The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Philippine Paralympic Committee (PPC) boosted the morale of the para athletes who will be seeing action in the 13th ASEAN Para Games in Nakhon Ratchasima in Thailand starting 20 January.

PSC chairman Patrick “Pato” Gregorio will be sending a big delegation of 323 athletes, so they should give their best to make the country proud in this prestigious regional event for differently able athletes.

“We are also sending the biggest delegation to the ASEAN Para Games and we are confident that number one, you will get the medals for the country and number two, you will get the much-needed experience and exposure so that you can compete in the higher levels like Asian Games and the Paralympics, etc. So, let’s do it this way,” Gregorio said.

“You have to deliver medals and compete very hard for our country. Because the medal that you wear is the same medal we wear in the Southeast Asian Games. It is the same national anthem. So, we will be proud if we win in the competition of the SEA Games, Asian Games, and Paralympics. We will be proud if we win. This is my promise to you.”

The national delegates will be flying to Thailand starting Thursday to start getting acclimatized ahead of the opening ceremony on 20 January.

PPC president Michael Barredo also encouraged the delegation to go for the kill to ensure a victory for the Philippines.

“It’s just a killer instinct. Don’t give up. Don’t pity your opponent. If you have to win it, win it.”

“I hope all of you will win,” Barredo said during the send-off ceremony last Tuesday at the Diamond Hotel.

The Filipinos are looking to surpass their previous performance of 33 gold, 33 silver and 50 bronze medals that they posted in the previous staging of the event in Cambodia two years ago.