Toyota athlete drives coastal care campaign

For Paralympian swimmer Ernie Gawilan, nothing is impossible. Despite being born without legs and an underdeveloped left limb, the 33-year-old Davaoeño had won medals in the Asian Para Games and reached the finals of the men’s 400-meter freestyle S7 event in the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games in September.

Now a Global Team Toyota Athlete, Gawilan embarks on another challenge and proved that he can also help save the planet from pollution and climate change.

Gawilan took part in Toyota Motor Philippines’ (TMP) “Start Your Impossible” National Coastal Cleanup and Mangrove Planting Day in Samal Island, Davao and 32 other locations in the country on 14 December.

With 1,302 volunteers from TMP and Toyota dealers and guided by the local government unit and environment offices, Gawilan helped collect 789 bags of plastic waste and debris, as well as plant 10,354 mangrove seedlings to restore critical mangrove forests in various coastal communities. 

The event holds dear to Gawilan, as Samal Island is the place which shaped him to become the athlete that he is today.  

“I hope I have inspired many, and let us work together to preserve our environment, especially the ocean, because this is where I started,” he said in Filipino. 

“Ernie is a dual hero, we have also been working alongside him in championing cleaner waters through various cleanup and planting projects” shared Elijah Sue Marcial, TMP vice president for Network Sales & Systems Cluster. “This advocacy was chosen personally by Ernie as a way to give back to the communities that supported him toward his dreams.”

“All of us who work for Toyota are very proud that Toyota has always worked with stakeholders and communities to give back and to Inspire,” Denise Lim, president of Toyota Davao Inc., said. “Today, we are here to continue on Toyota’s Environmental efforts together with a truly remarkable and inspiring guest of honor.”