Paralympian Ernie Gawilan, 32, the first Filipino to win a gold medal at the Asian Para Games, says his greatest victory came in 1991 when he survived abortion:
“I must have been a good swimmer even in my mother’s womb because I survived the abortion. I just swam!”
Despite missing two legs and having an undeveloped arm because of the failed abortion, Gawilan has gone to compete at the Rio and Tokyo Paralympic Games, and he is now preparing for Paris 2024.
“I’m working harder every day to push the limits of what’s possible – both on the field and in my community”, said Gawilan.
Gawilan had a difficult start in life after losing his mother to cholera when he was a baby. He was also bullied as a child because of his disability. Swimming became his only escape:
“I used to hide myself. I used to be ashamed of myself, ashamed of why I was born like this… When I am in the water my physical disability is not visible. I look like a normal person.”
Gawilan won an impressive haul of two golds, two silvers and a bronze at the 2023 ASEAN Para Games. Gawilan and his fellow Filipino athletes were later honoured by President Ferdinand Marcos at the Malacañan Palace for their success.
SPUC comment
A SPUC spokesperson said: “Ernie Gawilan is a testament to the value of life, showing exactly why we must give life every chance to thrive. Had the abortion been successful, Ernie would have been denied that life – and the world would have been robbed of a wonderful human being.
“Who can deny that it is a great thing that Ernie is alive today? People who think abortion is a solution to the challenges of life should look to Ernie and consider the millions of lives we have lost to abortion.”
