The Philippines heads into the fifth Asian Para Games with 69 athletes and a goal of four to five golds, but without the sport that powered most of its Hangzhou titles. Chess is not on the Nagoya program, so swimmers, throwers and a taekwondo star carry the load.

The Games open Sunday, Oct. 18, at Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium and run through Oct. 24. Taekwondo’s Allain Ganapin and table tennis player Lhey Marie Manginsay will carry the flag, with Francis Diaz serving as chef de mission.

Gawilan and Otom Lead Philippine Swimming Gold Bid

Diaz named swimming, athletics and Ganapin’s taekwondo bid as the best gold chances. Swimmers Ernie Gawilan and Angel Otom lead that group, with thrower Alyana Nuñez the top hope in athletics.

Gawilan won gold in the men’s 400-meter freestyle S7 and bronze in the 200-meter individual medley SM7 at the 2023 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, China. He will swim both events again in Nagoya.

“Sana magawa natin ulit. Kapalaran na ang magsasabi bukas,” Gawilan said. The Paralympian is hoping to match or better that Hangzhou medal pair.

Otom won gold at the ASEAN Para Games in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, in January 2026. Diaz listed her and Gawilan among the top probable gold winners, and Nuñez won gold in javelin and shot put at that same meet.

Table Tennis and Cycling Chase Medals and LA 2028 Points

Manginsay made her Asian Para Games debut on Friday, Oct. 16, with a 9-11, 10-12, 1-11 loss to China’s Mao Jingdian, a Paralympic champion. She rebounded Saturday, Oct. 17, beating a Tajik opponent, 11-9, 12-10, 11-1, in women’s singles Class 9.

With only eight players in her category, Manginsay is assured of a quarterfinal place. Smith Billy Cartera also bounced back from a loss to China’s Peng Zhengyang, beating a Mongolian opponent, 11-4, 11-2, 11-1, to reach the men’s singles round of 16.

In cycling, Arthus Bucay, Patrick Lee and Nikko Peralta chase qualifying points for the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics, with racing set for Monday, Oct. 19, in Izu, Shizuoka Prefecture. Bucay is a 2012 Paralympian who won gold and bronze at the 2018 Asian Para Games.

“Sa medal wala kami expectation sa event sa track, sa road race kami focused bukas at Tuesday for the purpose of points for Paralympics,” said national cycling coach Norberto Oconer. Oconer is a former Olympian.

Philippine para powerlifting coach Adeline Dumapong-Ancheta, a Paralympic bronze medalist, is also hoping for a podium. “We’re praying for a podium finish for any colors from our lifters, syempre. They will definitely do their utmost best, we’ll see,” she said.