ASEAN Para Games Day 1 Roundup: Team Philippines opens campaign with record-breaking golds

Team Philippines wasted no time making its presence felt on Day 1 of the ASEAN Para Games on January 21, delivering a strong opening performance highlighted by multiple gold medals, game records, and promising starts across several disciplines.

Currently the Philippines is ranked third overall with a total of 20 medals, consisting of eight golds, six silver and bronze medals. Vietnam is in fourth place with only one shy of the Philippines’ tally. 

The Filipinos drew early momentum from para athletics, where Jan Jayro Palermo struck gold in the men’s long jump T20 with a leap of 6.89 meters. The track events proved equally fruitful as Rodrigo Podiotan Jr. captured gold in the men’s 400m T52 in 1:01.06, setting a new Games record, while Cendy Asusano rewrote the mark in the women’s shot put F54 with a gold-winning throw of 6.04 meters. Team PHI also topped the men’s 1500m T11 through the tandem of Evenezer Celebrado and Daniel Enderes Jr., adding another gold to the tally.

In the pool, para swimming continued to be a gold mine. Gary Bejino dominated the men’s 400m freestyle S6 in 5:32.88, another Games record, while Ernie Gawilan ruled the men’s 400m freestyle S7. Angel Otom also stood tallest in the women’s 50m backstroke S4-S5. A silver came from the mixed 4×50m freestyle relay, rounding out a productive opening day in aquatics.

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Team Philippines also shone in para fencing, with Marlyn Garrucho clinching gold in the women’s individual sabre A after edging Thailand, 15-13. In tenpin bowling, Francisco Ednaco secured a bronze in the men’s singles TPB8 event, while Michael Bayani added another bronze in para cycling (men’s individual time trial C3–C5).

Several sports saw encouraging results despite tough competition. Para powerlifting delivered a silver from Marydol Pamatian (women’s 41kg) and a bronze from Denesia Esnara (women’s 55kg). Para archery and wheelchair basketball 3×3 both ended with silver finishes after hard-fought finals against Thailand.

Meanwhile, Filipino athletes made strong early impressions in para badminton, para table tennis, and chess, racking up multiple preliminary wins that set them up well for the later stages. Goalball and sitting volleyball saw mixed outcomes, while cerebral palsy football and some team basketball events posed early challenges against regional powerhouses.

Overall, Day 1 painted a promising picture for Team Philippines—anchored by record-setting gold medals and depth across disciplines—as the delegation looks to build even more momentum in the days ahead.

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