Renowned para swimmer Ernie Gawilan and indomitable 56-year-old para archer Agustina Bantiloc will raise the Philippine flag with unmatched pride in the opening ceremony of the 17th Paralympic Games.
Decorated para swimmer Ernie Gawilan and the ever-inspiring 56-year-old para archer Agustina Bantiloc will proudly hoist the Philippine flag high during the opening ceremony of the 17th Paralympic Games.
Their moment of glory will unfold at the historic Place de la Concorde and the famed Champs-Élysées as they lead our nation with unmatched pride and inspiring resilience.
They will proudly march alongside four other Filipino Paralympians, which include track and field stars Jerrold Mangliwan and Cendy Asusano, para swimmer Angel Otom, and para taekwondo jin Allain Ganapin.
Gawilan, the Philippines’ pioneering gold medalist at the Asian Para Games, is making his third appearance at the Paralympics after competing in the 2016 Rio and 2020 Tokyo Games.
On the other hand, Bantiloc is breaking new ground as the first Filipino para archer to qualify for this prestigious event.
The Paralympic Games Paris 2024 will be held from August 28 to September 8, 2024.
Bantiloc will be the trailblazer in the event, marking her debut in the women’s individual compound category on August 29, Thursday, while Gawilan will mark his return on August 31, Saturday.
Team Philippines is looking to build on its Paralympics medal record, which includes two bronze medals earned by powerlifter Adelina Dumapong at the Sydney 2000 Games and table tennis player Josephine Medina at the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Games.