Godfrey Esperanzate Taberna had a steady job in Dubai but he decided to leave it and become a Filipino athlete who will represent the country later this month in the 9th ASEAN Para Games that will take place in Malaysia.
The 37-year-old Nueva Vizcaya native who was born with a club foot will represent the country in the track race and road race.
Taberna said that he is determined to be a good athlete representing the Philippines in international competitions.
“Pangalawa lang ang premyo sa hinahangad ko. Ang pinakamasayang karangalan ay i-represent mo ang bayan,” GMA News quoted him through an e-mail.
Photo credit: Jamil Buergo
Taberna was a bike mechanic in Dubai. He left the country in September 2016 to search for better employment overseas.
His life as an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) was not easy for him besides the fact that he is disabled. He shared that his biggest problem with his job is delayed salary.
“Mahirap doon. Delay ang sahod at hindi ko magawa ang passion ko kaya nag-desisyon na lang na umuwi para ipagpatuloy ang naumpisahan dito,” Taberna said.
Besides delaying his salary, Taberna said his employer did not also let him do his passion of becoming an athlete while working for him.
“Kinuha ako bilang athlete at tutulong sa shop na may sahod. Pagdating doon, tuwing day off na lang pwede mag-ensayo,” he said.
“Dito, mas gusto ng boss na naglalaro ako para ma-advertise yun store at mga product imbes na kukuha siya ng endorser,” Taberna added.
This is not Taberna’s first competition as an athlete representing the Philippines. His first competition was the 1st Asian Para Games held in Guangzhou, China in October 2010, where he placed fourth place.
This experience was followed by various competitions in Malaysia, India, and South Korea where he successfully nabbed silver and bronze medals.
“Mas gugustuhin ko na magsilbi sa ating bayan kaysa sa ibang bansa. Mas masarap magsilbi sa ating bayan kahit konti lang allowance,” Taberna said.
The 9th ASEAN Para Games will be held from September 19 to 24.
Source: GMA News
RELATED TFT Young Achiever is an aspiring athlete https://filipinotimes.net/editors-pick/2017/08/03/tft-young-achiever-is-an-aspiring-athlete/
Triathletes give PH 2 golds, 2 silvers in 2017 SEA Games
https://filipinotimes.net/sports/2017/08/21/triathletes-give-ph-2-golds-2-silvers-in-2017-sea-games/
