President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. congratulated the Filipino para athletes on Wednesday for their outstanding performance at the 12th ASEAN Para Games, where they won a total of 34 gold medals.
In a tweet, the President extended his well-wishes to the athletes after the Philippine Sports Commission officials warmly welcomed the Philippine Para Athletics in a gathering at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
Binabati natin ang ating mga para athletes na nakilahok sa 2023 ASEAN Para Games sa Cambodia!
Sa 34 na gold, 33 na silver, at 50 bronze medals na inyong pinanalo, pinakita ninyo ang galing at husay ng mga para athletes sa bansa at pinatunayang hindi hadlang ang kapansanan sa… pic.twitter.com/8EDEVG7AFM
— Bongbong Marcos (@bongbongmarcos) June 14, 2023
“With the 34 gold, 33 silver, and 50 bronze medals that you bagged, you showed the talent and skills of the country’s para-athletes and proved that disability is not an obstacle to achieving dreams,” Marcos said.
“You bring not only pride for the Philippines but a deeper sense of unity among the countries in the region,” he added.
In a separate statement, the chef-de-mission for Team Philippines and a commissioner of the PSC Walter Francis Torres expressed his deep appreciation and immense joy for the outstanding performances and remarkable accomplishments of the athletes during the 12th ASEAN Para Games.
Torres likewise conveyed his honor to be associated with such incredible achievements.
“Beyond the medals, it is your wholehearted dedication and resilience that makes you true champions,” Torres said.
“You continuously prove that anything is possible with passion, hard work, and a firm belief in yourselves.”
Indonesia achieved its third consecutive overall championship by winning 153 gold, 141 silver, and 93 bronze medals.
Thailand, which will host the 2025 edition in Korat, came in second place (123-107-92) followed by Vietnam (66-56-78) and Malaysia (47-38-35).
Myanmar finished behind the Phl at sixth with a 15-23-19 medal haul with Singapore (12-15-17), Cambodia (9-18-43), Brunei (3-3-2), Timor Leste (2-0-0) and Laos (0-2-9) rounding up the medal standing.
In the 2022 Para Games hosted by Indonesia, the Philippines secured fifth place with a total of 28 gold, 30 silver and 46 bronze medals.
