Denied of chance to show worth as national athletes, blind twins look to future for more opportunities

Nelmida Twins in action with guides From left: Jerome Nelmida and his twin Joshua (third) with their guides. Photos courtesy of Annette Nelmida

Like most twins, Joshua and Jerome Nelmida share a lot of things beyond phy­sical appearance.

“We’re both fans of choir music,” Joshua told the Inquirer.

“I wanted to explore and study music one day,” Jerome chimed in.

They’re both into triathlon and were supposed to make their debuts as natio­nal triathletes in the 10th Asean Para Games here in the country. Unfortunately, the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic crushed that dream. So now, they share a similar longing.

“[W]e long for the day we get to race again,” Joshua said.

Jerome and Joshua suffer from retinopathy of prematurity, a disease caused by the abnormal development of retinal blood vessels in premature infants. This has left them unable to see since birth.

But that hasn’t stopped them from viewing the world through the lens of competition. Behind a supportive and loving mother who has been everything to the twins—manager, trainer, cheerlea­der, ray of light and, most importantly, their eyes—the Nelmidas have conquered obstacles to rise to the top of their multisport discipline.

Jerome recalled one of his favorite competition moments from last year, when he missed the awarding ceremonies thinking he had no chance to climb the podium since he was competing against “opponents [who] could see.”

“It was an event organized by Swim Bike Run PH, and that was my first time to win third place in an aquathlon,” he said. “We went back home because we thought we had no chance. So I missed hearing the crowd’s reaction.”

Joshua, meanwhile, reminisced about a 2017 aquathlon event in Batangas.

“It was my breakthrough victory,” he said, adding: “It reinforced a thought that we can actually win.”

Joshua and Jerome Nelmida. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/ Annette Nelmida

And so mom Anette Nelmida pushed herself as hard as the 19-year-old twins pushed themselves. While Jerome and Joshua poured everything they had into making the national squad, Anette exhausted all means to support their bid financially. They had, after all, surpassed her expectations a hundred-fold: “I really just wanted for them to learn how to read and write as normal people would,” Anette said.

But the twins dared dream. Anette would help see them through.

And then came the coronavirus pandemic that paused sports programs all over the world.

“I was really saddened. It was supposed to be our first time to represent the Philippines,” Joshua said.
“I felt it that we now had the chance to show the Philippines that differently abled athletes are just as capable,” said Jerome, who once was featured in a Read-Along article in the Inquirer.

The twins consoled themselves with the fact that the shuttered sports scene meant securing the safety of society.

And their mom made them understand that the future is still a sight to behold. They just have to understand and be patient.

“I keep on telling the twins that there’s always an opportunity,” Annette said. “You’re showing young kids like you that they could do sports.”

“It’s also for the ones betting on you,” she added, alluding to the likes of Tony Ong and Anthony Lozada, who both took a chance on the twins years ago.

“Imagine, an image of a blind kid that could swim, bike and run?” Annette said. “It will be hard but it will be worth it.”