PARA athletes now have a place in the Philippine Sports Museum as it unveiled the bronze medals of Adeline Dumapong-Ancheta and the late Josephine Medina in the Paralympic Games on Monday.
Dumapong-Ancheta and the family of Medina have donated the only two medals the Philippines have won in the Paralympics for the public to see, the unveiling of which coincided with Women With Disabilities Day.
Dumapong-Ancheta was the first to win a medal in the Paralympic Games when she bagged a bronze in powerlifting in Sydney in 2000.
The event was hailed by the Philippine para sports community as their achievements will be remembered by future generations.
“Even now, when I think about it, I get emotional because I have really lived through the journey of ‘yung walang support, walang recognition to something that we have now,” said Dumapong-Ancheta.
“I never imagined my medal to be displayed in the National Sports Museum. It's not just about me, but this really shows na may pag-asa ang Pilipinas, may pag-asa ang mga Pilipino na kumilala ng pagka-pantay pantay. And this is really a story of inclusion. I'm emotional for the athletes that we have now, hindi na nila kailangan danasin ang dinanas namin,” said Dumapong-Ancheta.
Initially, the plan was a replica of the bronze to be displayed, but Dumapong-Ancheta insisted that the original medal be donated.
“Because for me, it's really for the Filipino people. It's for everyone to see that dreams really do come true,” said Dumapong-Ancheta.
Medina passed away in September 2021, five years after she followed up Dumapong-Ancheta's feat in Rio when she took the bronze medal in table tennis.
“We lost her really early,” said Ancheta. “And I'm sure kung nandito siya, matutuwa din siya because in the past, we used to talk about our struggles, paano namin yun lahat na lalagpasan, ganyan. Josephine was a very passionate woman. She was never really stopped by walang pondo, mahirap, inaccessibility. So talagang lahat ginagawa niya. And I'm sure matutuwa siya na meron siyang place dito at maaalala siya, makikilala siya.”
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