Recently, the Philippines sent a team to compete in the 2020 Paralympic Games held in Tokyo, Japan. One of them is from Kalinga, who joined the wheelchair racing athletics event.
The Paralympics athlete is a 41-year-old Kalinga’s Pride, Jerrold Mangliwan, from Dupag, Naneng Tabuk City. Both of his legs are completely paralyzed due to polio when he was inflicted by the disease at the age of two.
Mangliwan, in the 2020 Paralympic Games, was chosen as the country’s flag bearer during the opening ceremony.
Mangliwan's journey in sports
Born on October 17, 1979, Mangliwan took his secondary education at the Kalinga Christian Learning Center and STS Lubuagan.
He moved to Manila to attend college at the Trinity University of Asia, where his “Para Sports” career begun. Para sports are played by people with a disability, including physical and intellectual disabilities.
In an interview with Guru Press Cordillera, Mangliwan said that People with Disabilities (PWDs) are mostly left out in the society and some people are not aware of the ‘Para Sports’. He wished that more people will engage and recognize this kind of program that benefits someone like him.
He said, “yan naman palagi ang battle cry ng mga kagaya ko kasi we are underrepresented ‘pag dating sa legislation for the welfare of PWDs.”
Mangliwan narrated that he wasn’t sure if he would excel in the sports, but luckily, a friend persuade him to try out wheelchair racing. Then eventually, on the year 2009 he found himself racing for the Philippine athletics team for the ASEAN Para Games in Malaysia where he won two gold medals and one silver medal-that was the time he realized that he really have potential for the athletics event.
“Nag-aral ako sa Manila kaya na expose ako sa ganyan, nakita ko lang at nag-try out (muna) ako sa Wheelchair basketball, (at nung) 2009 lang ako nag-shift sa Para Athletics,” Mangliwan said.
From then on, he kept going with great determination and became the first wheelchair racer of the province until he was able to compete and represent Philippines in different countries at a Paralympics event.
“Gusto ko lang ipakita na we can also be an ambassador in sports na puwede po mag-compete in a world-class manner regardless of what status you are and to make our country proud,” he said.
Places and competitions Mangliwan joined
He competed in Rio Paralympic Games, Brazil, Guang Zhou Paralympic Games, China, Incheon Games, South Korea, Jakarta Asian Paralympics, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Singapore Asian Para Games, France, Switzerland World Para Athletic Grand Prix and this year, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Meanwhile, the athlete is preparing for the Asean Paralympics Games-Vietnam and Asian Games in China set next year. His coaches Bernard Buen and Joel Deriada will be preparing him for said events.
He mentioned that his coaches, the Philippine Paralympics Committee, and Philippine Sports Commission helped him to make things possible.
In a message he encouraged aspiring Para Athletes, saying “Hanapin lang kung anong field of interest mo whether in sports or anything na sa tingin mo mag-excel ka, huwag mahiya o matatakot na mag-try, lumabas po tayo at ipakita and try to master your craft through hard work and discipline.”
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