Philippine Sports Association for the Differently Abled
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National Paralympic Committee | |
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Country | Philippines |
Code | PHI |
Created | August 1997 |
Headquarters | Pasig |
President | Michael I. Barredo |
Secretary General | Gerardo A. Rosario |
The Philippine Sports Association for the Differently Abled—National Paralympic Committee of the Philippines (PhilSPADA-NPC Philippines), is the national sports association for physically impaired athletes, tasked to spearhead developing sport competency for Filipino persons with disabilities. It is the Philippine National Paralympic Committee recognized by the International Paralympic Committee[1]
The Philippine Sports Commission provides funding support for Philspada-NPC Philippines' operations and sport competitions. Just like the Philippine Olympic Committee, Philspada-NPC Philippines is the parallel organization sending qualified disabled national athletes to represent the country in international competitions, from regional to the elite, Paralympic level.
Regional Sporting Events
Headed by Chief de Mission Gerardo "Ral" Rosario for PhilSPADA-NPC Philippines, the Philippine delegation of 65 Filipino differently abled athletes recently competed in the 2015 ASEAN Para Games, a multi-sport event held from 3 to 9 December 2015, in Singapore. Among the athletes were Paralympians, seasoned veterans and a few debutants to the Games. The para athletes won a total 59 medals which placed the Philippines at 7th place out of 10 ASEAN nations, bringing home:
- 16 Gold medals (Athletics, Chess, Powerlifting, Swimming, Table Tennis)
- 17 Silver medals (Athletics, Chess, Sailing, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tenpin Bowling)
- 26 Bronze medals (Athletics, Chess, Sailing, Swimming, Table Tennis, Powerlifting, Tenpin Bowling, Wheelchair Basketball)
The national para athletes will compete in upcoming regional sports events aside from the Paralympics:
- 2017 ASEAN Para Games, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- 2018 Asian Para Games in Jakarta - Palembang, Indonesia
- 2019 ASEAN Para Games slated to be held in home turf Metro Manila, the Philippines
The Philippines in the Paralympic Games
Four para athletes have qualified for the 2016 Rio Paralympics by achieving their sport qualifying standards during the recent 2015 ASEAN Para Games.
- Ernie Gawilan (Swimming)
- Andy Avellana (High jump, Men, Athletics)
- Jerrold Mangliwan (Wheelchair racing, Athletics)
- Josephine Medina (Table Tennis).
2016 PhilSPADA-NPC Philippines hopes a few more athletes will qualify within the next few months for the upcoming Paralympics.
It had previously fielded:
- 9 athletes to the London 2012 Paralympics - Athletics, Powerlifting, Swimming and Table Tennis
- 3 athletes to the Beijing 2008 Paralympics - Powerlifting, Sailing
- 2 athletes to the Athens 2004 Paralympics - Powerlifting
- 2 athletes to the Sydney 2000 Paralympics - Athletics and Powerlifting (Bronze medal)
Recognition
Philspada-NPC Philippines was named Disabled Group of the Year by the Apolinario Mabini Awards Committee in August 6, 2008. Philspada-NPC Phils. President Michael Barredo, former PSC commissioner, accepted the award from President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in Malacañan Palace.[2][3]
See also
- National Council on Disability Affairs (Philippines)
- Philippine Olympic Committee
- PhilSports Complex
- Rizal Memorial Sports Complex
References
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