10/09/2026
IPI, PADS: MOVING WITHOUT LIMITS, RACING TOWARD HISTORY 🐉🏆
The Philippine Accessible Disability Services, Inc. (PADS) Dragonboat Racing Team has returned home as Top 4 overall at the 15th IDBF Club Crew World Championships 2026 in Taiwan, bringing with them eight gold medals, one silver, and three new world records.
Held from August 29 to September 6, the competition brought together more than 5,500 athletes from 22 countries, making the team’s achievement an even bigger milestone for the Philippines and for athletes with disabilities.
For Team Manager JP Ecarma Maunes, the Taiwan campaign was more than a competition. It was a major comeback after PADS missed the previous two World Championships in Italy and Germany due to funding challenges.
From being ranked No. 8 in 2023, PADS has now climbed to the Top 4, powered by determination, mental toughness, and a year of preparation.
“We want at least ma-inspire sila,” Maunes shared, referring to Filipinos with disabilities and their families who have followed the team’s journey.
The champions were welcomed home Thursday, September 10, 2026 by International Pharmaceuticals Inc. (IPI) and Omega, who hosted a celebration honoring the team’s historic achievement.
Through the partnership, IPI and Omega continue to support PADS with resources that help athletes meet the demands of international competition and create greater opportunities in sports for persons with disabilities.
As Omega Brand Associate Mary Rose Enoc put it, the medals represent more than what happens on race day—they reflect countless hours of discipline, sacrifice, teamwork, and heart.
And the journey does not end in Taiwan.
PADS is already looking ahead to the next World Championship in Hong Kong in 2027.
Together, PADS, IPI, and Omega continue to believe in one message: “Move Without Limits."
| via Kristin de Dios
