PHNOM PENH – Filipina tanker Angel Otom was born with an upper limb deficiency that went with the tenacity of a diamond, courage of a lion and killer instinct of a shark.
It was in full, majestic display yesterday as she reigned supreme in the 50-meter butterfly and freestyle S5 to emerge the Philippines’ first quadruple gold medalist in the 12th ASEAN Para Games at the Morodok Aquatics Center here.
Otom’s twin triumph at the pool sparked a nine-gold binge for the Filipinos for the day, hiking their total to 27 – one short of their feat in last year’s edition in Surakarta, Indonesia.
Darry Bernardo spearheaded the country’s juggernaut in chess at the Royal University after claiming his third and fourth mint in the individual standard B2B3 and team with Menandro Redor and Arman Subaste that propelled him into the elite four-gold club with Otom.
The first two triumphs for Bernardo, a visually impaired discovery from Far Eastern U, came in individual rapid and team rapid with Redor and Israel Peligro Sunday.
Bernardo will have a chance for a six-gold haul as he is expected to see action in the individual and team blitz today.
Also prevailing in chess was Cheyzer Mendoza, who grabbed the individual standard PI mint as well as the team gold with Cheryl Angot and Fe Mangayayam.