President honors six Paris Paralympics athletes with PHP1M each

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. honored six Filipino Paralympic athletes with PHP1 million each and citations at a ceremony in Malacañang Palace on Thursday.

The athletes, who recently returned from the Paris Paralympics, include Cendy Asusano, Agustina Bantiloc, Alain Ganapin, Ernie Gawilan, Jerrold Mangliwan, and Angel Otom.

Each athlete achieved personal bests during their participation in Paris, with notable performances by Asusano, Otom, and Mangliwan who qualified for the finals.

Former national swimmer Akiko Thomson-Guevara also met with President Marcos Jr., marking her recognition as an 'Olympian for Life' by the World Olympians Association.

The Philippine Paralympic Committee (PPC) is now focusing on establishing a clear pathway for para athletes, from grassroots participation to elite level competition.