ASEAN Para Games silver medalist thanks Taliño-Mendoza for support

ASEAN Para Games silver medalist, Rosalie Terrofiel visited Governor Emmylou “Lala” J. Taliño-Mendoza last December 5, 2011 to thank her for the support she had given to the 30-year old visually impaired Para Athlete from Magpet, Cotabato.
Terrofiel, who developed  glaucoma, a visual impairment when she was 16, was accompanied by her local coach, Mrs. Jemelita Galaroza and her cousin during her visit to Governor Taliño- Mendoza at the latter’s office where she proudly presented the silver medal she won for the Javelin Throw event during the 6th ASEAN Para Games held December 12-20, 2011 in Surakarta (Solo), Central Java, Indonesia.
She also thanked Vice Governor Gregorio T. Ipong and Congresswoman Nancy Catamco of the 2nd district, for the financial aid that they gave her which enabled her to be one of the 46 athletes  who represented the Philippines in the Asean Para Games.
The only delegate from the Province of Cotabato, Terrofiel bested several other competitors from the countries of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Timor Leste and Vietnam where Philippines landed on the fifth spot in over-all ranking in the competition of athletes with mobility and visual disabilities, amputees or those with cerebral palsy from ASEAN member nations.
Galaroza claimed this did not surprise her. Being Terrofiel’s SPED teacher since she was in elementary and as her local coach and mentor over the years, she had witnessed the athlete’s determination and hard work.
While working as a masseuse at the DSWD-accredited Massage and Reflexology Work Center with other visually impaired individuals in Magpet, Terrofiel underwent a diligent two-week qualifying training before she was chosen as a delegate for the Asean Para Games. She was then given two more months of additional specialized training in Manila by professional coaches of the Philippine contingent when she passed the qualifications.
Before joining the ASEAN Para Games 2011, Terrofiel had already participated in many competitions both locally and internationally. In fact, she had won medals in other Paralympic events held in Vietnam last 2002 and in Manila last 2005.//IDCD-LAF//