DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Team Philippines kept piling up podium finishes at the 2025 Asian Youth Para Games as young para swimmers and para athletes dominated competitions across Dubai on Saturday, December 13.

Ric Daniel Pasadilla emerged as the delegation’s most decorated athlete so far after adding another gold to his growing collection at the Hamdan Sports Complex. The 13-year-old from Iloilo topped the boys’ 100-meter butterfly S10 in 1:12.07.

Pasadilla also claimed bronze in the 100m backstroke SB9 with a time of 1:22.47. He finished behind Uzbekistan’s Dias Mimanov and Japan’s Kohei Hosaka in a tightly contested race.

Earlier in the meet, Pasadilla captured golds in the 200m individual medley S14 and 100m back S10, along with a silver in the 100m freestyle S10.

Diesto breaks through with gold

Mary Hannah Diesto delivered a breakthrough victory in the girls’ 12–15 100m butterfly S14, clocking 1:40.80 to secure gold. The 14-year-old from Talisay, Negros Occidental had earlier settled for silvers in the 200m freestyle, 400m freestyle and 100m backstroke.

Speaking through her mother, B Marie Amparo Diesto, the family expressed gratitude after Hannah exceeded expectations in Dubai. Amparo said they initially hoped for just one medal and were overwhelmed by the four-medal haul, including a gold, achieved by her daughter, who was diagnosed with Global Developmental Delay.

At the Dubai Club for People of Determination, Philippine para athletes delivered a dominant showing in the men’s U20 long jump T20. John Reyl Diano led a 1-2-3 Filipino sweep with a winning leap of 5.66 meters.

Mark Lorence Suarez followed closely with a 5.62m effort for silver, while Jolly Poquiz completed the podium with 5.23m. The clean sweep underlined the country’s growing strength in para athletics.

Brucal tops U17 long jump field

RJ Brucal added another gold for the Philippines by ruling the U17 long jump T20. He posted a best mark of 5.73 meters on his fifth attempt to finish ahead of the field.

At the Etisalat Academy Sports and Leisure Club, para badminton player John Cyrus Maclang teamed up with Chinese Taipei’s Lin Jia Shang to earn silver in the doubles SH6 event.

As of press time, Team Philippines had amassed eight gold, eight silver and five bronze medals. More medals remained within reach with para athletics and para table tennis events still underway.