philo

His first battle was inside his mother’s womb. He fought. He triumphed.

Ernie Agat Gawilan is a Filipino swimmer who competed at the 2016 and 2020 summer Paralympics and
was the first gold medalist for the Philippines in the Asian Para Games. He was born in the Paquibato
District of Davao City with underdeveloped left limb due to surviving an attempted abortion and poor
pre-natal healthcare in the Marilog District of Davao City. His childhood misfortunes made the man that
he is now—a para swimming star, who sets sights on winning the country’s first gold medal in the
Paralympics, the Olympics for athletes with disabilities. He dives and swims into the pool for four hours
every day to keep himself in good shape. He trains at the Philippine Sports Complex in Pasig City, where
dormitories for national athletes like him area also located. Ernie has also achieved his dream of
competing in the Paralympics as he vied in the 400-meter freestyle backstroke at the 2016 Summer
Paralympics in Brazil. His mother died when he was just five months old, leaving him to the custody of
his grandfather Pedro. Soon after, a rich businessman convinced his grandfather to send him to a
training center dedicated to the handicapped youth. His first swimming competition was the 2008
Philippine Olympic Festival held in Cagayan de Oro.

Ernie Agat Gawilan inspires me in many ways. He inspires me to chase my dream even if it’s hard, na
kahit anong barriers at paghihirap ang makakamit mo, pag patuloy mo pa rin habulin at abutin ang
pangarap mo. Kahit may kapansanan, hindi pa rin nagging hadlang yon para abutin nya ang kanyang
pangarap at makakuha ng medalya galling sa kumpetisyon. Nainspire ako na abutin ang aking pangarap
kahit ano pa man ang problemang hahadlang at makamit ko. Kahit ano pang pasakit ng mundo,
kakayanin pa rin, sa hirap at ginhawa.