North Luzon Monitor

North Luzon

Bantiloc, Gawilan flag-bearers in 17th Paris Paralympic Games opening

Baguio para archer Agustina Bantiloc and veteran para swimmer Ernie Gawilan were given the honor to be the country’s flag-bearers at the grand outdoor opening ceremony on Wednesday of the 17th Paralympic Games at the heritage-rich Champs-Elysées  to  Place de la Concorde in Paris, France.

Joining them at the inaugural day parade as well are para track and field athletes Jerrold Mangliwan and Cendy Asusano, para swimmer Angel Mae Otom and para taekwondo jin Allain Ganapin, according to PH Paralympic team chef de mission Ral Rosario.

“We had several discussions about who will be the standard-bearers at the opening ceremony with the coaches and it was decided among us that Ernie and Tina (Bantiloc’s nickname) were the athletes to do it,” Rosario said from the French capital.

“Gawilan has been a bemedalled national para swimmer and role model for our para athletes over the years while Bantiloc is the country’s first para archer to qualify and represent the country at the Paralympic Games,” he explained of the outing backed by the Philippine Sports Commission.

A former two-time Olympian and national swimming standout, the PH contingent’s point man added that “the priority, of course, for the parade were our athletes so they can experience this memorable moment in their lives.”

Bantiloc, 56, was delighted and grateful for getting the distinction of joining the celebrated Gawilan, a gold medalist in last year’s Hangzhou Asian Para Games, in carrying the country’s colors during the festive opening rites.

“Siyempre proud and happy, of course. Makakatulong nang malaki sa akin,” said Bantiloc, who will be the first Filipino athlete in action on Thursday in the women’s individual compound event at the Esplanade des Invalides archery range.

Rosario revealed that the country was originally given 15 to 16 slots, enough for the entire delegation, by the Paris Paralympic Games organizers “but we received a message last Friday that our allotment was down to 10.”

He said he yielded his slot while national para coaches Joel Deriada and Tony Ong for athletics and swimming, respectively, also gave way so other team members can get to relish joining the opening-day festivities

“Nag-give way na kami ni coach Tony sa iba kasi dati na kaming naka-participate sa Paralympic Games parade,” Deriada confirmed. NLMonitor

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