By Darryl John Esguerra | Philippine News Agency
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday awarded cash incentives and citations to the six Filipino Paralympic athletes who donned the Philippine colors in the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games.
Marcos, along with First Lady Liza Marcos and their sons William Vincent and Joseph Simon, welcomed the Paralympians in a ceremony at the Malacañan Palace.
During the short ceremony, Marcos handed P1 million each to Cendy Asusano (javelin throw); Agustina Bantiloc (archery); Alain Ganapin (taekwondo); Ernie Gawilan (swimming); Jerrold Mangliwan (wheelchair racing); and Angel Otom (swimming).
They also received Presidential citations for their gallant showing in the recently concluded Paralympic Games.
On August 26, National Heroes’ Day, Marcos hailed the Filipino Paralympians, calling them a “symbol of hope” and inspiration for all Filipinos.
‘Olympian for life’ Akiko Thomson
In a separate ceremony in the Palace, the President also met with former national athlete and swimmer Akiko Thomson-Guevara, who was recently named an “Olympian for Life” by the World Olympians Association (WOA).
Apart from being a three-time Olympian, Thomson-Guevara was also the most accomplished Filipina swimmer in the Southeast Asian Games, having won eight gold medals in the biennial multi-sport meet between 1987 and 1993.
Born to an American father and Japanese mother, Thomson-Guevara was invited to join the Philippine national team when she was 10 years old. She was naturalized by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 1983 released in 1985 during the leadership of the President’s father and namesake, the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr.
