Para heroes vow to bring honor for country

FILE – Philippines’ Ernie Gawilan (R) at the start of Heat 2 of the Men’s 100m Freestyle – S8 at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium during the Paralympic Games, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on September 11, 2016. Photo by Simon Bruty for OIS/IOC via AFP. RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. / AFP PHOTO / OIS/IOC / Simon Bruty for OIS/IOC

The triumphant Philippine team to the Asian Para Games vowed to carry the fight up until the Southeast Asian Para Games next year here and the Tokyo Paralympic Games in 2020.

Led by swimmer Ernie Gawilan, who hauled three gold medals, two of them via record-setting fashion, the team members were feted by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) which announced their cash incentives for their feat.

With 10 golds, eight silvers and 11 bronzes, Team Philippines vastly improved on its previous Asian Para Games performance in 2014 in Incheon, where the country bagged five silvers and five bronze medals.

“I would like to congratulate all our para athletes, who gave us another honor by bringing home the medals. You guys made the Filipinos proud once again,” said PSC chair Butch Ramirez.

The 27-year-old Gawilan, who hails from Davao City, stands to collect P4 million in incentives.

Cyclist Arthus Bucay and chess player Sander Severino will take home P2.6 million and P1 million, respectively, for their accomplishments.

They will be handed their cash reward on Nov. 6 at Malacañang Palace.

In return, the athletes vowed to buckle down to work as soon as possible to bring honor to the country in future meets.

“Our course, because the competition (Asean Para Games) will be held here, I want to win the gold in front of our fellowmen. There’s pressure because athletes from other countries will also prepare hard for the SEA Games,” said Bucay.