Posted: June 23rd, 2011 @ 3:15am


A total of 12 swimmers represented the country last May 8-11, at the Arafura Games held in Darwin, Australia.

Among the stand outs were Hannah Dato, winning a total of 7 gold medals; Banjo Borja with 5 golds; Dhill Anderson Lee with 4; Marc Artemius Paderon and Johansen Benedict Aguilar each with 3; and Monique Bacolod and Rafael Sta. Maria, each earning two.

Other medalists are Joanna Simbulan, Roanne Florence Yu and Loren Echavez.

The swimming event was held from May 8-10 at the Casuarina Swimming Pool; and the Open Water Event on May 11 at Lake Benett.

The Arafura Games is a week long, multi sport event held every two years in Darwin hosted by the Northern Territory Government. The Games target developing athletes across the Asia Pacific region and consist of 20 sports as well incorporate the Oceania Paralympic Championships. A very unique and exciting feature of the Arafura Games is the fact that they have able body participants as well as athletes with disability competes in the same program (from the Games’ Official Website).