By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter
ADMITTED to being disappointed at first when news broke out that the 10th ASEAN Para Games set to take place in the country this month was moved to a later date, powerlifter Andeline Dumapong-Ancheta said she has since moved past it, bent on turning the setback to opportunity to do well.
Originally set to happen from Jan. 18 to 25, the ASEAN Para Games 2020 was moved to give organizers time to settle “financial and logistical matters.”
Traditionally comes on the heels of the Southeast Asian Games, which the country hosted in December, the decision to defer was made after the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), the agency tasked to fund the Para Games, acknowledged that it did not have enough funding left to bankroll a successful staging of the Para Games.
It is hoped that by moving the competition to March, enough funding would be raised to get the Games going as seamlessly as possible.
Like most in the Para Games community, Ms. Dumapong-Ancheta greeted the news with disappointment and lament, especially after putting a lot in training and was excited to compete in front of the hometown fans.
Eventually acceptance came to her that such occurrence was beyond their control, and instead chose to do what she is supposed to do — train for the Games and be ready.
“At first it was really disappointing to hear the news that the Para Games was being moved to a later date. It did not help that some people, especially on social media, were criticizing the move hard, saying that how come there was budget for the SEA Games yet there was none for the Para Games. As an athlete it was tough to hear those things and made you think hard,” said Ms. Dumapong-Ancheta, long the face of the Paralympic movement in the country, in an interview on the sidelines of the launch of The Philippines Yearbook 2020: The 50 Greatest Filipino Athletes, where she is included.
“On the other hand, in a way it is a plus for us because we get to train more. Personally for me it helped because I’m coming from an injury. We were ready to compete if the Games started as scheduled. So we just had to adjust our schedules and improve on our programs. Also, I just hope that the postponement would translate to better results for our team and, of course, the organizers,” she added.
Barged into the national and international sports consciousness after winning a bronze medal at the 2000 Sydney Paralympics, Ms. Dumapong-Ancheta, 46, said the drive to succeed and represent the country is still there 20 years since that breakthrough performance.
She said the same mindset continues for her entering this year’s Para Games.
“You’ll still get the best from me. It’s all or nothing as always. I’m 46 years old and I have already proven myself. I’m pretty consistent in international competitions throughout the years,” Ms. Dumapong-Ancheta said.
She vowed to continue what she is doing as long as her body holds up and she still enjoys competing.
“Not yet sure [if this going to be my last Para Games]. When I was 40, I started feeling some pain in different parts of the body and yet I’m still here. As long as I’m producing results and my body is keeping up, I’ll continue. More than winning, the camaraderie keeps me going. And representing the country is truly an honor,” said Ms. Dumapong-Ancheta.
