THE Philippine Paralynpic Committee/Philippine Sports Association for the Differently Abled (PPC-PHILSPADA) has launched a new donation system that will help the Filipino Para-athletes in their coming competitions.
This donation campaign, “Alay PARA Atleta”, aims not only to help Filipino para athletes, but also expands the reach of the national paralympic movement as it has been made easier and more accessible since the donors will only have to use their mobile phones.
For this to be possible, PPC-PHILSPADA has partnered with the mobile content and service company, Rising Tide Mobile Entertainment Inc., that will be activated on Globe and Smart networks.
The minimum amount that can be donated is P10 to a maximum of P500. The process can be done just by texting the amount to the access code 3456.
Last September 1, PPC-PHILSPADA has also partnered with the University Athletic Association of the Philippines as their students and athletes will be volunteering as support staff and crew at the ASEAN Para Games in 2019 that will be held in the Philippines.
Their partnership with UAAP will also enable students to be aware and participate in the campaign for the athletes with disabilities.
After the Filipino para athletes’ outstanding performance at the last PARA Games in Kuala Lumpur, PPC-PHILSPADA president Michael Barredo saw this as an opportunity to further push the limits of the athletes.
“Our showing in KL validated our long range plan: to implement a grassroots development program that will help discover new talents and harness our existing ones in order to create a bigger pool of para athletes that will be ready to compete in the next 2018 Indonesia Asian Para Games, the ASEAN Para Games in Manila in 2019, the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics and other international para sport competitions,” Barredo said.
“The Alay PARA Atleta Program is our response to the colorful performance of our para athletes in the recent Para Games. Funds raised through this program will help provide our para athletes with equipment and basic needs that will support them in their quest to transcend their personal barriers to achieve excellence and excite the world. Above all, it will inspire them to know that the whole country is behind them in their dream to excel and bring honor to the country,” he continued.
At the PARA Games last Sept. 17 to 23 in Malaysia, the Philippines bagged a total of 69 medals (20 gold, 20 silver and 29 bronze). The country’s ranking also rose to the 5th place, from 7th spot.
The Philippines made an impression as rookies such as Ma. Cielo Honasan, Gary Bejino and Claire Calizo, who joined their first international competition, won a series of medals.