Rubik’s boy, PWD athletes lauded
A 10-year-old speedcube prodigy and the members of a homegrown dragon boat team who, despite their physical
limitations, shined in the global arena and brought honor to Cebu were among those recognized as “modern-day heroes” yesterday.
Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña handed out plaques of recognition to the young Leonardo Borromeo and the members of the Philippine Accessibility Disability Services Inc. (PADS) Adaptive Dragon Boat Racing Team in a ceremony organized by the Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission.
The recognition was part of the city government’s celebration of the National Heroes Day.
PADS, a group of people with physical disabilities, was recognized for winning gold for the second consecutive year in the para-dragon boat category of the China Construction Bank (Asia) Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races in June.
When they first won the category in 2017, Osmeña donated two para-dragon boats to the team, which they have been using for their day-to-day practices.
The team’s captain, Arnold Balais, could not have been prouder for his teammates.
Balais, who does not have right leg, said the award will serve as an inspiration for them to work harder to give honor to their hometown.
At the same time, he said they will also continue inspiring people, especially those who have physical challenges like them, to move on and lead productive lives.
“At least natagaan og honor ang among kahago ug kalisod as team. Happy kaayo mi nga adunay gobyerno nga naay passion to help and serve sa amo mga PWDs (persons with disabilities),” said Balais.
While admitting that the trainings have not been smooth-sailing because of time constraints and the physical limits, Balais said discipline and coordination worked wonders for his team.
They also treated one another as family.
“Nagtinabangay nalang mi nga magkahiusa aron maka-survive mi,” said Balais. “Nindot man pud, na usa nalang ang among huna-huna nga we are family here, so kinahanglan nga magtinabangay mi. Mao ni ang award ang fruit sa among mga kahago.”
Asked for his message to fellow-PWDs, Balais said: “Dili babag and inyong disability para makab-ot ninyo and inyong gusto sa kinabuhi. Kinahanglan lang maningkamot kay adunay pamaagi ang Ginoo para kaninyo.”
SPEEDCUBER
Another recipient of City Hall’s Modern Hero Award was Borromeo who, at his tender age, is now touted as one of the greatest speedcubers in Asia.
Speedcubing, sometimes known as speedsolving, is the sport involving solving a variety of twisty puzzles as quickly as possible, the most famous being the Rubik's Cube.
Having started Rubik’s cubing and speedcubing only in 2015, Borromeo quickly rose to prominence, finishing first runner-up in the Rubik’s Asian Championships 2018 in Taipei, Taiwan.
In the Philippines, he holds the record of being the fastest speedcuber at 7.15 seconds.
What is even more amazing is that Leo came to master his craft with the help of YouTube videos and friends who are into speedcubing. His inspiration is Australia’s Feliks Zemdegs, deemed as the greatest in the world.
“The good thing in Cebu is there’s a really nice speedcubing community, so every other week magkita sila iyang mga fellowspeedcubers, mag tinudluay sila. Mao na nakatabang for Leo to accelerate in learning speedcubing,’’ said his father Carlo.
This was the second straight year the city gave out the awards for exemplary Cebuanos. Last year, the awardees were Cebuana marathoner Mary Joy Tabal and a man who helped a woman being robbed in Barangay Carreta but died after being shot by the robber. —
Carl James T. Cabarles, USJ-R intern/JMD