Filipino Athletes Represent RP in 21st Summer Deaf Olympics
Last September 5 to 15, 2009, the Deaf Community marked a milestone by sending the first Philippine delegation to the 21st Summer Deaf Olympics in Taipei, Taiwan, which was also the first time the Deaflympics was held in Asia.
The highlight of the experience for Bowling athlete and SDEAS Faculty, Ariscel Lobo, was the honor of carrying the Philippine fl ag in the Opening Ceremonies of the Deafl ympics Games in Taipei Stadium. Ariscel also once participated in the 2nd Asia-Pacifi c Deaf Bowling Championship in Jeju City, South Korea back in 2007.
Other Philippine athletes and delegates who attended this international sports event include Coach Jay Sunico, Asst. Coach Carol Dagani, Interpreter Sansan Ong, Anthony Paul Pacis and Christopher Lloyd Uy for the Men’s Team; Ma. Cecillia Villacin, Jorelle Faytaren, and Phil-Sports President Ma. Lovella Catalan for the Women’s Team.
SDEAS Alumna Lovella also joined Ariscel in the 2nd Asia-Pacific Bowling Championship in Korea (2007) and won a Gold Medal in the Women Single Division and a Silver Medal in the Master Final.
It was a tough ten days for the Filipino athletes because no one from the Philippine Delegation qualified in the Master Final. Lovella almost made it but her standings went down from rank 15 to rank 20 because of an arm injury. Only the top 16 ranking players were qualified to play in the final round.
When asked about her advice to young Deaf athletes Lovella shares, “if others can do it, we can too, the only thing we cannot do is hear. You can develop your skills through regular practice. It is also good to engage in sports events with hearing counterparts like joining your school’s varsity team.”
Lovella also stressed the importance of government support for our country’s young athletes, “the PSFD officers worked hard to solicit donation from companies for sponsorship and even organized PSFD’s first activity which was the Federation’s fundraising effort to support the athletes.”
Ariscel, however, remains optimistic even after going through the difficult experience of going home empty handed, “my advice to other Filipino Deaf who want to become athletes is to try harder. If you lose the fi rst time, try again. Or the second time, you try again, because who knows, maybe after the third try, you just might win.” He is setting his sights to the World Deaf Bowling Championships which will take place in 2011.
For more info on the Phil-Sports Federation of the Deaf, visit: http:// www.psfd-ph.org/about.html
