Camille Naredo

Article (news)

Para swimmer Angel Mae Otom. PSC Media

Paige Javier

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17741852118941000026773.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Para swimmer Angel Mae Otom. PSC Media" width="960"/>Para swimmer Angel Mae Otom. PSC Media</div>MANILA – In the digital age, para athletes Adeline Dumapong Ancheta and Angel Mae Otom see social media as a tool in helping develop and drum up support for the para sports community.  The two para athletes were recognized at the All-Women in Sports Awards last Thursday at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City. <div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2026/3/17/filipinas-angel-otom-to-be-hailed-in-3rd-women-in-sports-awards-1606">READ: Filipinas, Angel Otom to be hailed in 3rd Women in Sports Awards</a></div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2026/3/22/paralympian-adeline-dumapong-dedicates-lifetime-award-to-para-sports-community-1605">Dumapong Ancheta</a> made history in the 2000 Sydney Paralympics, clinching bronze, the country&#x27;s first-ever medal. Otom, meanwhile, received the Para Athlete of the Year award after coming off a five-gold and one-silver medal haul at the 13th ASEAN Para Games in Thailand last year. The 52-year-old retired para powerlifter said they need support even from outside the community to help grow and develop para sports in the country.  &quot;Siguro, kasi palaging, as an advocate, palagi kong sinasabi na kailangan namin ng mga allies, mga kakampi, because we really cannot do it alone. And one of the most practical things siguro ay yung pag-suporta,&quot; she said.  For Dumapong Ancheta, simply discussing para sports and the achievement of para athletes on social media and the news is already a big help.  &quot;Paano ipapakita ang pag-suporta? Siguro, we talk of things like this. Alam mo yun, we share topics like this in social media. Napaka-importante nun because I think it is the only way to really gisingin ang kamalaya ng mga tao, ng bawat Pilipino na kasama kami, nandito din kami,&quot; she explained. &quot;We can share the stories of yung mga ordinaryo na mga atleta na may kapansanan. So yun lang naman yung sa tingin ko na most practical for now,&quot; Dumapong Ancheta added. Otom shared the sentiment of the Paralympian on the importance of spreading the word about Philippine para athletes.  &quot;Noon po kasi hindi po talaga masyadong, kulang pa ang suporta dahil siyempre pausbong pa lang po ang para-sports. And sa ngayon I feel lucky din po kasi sa ngayon mas naging aware na din po lahat ng tao na meron din mga para-athletes na lumalaban sa ibang bansa. Patuloy lang din po kayo na i-feature nyo yung mga para athlete,&quot; the 22-year-old said. &quot;So sa konting tingin lang sa Facebook, baka ma-post sa Facebook, may mga PWD [person with disabilities] na nag-phone na may kita nila, ay ganito pala, pwede pa pala akong lumaban, pwede din pala akong sumali sa mga ganito. Pwede nilang makamit yung mga pangarap nila,&quot; Otom explained. The bemedalled para swimmer is optimistic para athletes will be able to get the same recognition and incentives as able-bodied athletes.&quot;Hopefully if ever po nang mangyari yan, hopefully mas malaking tulong din po para sa mga athletes natin, nga lalo na po sa mga para athletes. Dahil siyempre iba din po yung sacrifices pagdating sa training. Dahil simula&#x27;t sapul, yung iba pinanganak ng may challenge na sa buhay, kundi katulad ko po na may kapansanan na ako,&quot; Otom said. &quot;So parang napakalaking challenge po sa buhay namin. Pero sa ngayon [kung] bibigyan na din po kami ng pantay na incentives, mas nakikita po namin yung pagpapahalaga po sa amin at sa mga may kapansanan. At ayun po, pagdating din po noon ay baka mas marami pa po para-athletes na maingan nyo na sumali sa sports,&quot; she shared.

In the digital age, para athletes Adeline Dumapong Ancheta and Angel Mae Otom see social media as a tool in helping develop and drum up support for the para sports community.

In the digital age, para athletes Adeline Dumapong Ancheta and Angel Mae Otom see social media as a tool in helping develop and drum up support for the para sports community.

Dumapong, Otom see social media as tool in helping boost support for para sports community

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Dumapong, Otom see social media as tool in helping boost support for para sports community

Paige Javier,

ABS-CBN News

Published Mar 22, 2026 09:14 PM PHT

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Para athletes

Adeline Dumapong Ancheta

Angel Mae Otom

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