Champion Obstacle Course Para Athletes on What Made them #BetterToday

For Adaptive National Athlete of Obstacle Course Racing (OCR) Kent Tumangan, representing the country in this sport brought back his self-confidence and discipline. The 27-year-old obstacle course racer and dragon boat paddler found his passion in sports after losing a leg to cancer.

“After my amputation, I went through depression because I was just a teenager when I lost my leg to bone cancer. I kept praying for the Lord to give me a sign so that I could continue my life with one leg. I joined sports for people with disabilities like Wheelchair Basketball, Sitting Volleyball, so that I could divert my thoughts and not feel hopeless,” the para athlete from Mandaue City, Cebu said.

Soon after, he joined the PADS Adaptive Dragonboat Racing team when he saw their post on social media. “That’s what I like about [dragon boat] because our opponents are people without disabilities. Our team is composed of people with disabilities, and our team is competitive. We compete and win overseas,” he shared.

Aside from dragon boat racing, Kent also found a new passion in obstacle course racing. In fact, he, and another teammate, Renson Embradura took home the silver and gold medals, respectively, in the recent OCR World Championships held in Belgium in September 2023.

Famous as a one-legged runner in his community, 32-year-old Renson joined the OCR team upon the invitation of his friend. The para athlete from Sariaya, Quezon was apprehensive at first, but he soon learned to appreciate OCR. He went against the warning of his family, who feared for him when he first joined the team. “They were afraid that I might run into an accident, but I wanted to prove something. I wanted to show my peers that disabilities do not hinder a person, as long as they have the determination to pursue their goals and reach the finish line,” he said.

“Sports does not discriminate, whether you are a person with or without disabilities. This is an opportunity for us to play this sport and represent our country. For those who want to become professional athletes, they should simply do their best and stay consistent,” Kent advised.

Kent and Renson are part of this year’s Better Today: Power Move Project to celebrate World Mental Health month. An advocacy supported by PLDT Inc. (PLDT) and its wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart), together with partners MVP Sports Foundation and Football for Humanity, this video series aims to champion mental health and wellness through sports and inspiring stories of Filipino para-athletes and coaches who embody the true meaning of persistence, bravery, and mental resilience.

This initiative is also aligned with the Group’s commitment to help the country achieve UN Sustainable Development Goals #10 on reducing inequality by empowering and promoting the social, economic and political inclusion of all, including persons with disabilities, and uplift and improve the overall digital wellness of Filipinos, underscoring the commitment of PLDT and Smart to the UN SDG #3: Good Health and Well-Being. The promotion of diversity and equality also highlights Concern, one of the four pillars that make up the PLDT Group’s sustainability framework.

Watch Kent’s and Renson’s full interviews on the Better Today Facebook Page and YouTube channel.

Para Athletes Advocate for Mental Resilience, Inclusivity, and Sports with PLDT and Smart

To celebrate this year’s World Mental Health Day, PLDT Inc. (PLDT) and its wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) continue their advocacy to champion mental health and wellness through sports with the Better Today: Power Move Project.

In partnership with the MVP Sports Foundation (MVPSF) and Football for Humanity (FFH), PLDT and Smart have organized the third Better Today: Power Move Project. But this year’s campaign has been made more special because the storytellers are athletes with disabilities and personalities from Obstacle Course Racing, football, among many others – who embody the true meaning of persistence, bravery, and mental resilience.

“As Filipinos, our love for sports helps strengthen the belief that anything is possible. It defines what true greatness is all about. These athletes, in their own extraordinary ways, have underscored the important message of how sports do not discriminate. Instead, sports instill a deep sense of community and solidarity,” said Jude Turcuato, PLDT and Smart FVP and Head of Sports, and MVPSF Executive Director.

A fundamental part of the telco’s advocacy on digital wellness, the Better Today: Power Move Project has reached over 15 million social media reach since launching the program in 2021, featuring various athletes backed by PLDT, Smart, and MVPSF and advocacy partners.

“In PLDT and Smart, through sports and mental resilience, it is our goal to help cultivate a culture of empathy and safe spaces. By creating a more inclusive community, we become champions of a better, safer, and more resilient world and a better tomorrow which starts today,” added Turcuato.

The Power Move Project is also a continuing effort to inspire the Filipino youth to become better citizens and help in the fight against discrimination and abuse.

“Through this project, we want to prompt a social change and hopefully, help break down barriers by promoting a culture of solidarity and inclusivity through sports,” said Belle Tiongco, VP and co-founder at Football for Humanity.

Making this year’s Better Today: Power Move Project more inclusive is a step toward PLDT and Smart’s push to empower people with disabilities.

PLDT and Smart have recently partnered with non-profit organization ATRIEV to train people with visual impairments in using the Android Accessibility Suite program so that they can maximize the use of their smartphones for daily living.

“PLDT and Smart have long championed digital inclusion, accessibility and innovation. Together with our partners, we support inclusive programs that break barriers and ensure that no one is left behind,” said Stephanie Orlino, AVP and Head of Stakeholder Management at PLDT and Smart.

Beyond sports, PLDT and Smart’s Better Today program has also partnered with local governments, organizations, youth leaders, educational institutions, and social media influencers nationwide to advocate for mental health awareness and train frontliners in psychological first aid. Through this initiative, PLDT and Smart seek to uplift and improve the overall digital wellness of Filipinos, underscoring the commitment of PLDT and Smart to the UN Sustainable Development Goals #3: Good Health and Well-Being.

Catch the Power Move Project on Better Today’s Facebook and Instagram.

Alay Para Atleta Mobile Donation Campaign for Filipino Para Athletes Launched

Following the successful campaign of Philippine para-athletes in the recently concluded 9th ASEAN Para Games in Malaysia in September, the Philippine Paralympic Committee/Philippine Sports Association for the Differently Abled (PPC-PHILSPADA) is pushing the envelope further to support local para athletes in upcoming international competitions.

PPC PHILSPADA launched today a mobile donation service called “Alay PARA Atleta”, a simple and easy way for Filipino citizens to participate in the Philippine Paralympic movement using their mobile phones. The group has tied up with Rising Tide Mobile Entertainment Inc., a mobile content and service company, to launch APA on both Globe and Smart so Filipinos everywhere can help enable our para-athletes to move forward. Under the campaign, citizens can donate amounts starting at P10 up to P500 simply by texting the amount to access code 3456 on their cellphones.

According to PPC-PHILSPADA president Michael Barredo, the mobile donation campaign is part of an integrated marketing plan that aims to propagate the national paralympic movement through various events and activities that will increase public awareness and support for our athletes with disability.

On September 1, the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) partnered with the PPC-PHILSPADA so UAAP students and schools can join the Paralympic movement and support Philippine para-athletes using the mobile facility, a communication and payment mode that is most appealing to millennials. UAAP students and athletes are looking to volunteer as support staff and crew in the next ASEAN Para Games in 2019 that will be hosted by the Philippines.

The country won a total of 69 medals (20 gold, 20 silver and 29 bronze) in the last Para SEA Games held September 17 to 23 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Formerly ranked 7th in the overall standing, the Philippines moved two notches higher to 5th place in the ASEAN region. PPC PHILSPADA sees this as the perfect jump board for bigger achievements for Filipino para athletes.

The biggest surprise in the recent KL stint were the fresh para athletes who bagged medals in their very first international competition. These rising stars are products of Palarong Pambansa and includes 16-year old Ma. Cielo Honasan who bagged 3 golds in Athletics, Gary Bejino, 21, 1 gold and 3 bronze in swimming and Claire Calizo, 18, a silver and a bronze in swimming.

“Our showing in KL validated our long range plan: to implement a grassroots development program that will help discover new talents and harness our existing ones in order to create a bigger pool of para athletes that will be ready to compete in the next 2018 Indonesia Asian Para Games, the ASEAN Para Games in Manila in 2019, the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics and other international para sport competitions,” Barredo said.

“The Alay PARA Atleta Program is our response to the colorful performance of our para athletes in the recent Para Games. Funds raised through this program will help provide our para athletes with equipment and basic needs that will support them in their quest to transcend their personal barriers to achieve excellence and excite the world. Above all, it will inspire them to know that the whole country is behind them in their dream to excel and bring honor to the country,” he continued.

Barredo further emphasized that “whatever resources we are able to generate will help strengthen PPC’s organizational capacity to enable our national sports associations (NSAs) to implement our grassroots development program. This is in alignment with the mandate of our Philippine Sports Commission Chairman, Butch Ramirez.”

Some Filipino para athletes who have consistently brought home honor for the country are powerlifter Adeline Dumapong (Polio Wheelchair), gold medalist in the 2017, 2015, 2011, 2009, 2007, 2005 and 2003 ASEAN Para Games and bronze in the 2000 Sydney Paralympics; table tennis ace Josephine Medina (Polio Standing), gold medalist in the ASEAN Para Games 2015, 2013, 2011, 2009, 2007, 2005 and 2003; swimmer Ernie Gawilan (Congenital Deformity), gold medalist in the 2017, 2015, 2013, 2011 and 2009; track star Jerrold Pete Mangliwan (Polio Wheelchair), gold medalist in the 2015 ASEAN Para games; Joel Balatucan of field athletics (Polio Wheelchair), gold medalist in the 2015, 2013, 2011 and 2009 ASEAN Para Games; and Julius Jun Obrero (Polio Standing), gold medalist and Wheelchair Dance Sport IPC World Champion.