Gary Bejino breaks ASEAN Para Games record, lifts PH Para team to golden start

The Philippine campaign at the 13th ASEAN Para Games burst into life almost immediately, and Gary Bejino made sure the tone was nothing short of historic.

Moments into the swimming competitions, Bejino delivered the country’s first gold medal—and did it with authority—by smashing the meet record in the men’s 400-meter freestyle S6 at the 80th Birthday Aquatics Center last Wednesday. The Tokyo Paralympian touched the wall at 5:32.08, rewriting his own previous mark of 5:38.26 set during the 2023 Cambodia edition.

Yet beyond the numbers, the victory carried deeper meaning. The opening day of competition also doubled as a personal milestone, turning the race into a celebration both in and out of the pool.

“I am happy to get the gold and have my time be a bit faster,” Bejino said.

“It so happened that the first day of the competition coincided with my son’s birthday as well as my coach Bryan Ong and coach Leo Ramos’ birthday yesterday. It added more motivation for me to win.”

Bejino’s record-breaking swim set off a chain reaction for Team Philippines. Just minutes later, seasoned para swimmer Ernie Gawilan ensured the momentum continued, claiming gold in the men’s 400m freestyle S7 with a time of 5:02.39.

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𝗚𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗕𝗲𝗷𝗶𝗻𝗼 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗣𝗛’𝘀 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗴𝗼𝗹𝗱!
Filipino para swimmer Gary Bejino took the first gold of the country in the #ASEANParaGames2025—besting Vietnam and Thailand bets in the Men’s 400 m freestyle S6 Finals. pic.twitter.com/eXVuB2RPcB

— Philippine Sports Commission (@psc_gov) January 21, 2026

For Gawilan, the victory carried a deeply personal dedication as well, as he pointed to family as his driving force.

“First of all, I dedicate this victory to the country and to my baby who will be born soon,” Gawilan said, offering a heartfelt nod to his wife and their incoming daughter.

The golden run in the pool didn’t stop there. Angel Mae Otom, a 2024 Paris Paralympics campaigner, added another top-podium finish by ruling the women’s 50m backstroke S4–S5 in 47.29 seconds, underlining the Philippines’ strength in para swimming early in the meet.

Elsewhere, the national 3×3 wheelchair basketball teams came agonizingly close to gold but ultimately settled for silver after tough finals against host Thailand at Hall 1 of Terminal 21 Korat. The Pilipinas Warriors bowed to a 13–20 defeat, while the Lady Warriors absorbed a 5–12 loss in their championship matchup.

The medal haul continued across disciplines. Marydol Pamati-an secured silver in the women’s 41-kilogram para powerlifting event with a total lift of 77kgs, while Denesia Esnara added a bronze in the 45kg class after lifting 73kgs.

Additional bronze medals came from Michael Bayani in para cycling and Francisco Ednaco in the singles event of tenpin bowling, further padding the Philippines’ early medal count.

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