(Photo courtesy : PIA CAR)
Veteran wheelchair racer Jerrold Pete Mangliwan will lead Team Philippines into the opening ceremony of the 13th ASEAN Para Games, set from January 20 to 26, 2026, in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.
For Mangliwan, a proud son of Kalinga, the honor caps a career defined by resilience, consistency, and sustained excellence on the international stage. He becomes the face of Team Philippines at the regional meet, a role reserved for athletes whose journeys mirror the spirit of the Games themselves.
A three-time Paralympian, Mangliwan has worn Philippine colors at the Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020, and Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, carving out a reputation as one of the country’s most reliable medal producers in para-athletics. Competing primarily in wheelchair racing, he has long been a fixture on the podium at the ASEAN Para Games, especially in the men’s 200-meter and 400-meter T52 events. His success has also extended to the Asian Para Games, where he has repeatedly finished among the elite, reinforcing his status as a cornerstone of the national program.
Chosen as flag bearer, Mangliwan said the responsibility carries deep personal meaning, promising to carry the Philippine flag with pride and to inspire fellow athletes as they chase excellence in Thailand.
The Philippines is sending a 216-athlete contingent to the 2026 edition, set to compete in 16 of the 19 sports on the program. Filipino para-athletes will see action in disciplines such as para-athletics, para-swimming, para-badminton, wheelchair basketball, sitting volleyball, para-powerlifting, boccia, goalball, wheelchair fencing, para-archery, para-table tennis, para-cycling, chess, and tenpin bowling, among others. The delegation will sit out select events this year, including blind football (5-a-side), wheelchair tennis, and wheelchair shooting.
As the Games draw near, Mangliwan’s selection as flag bearer underscores both his personal legacy and the growing stature of Philippine para-sports, with a Kalinga-born champion once again set to lead the nation onto the regional stage.
