TEN Bacolod-based persons with disabilities (PWDs) will leave for Marikina City to compete in the Fifth Philippine Sports Commission (PSC)- Philippine Sports Association for the Differently Abled (Philspada) Para National Games 2016 on March 28 to April 2.
To don the Bacolod City colors are Aquileo Villacen and Joseph Tiapon for swimming; John Rey Belleza, Margaret Pasco and Vince Bico, athletics; Enrico Tan, powerlifting; and Ismael Solivio, chess. They will be joined by coaches Eva Hermocillas and Arnold Ardosa, and assistant head of delegation Lowell Raner with guides Siena Maria Pasco and Alan Aplasca.
Heading the Bacolod team are Social Welfare Officer Alma Gustilo and handicraft worker Ma. Celia Cordova.
The athletes will compete in different sporting events like athletics, badminton, boccia, chess, goalball, powerlifting, swimming, table tennis, tenpin bowling, wheelchair basketball, and demo sports for wheelchair dance, cycling, and archery.
Tasked to spearhead in developing the sports competency of PWDs in the country, the Philspada-National Paralympic Committee Philippines is the association for physically impaired athletes duly recognized by the International Paralympic Committee.
PSC provides funding support for Philspada’s operations and sport competitions and similar to Philippine Olympic Committee, Philspada-NPC is a parallel organization sending qualified disabled national athletes to represent the country in international competitions, from regional to the elite, Paralympic level.
Come 2016 Rio Paralympics, four Pinoy para athletes have qualified to represent the country following their achievement during the recent 2015 Asean Para Games.
Among them are Ernie Gawilan for swimming, Andy Avellana for high jump men, Jerrold Mangliwan for wheelchair racing, and Josephine Medina for table tennis.
In the past years, Philspada has already sent several athletes to the Paralympics, which include nine players to the London 2012 Paralympics, three to the Beijing 2008 Paralympics, two athletes to the Athens 2004 Paralympics and Sydney 2000 Paralympics.