vehicular accident in 1979, presented his award yesterday to Philippine Sports Commission chair Butch Ramirez and PSC senior executive assistant Ronnel Abrenica.

The Paralympic Order honors someone who has exemplified the Paralympic ideals or rendered outstanding services to the movement while the Asian Order, awarded to Barredo recently in Bangkok, is the highest accolade given by the Asian Paralympic Committee.

Through Barredo’s efforts, the Philippines got a bronze in the Rio de Janeiro Paralympic Games three months ago, courtesy of table tennis player Josephine Medina.