Senator Joel Villanueva commends PH team's seven-medal haul at Asian Para Games

Senator Joel Villanueva has filed a Senate resolution commending the Philippine delegation for securing seven medals, including two golds, at the 5th Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

Through Proposed Senate Resolution No. 752, Villanueva cited the delegation’s overall performance in the Oct. 18 to 24 multi-sporting event, emphasizing that the athletes brought pride and honor to the nation.

"Every member of the delegation deserves recognition for the years of preparation, sacrifice, and dedication required to represent the country at this level of international competition," Villanueva said. "We are proud of what they brought home."

The lawmaker also acknowledged the critical roles played by coaches, trainers, medical teams, support personnel, sports officials, and family members in preparing and sustaining the national contingent.

Beyond honoring the athletes, the resolution advocates for increased investment in accessible sports facilities, inclusive grassroots programs, professional coaching, sports science, and sustained funding for training and international competition.

"These athletes have shown what Filipinos can do when given the chance to train and compete," Villanueva added. "We owe them the facilities, coaching, and support to keep winning."

The Philippines fielded 69 athletes across 11 sports, finishing 17th overall with two gold, two silver, and three bronze medals.

The delegation's final medal haul reflected the exclusion of chess from this year's official program—a sport that delivered eight of the country’s 10 gold medals at the 2023 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou. Excluding chess, the national team's output in Hangzhou was two golds, one silver, and three bronzes.

Both the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Philippine Paralympic Committee (PPC) praised the team's performance in Japan.

Veteran swimmer Ernie Gawilan spearheaded the podium finishes with a gold in the men's 400-meter freestyle S7 and a silver in the men's 200-meter individual medley SM7. The victory brought Gawilan’s career Asian Para Games tally to five gold medals, building on his historical feat as the country's first gold medalist at the 2018 Jakarta Games.

Eighteen-year-old Ariel Joseph Alegarbes delivered the second gold, winning the men's 100-meter backstroke S14 after edging South Korea's Sungho Kang. Alegarbes previously won three golds at the 2022 ASEAN Para Games.

In para table tennis, Lhey Marie Manginsay—who served as the Philippine flag bearer during the opening ceremony—and partner Jan Wilfred Redulla secured silver in the mixed doubles Class XD17 after facing Chinese Paralympic champions Zhao Shuai and Xiong Guiyan. The Filipino duo previously won gold at the 2025 ITTF World Para Future Taipei.

First-time competitor Raemond Adefuin earned a bronze in the men's 100-meter breaststroke SB6 with a time of 1:30.76, following an impressive multi-gold campaign at the 2025 Asian Youth Para Games in Dubai.

Rounding out the bronze medalists were King James Reyes in the men's 1,500-meter T46, marking the country's first podium finish in track and field at the Games, and Ma. Ravinia Carpena in the women's shot put F20 with an 11.39-meter throw.