CEBU, Philippines – A four-year-old girl who was born without her left foot was the youngest among the two hundred participants who joined the first ever province-wide sports event for the Persons With Disabilities (PWD).
The Junior Chamber International Philippines (JCI) Cebu-Mactan Channel in partnership with the Province of Cebu and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan held its first ever "PWD Run, Walk 'n Roll" early morning yesterday at the Cebu Provincial Capitol grounds.
"Amo chapter ni promote niini kay kahibaw man mi nga kini nga sector sa ato mga kaigsuonan wa kaayo makiti mao amo ni gilusad to create awareness na we have these people and they have these talent and skills nga ilang ipasigarbo," said Eli Espina, President of the JCI Cebu-Mactan Channel.
The said event was participated in by hundreds of PWDs coming from the sixth district, Federation for the Welfare of Person with Disabilities in Mandaue City, Inc. (FWPDMI), Carcar and some other parts of Cebu.
About 38 PWDs joined the run category with one female participant. There were 117 in the walk category and 39 participants in their manual wheelchairs joined the roll category, nine of them females.
The "roll participants" who were in their blue t-shirts started the raise in front of the Capitol around 6:00 a.m. yesterday. They were followed by the "run participants" wearing their green t-shirts. Meanwhile, the walk participants who were wearing red t-shirts and gathered just outside the Fuente Osmeña Circle followed the runners.
Despite the sudden rain fall, all the PWDs who joined the race as well as their family who supported them continued the activity and made it to the finish line at the Cebu City Sports Complex.
Mayor Michael Rama said that when it comes to sports, any person could join. He said that through sports one will be able to discover the bad traits he has to improve and through this, one can be able to develop a good personality and establish a healthy well being.
"We can conquer all our disabilities if we just run, roll and walk hand in hand," said Vice Gov. Greg Sanchez who was also present in the event.
JCI Sen. Arleigh Jay Sitoy, chairman of the Provincial Board committee on differently-abled persons, said that he was thankful that the JCI approached him and partnered with him in making the event possible.
With the positive response that the organizers received, another event is being planned for next year and this time, the team will make sure that the crowd will be much bigger.
The event also highlighted the talents of persons with disabilities through the "PWD Got Talent."
Winners were given trophies, medals and cash prize. (FREEMAN)