AFTER winning three gold medals and two silvers in the Asian Para Games 2018 in Jakarta, Indonesia, Davao City's legless para swimmer Ernie Gawilan now targets a medal in the Paralympics Games.
But did not disclose if it will be in the Tokyo 2020 Summer Paralympics.
“Magkamedalya sa Paralympics pero layo pa akong langoyon para mabuhat ko na siguro (I dream of clinching a medal in the Paralympics but it would be a long journey for me),” the 27-year-old Gawilan, who hails from Paquibato District, said in a Facebook interview with SunStar Davao.
He also relished his impressive feat in the games.
“Na shock lage ko Ma'am kay first time nahitabo ni nga maka (gold) medal ko sa Asian Para Games unya 43 ka nasod ang nangapil (I was shocked because this is the first time for me to win an Asian Para Games medal with 43 countries competing),” he said.
The Jakarta Games was also his third stint in the Asian stage. He pocketed three bronzes in the 2014 Asian Para Games in Incheon, South Korea.
He shared, “Pero lahi ra jud ni kay sobra-sobra pa sa award nga nakuha nako sa Asean, lima ka medals sa isa ka dulaan (But this is more than the medals I won in the Asean Para Games, five medals in one competition).”
Gawilan brought home two golds in the Asean Para Games held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
He also said that this must be what God has blessed him with for his hard work in training.
“Bisan ug magkasakit, mag-training gihapon ko (I still train even when I get sick),” he said, adding that the 10-month preparation really helped him and his team during the Games.
The Rio 2016 Paralympian then thanked Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte Carpio for giving recognition to para athletes like him as well as the Dabawenyos for their support to him.
“Nagapasalamat ko nga Davao akong ginadala nga lugar ug ginapanghinambog nako nga taga Davao ko tungod kay basta taga Davao matinumanon sa balaod ug matinabangon ug maluluy-on. Magtinabangay ta nga ma maintain nato ang maayong record sa Davao City (I am thankful that I have been representing Davao and I am proud that I am from Davao because a Dabawenyo is law-abiding, helpful and compassionate. Let's help each other maintain the city's good record),” Gawilan said.
He urged para athletes to never give up in discovering their talents and skills no matter what they lack in physical form.
Gawilan, a survivor of an abortion attempt, believes that God has the best plans for each person and that is enough reason to always be thankful in every circumstance.
He added, “Dili lang ta magsawa sa pagpangandoy ug pagpaningkamot aron maabot nato atong gusto sa kinabuhi (Let's continue dreaming and work hard to fulfill our dreams).”
His Para Games feats also would make him P4 million richer. Republic Act 10699, which expands the coverage of incentives granted to national athletes and coaches, entitles him to receive P1 million each for his three golds and P500,000 apiece for each of his two silvers from the national government through the PSC.
He has no plans yet on his cash incentives. “Time deposit po muna siguro.”
Indeed, hardships he endured while growing up without his parents helped him become a stronger person not just in the swimming race but more so, in the race of life.