Toyota PH starts children’s swimming clinic

Children participating in the swimming clinic pose with instructors and Toyota Motor Philippines officers during the start of the program

TOYOTA Motor Philippines (TMP) recently held a 10-day swimming clinic for children aged 6 to 14 intending to improve their skills. The program was held as part of Toyota Motor’s “Start Your Impossible” global initiative, which TMP explained “helps empower people and communities to spark change through the power of mobility.”

TMP said its Start Your Impossible ambassador, Ernie Gawilan, was present during the program’s event and was accompanied by Philippine Para-Athlete Swim Team coach Tony Ong. Gawilan told the aspiring swimmers to pursue their dreams despite the challenges in life as he cited his personal experience. He also demonstrated some of his techniques to the swimming clinic’s students.

Students get their feet wet as they start training

According to TMP, Gawilan is an Asian Para Games gold medalist who was a housekeeper in Samal Island, Davao del Norte when he was spotted by swimming coach Jude Corpuz. Corpuz trained Gawilan in a Persons with Disabilities team. This led Gawilan to compete at the 2008 Philippine Olympic Festival, then landed in the national team. Earlier this year Gawilan bagged the silver medal in the 400-meter freestyle finals at the Singapore World Para Swimming World Series. He had qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games.

“We started this program to help children take the first step in pursuing their dreams. Just like how our Start Your Impossible hero Ernie Gawilan started his athletic journey with humble beginnings, we hope that we have inspired the kids to continue and persevere after finishing our program,” said TMP vice-president for marketing services Elijah Marcial.

TMP said the swimming clinic is “one of the many projects” in the country that is under the Start Your Impossible initiative. The projects support multiple advocacies leading up to the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

TMP noted Toyota embarked on the Start Your Impossible campaign as the carmaker transitions from being an automotive manufacturer into a mobility company.