The hot morning sun and rough asphalt in one of the commercial complexes situated in Pasig City did not slow down the training session of the adaptive national athletes for Obstacle Course Racing (OCR) – a team of Filipino para-athletes who represented the Philippines in the international OCR competition held in Belgium this year.
Among them was Andrea “Iya” Estrella, a young, bubbly lady who did not let her visual impairment stop her from competing against the world’s best.
“As a woman, I wanted to prove to others that I can do whatever men can do. There are still times when women are not treated equally, so I want to prove to them that even though I am a young woman who has a disability, I can still do what others can,” the student-athlete said.
Not minding the hardcore training that OCR required, Iya shared that she enjoys exploring new strategies and techniques in obstacle sports. “It can teach you many things – from being strategic, disciplined, mentally alert and aware,” she shared.
Her limitations became her inspiration when she landed on the podium as the champion of the OCR World Championships for OCR100M P5 and Bronze for 3K OCR Short Course P5 events.
“When you’re focused on your goal, even if you get hurt or when things get difficult, you’d do your best to finish it. You can’t stop in the middle of a race. You stop when you’re done,” she said.
For Iya, her positive outlook on life and love for sports have helped her strengthen her mentality despite the pressures of being a student-athlete. “I handle stress and challenges by telling myself that I would get through them,” she shared. “I found my sense of purpose when I started engaging in obstacle sports, and we know that when we’re happy with what we’re doing, we tend to continue what we’ve started.”
To her fellow athletes, she leaves this advice: “Do not be afraid. I know some of you might fear engaging in sports because you’re afraid to get injured or hurt. But all of those are part of it, and if you let your fear consume your thoughts, nothing will happen. You won’t grow outside of your shell.”
Iya is part of this year’s Better Today: Power Move Project, organized by PLDT Inc. (PLDT) and its wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart), to celebrate World Mental Health month. An advocacy supported by MVP Sports Foundation and Football for Humanity, this video series aims to champion mental health and wellness through sports and features inspiring stories of Filipino para-athletes and coaches who embody the true meaning of persistence, bravery, and mental resilience.
This initiative is also aligned with the Group’s commitment to help the country achieve UN Sustainable Development Goals #10 on reducing inequality by empowering and promoting the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, including persons with disabilities. It also aims to uplift and improve the overall digital wellness of Filipinos, underscoring the commitment of PLDT and Smart to the UN SDG #3: Good Health and Well-Being. The promotion of diversity and equality also highlights Concern, one of the four pillars that make up the PLDT Group’s sustainability framework.
