JOHN Paul Cabido may not be your kind of role model. But again, he might be.
You see, he's disabled, not totally, but partially. He has a weak and deformed right arm. He carries a PWD badge. But that could be his badge of courage.
Cabido is a member of the National University Pep Squad and it's not a mere pep squad. The cheerdance team is UAAP champion seven times over, and you may wonder why a person with disability is on this squad which requires members to be agile, strong and with perfect hands and feet.
But there he is, at the bottom of the pyramid, the base, as they call it, doing what is considered one of the toughest tasks — helping carry the brunt of the team's weight as members, called flyers, contort and jump on top of one another defying gravity and accident.
An instrument to inspire
Cabido, known as 'Longlong' to family, teammates and friends, shared with SPIN.ph his first taste of glory when NU claimed the silver medal in the UAAP Cheerdance Competition (UAAP CDC) and the role of esteemed NU coach Ghicka Bernabe in his recruitement development.
"As a PWD, ang motivation ko po why I joined here sa NU Pep Squad ay dati po may sinabi sa'kin si Coach Ghicka (Bernabe) na kung bakit ako kinuha ng team at napunta sa NU Pep ay baka po ako ang ginawang instrument ni Lord for other people na may same na sitwasyon sakin for them to be more inspired and motivated to do what they like to do," Cabido said.
"I’ve been through a lot of experiences of being an athlete and as a PWD, and I think the main reason po why I joined this kind of event is because in line siya sa mga gusto ko as a gymnast before and magagamit ko po lahat ng mga pinaghirapan kong skills before, just like tumbling, dance at siguro yung strength," he added.
Into the unknown
Cabido, a Davao native, bared how he grappled with his new role as lifter, but gradually grew into them and became adept doing it.
The result of his sacrifice and that of the team was amazing. In less than a year after he joined the team, NU won the 2023 National Cheerleading Championship (open co-ed elite division) and during his seniors squad debut , the team finished second in the UAAP Season 86 CDC.
"Since elementary po ako, I joined in any cheerdance competition but I did not experience 'yung kagaya sa NU Pep Squad na magbubuhat ako due to my disability. I think ang naging inspiration ko ay 'yung mga tao din na may disability because I know what they feel on how to fight in every situation and iniisip ko na kung kaya nilang lumaban kahit may hindrances na sa kanila why not me na kaya ko rin lumaban."
Cabido added: "Dagdag din 'yung mga taong nagtitiwala sakin lalo na pamilya ko, friends, teammates, coaches and other people na laging sumusuporta sakin."
And despite being with the seniors team for only nine months, he's had a handful of unforgettable experiences that allowed him to break free from his comfort zone and try new stunts and moves for himself.
"The most memorable experience ko here sa NU Pep Squad noong first year training ko ay 'yung tinuruan ako nila ng mga iba't-ibang stunts which hindi ko nagagawa before (pati) 'yung first-ever halftime [perfomance] na kasama lahat ng members. There, I felt that I am so blessed and privileged na naging part ako ng NU Pep Squad," said Cabido.
Don't stop believing
True to his word of inspiring his fellow paraathletes, Cabido shared his words of hope and inspiration to those who find themselves in the same shoes as him but still remains lost in pursuit of discovering one's purpose.
"I am John Paul Laurence Cabido, member of NU Pep Squad, and mayroon akong disability sa right hand. I just want to say na kahit may hindrances sa inyo, just think that kaya mo pa rin para mas maging positive ang outcome nito," Cabido said.
"Huwag mong hayaan na talunin ka ng doubts, overthinking, and ng negatives. Just continue to strive hard sa dream mo and try lang nang try. Then kapag may na-achieve ka, just remain humble and inspire others," he added.
"Lastly, isipin niyo itong phrase na ito: “kung kaya ko, kaya mo!”
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