Five Filipino para swimmers are set to represent the Philippines at the upcoming World Para Swimming Championships in Singapore, a major event that brings together top para-athletes from around the globe. The competition, which runs from September 21 to 27 at the OCBC Aquatic Center, marks the first time the championship will be held in Asia.
The national team will feature Paralympians Ernie Gawilan, Angel Otom, and Gary Bejino, alongside Marco Tinamisan and Ariel Joseph Alegarbes. Their participation highlights the Philippines’ growing presence in international para sports and underscores the athletes’ determination to push beyond barriers.
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Filipino Athletes Ready To Compete
Gawilan will compete in the men’s 200-meter Individual Medley SM7 and the men’s 400m Freestyle S7, while Otom will swim in the women’s 50m Butterfly and Backstroke S5. Bejino is set for the men’s S6 50m Butterfly, as well as the 50m and 100m Freestyle. Tinamisan will take part in the men’s 50m, 100m, and 200m Freestyle S3, and Alegarbes will join the men’s 100m Backstroke and 100m Butterfly S14.
Gawilan, Otom, and Tinamisan secured their slots by meeting minimum qualifying standards at the World Para Swimming Series in Japan last April. Bejino and Alegarbes qualified through invitations from World Para Swimming, a recognition of their potential to compete at the highest level.
“This is the first time that the World Championships will be held in Asia. This prestigious competition will bring together over 600 top para-athletes from 60 nations, including the Philippines,” the Philippine Embassy in Singapore noted in a statement. “The event will feature not only the top athletes from the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, but also rising stars aiming for the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles, USA.”
Raising Awareness for Para Sports
Beyond medals, the athletes’ participation represents a step toward broader recognition of para sports in the Philippines. For many, the Paralympics remains less familiar compared to mainstream sporting events, but competitions like the World Championships shine a spotlight on the skill, discipline, and resilience of differently-abled athletes.
Their presence in Singapore serves as a reminder that sports can be inclusive, inspiring more Filipinos to appreciate and support para-athletes who carry the national flag with pride. As awareness grows, so does the opportunity to break down old perceptions and give Paralympians the recognition they deserve.
