NAKHON RATCHASIMA, Thailand — Once the sun rises here Wednesday at the 80th Birthday Stadium, the 13th ASEAN Para Games formally gets off the ground.

Paralympic swimmers Ernie Gawilan and Gary Bejino will be the first in line for the Filipino delegation as the para swimming events start at 9:30 a.m. (Manila time).

Also set to get a crack at the gold are the men’s and women’s 3x3 wheelchair basketball squads at Hall 1 of Terminal 21 Korat as they both face hosts Thailand starting at 11 a.m.

The Pilipinas Warriors defeated Malaysia, 13-11, in the semifinal while the Lady Warriors snuck past Laos, 8-4 in the final elimination match to earn a shot at the gold medal.

A team manager’s meeting for para athletics is still going underway at press time as the schedule has yet to be released.

Bets in para powerlifting, tenpin bowling, chess, para road cycling, para fencing, wheelchair tennis, sitting volleyball, para table tennis, shooting para sport, Boccia, and para badminton are also set to start on Wednesday.

With the 216-strong para athletes decked out in full gear, Philippine Paralympic Committee president Michael Barredo is optimistic that the Filipinos will be able to surpass the previous gold medal tally of 33 golds, 33 silvers and 50 bronze medals set back in 2023 in Cambodia.

Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Patrick “Pato” Gregorio announced an additional P6,000 to the para athletes and coaches in this competition for differently abled bodies.

“The government is giving full support to the Philippine Sports Commission as well as the private sector. For me, it is important that our para athletes and coaches are given incentives as well by PSC chairman Patrick “Pato” Gregorio” Barredo said.

‘It is a boost and I think everything helps out para athletes. I’m glad that is the spirit we have altogether and like I said, it’s the fighting spirit of the team, the coaches and the Filipino people in general.”

As of writing, the Philippines is in the opening ceremonies with nine other countries.

Wheelchair racer and two-time Paralympian Jerrold Mangliwan led the way as the Philippines’ flag bearer in the Parade of Para Athletes.

Chef of mission Goody Custodio is ecstatic on the composition of each squad as they share a good mix of veterans and up-and-coming para athletes.

“Well, in my experience now, our young para athletes are being mentored by our veterans. They are learning and at the same time, they are also finding their own identity being a para athlete in a national training pool,” said Custodio, who is aided by deputy chief of missions Milette Bonoan and Francis Diaz.