PADS Dragon Boat Team thanks Pres. Duterte

CEBU, Philippines —  The members of Cebu’s Philippine Accessible Disability Services, Inc. (PADS) Dragon Boat Racing Team expressed their profound gratitude to President Rodrigo Duterte for all his support to the team during a courtesy meeting with the country’s Chief Executive two nights ago.

Duterte was in town last Wednesday, April 27, to lead the formal inauguration of the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX), the iconic 8.9-kilometer bridge that connects mainland Cebu from Cebu City to Cordova town in Mactan Island.

“It was a huge honor to personally meet His Excellency Rodrigo R. Duterte once again to present our athletes who received the state of the art high end prosthesis from Ottobock Philippines Corp. which was rewarded to our amputees from the Office of the President after winning the 2019 IDBF World Dragon Boat Championships,” said John Paul “JP” Maunes, the founder and team manager of PADS Dragon Boat Team, in his Facebook page.

“The president will also be donating another set of prosthesis to our 2nd batch of athletes with disability after discovering that not all were able to receive the prosthesis assistance. President Duterte wanted the paddlers to compete at their highest potential for the world championships,” Maunes added.

Maunes also took the opportunity of introducing to Duterte and Senator Bong Go the Philippines’ club crew paradragon lineup for the IDBF 13th Club Crew World Championships in Sarasota, Florida on July 18-26.

“Truth to be told, nothing is impossible in sports! It was truly an honor to personally witness and be part of the inspiring successful journey of PADS Dragon Boat Team. This team is truly destined for greatness!” Maunes said. — EBV