Having a physical disorder such as cleft palate may not be something serious for others, compared with other physical disabilities that restrain or limit the physical activity of a person.
But for Jordan De Guia, while having a cleft palate may not totally restrain him from doing physical activities like sports, the trauma and emotional scars run deep because he was bullied as a child in his school due to his physical condition.
As he grew up, Jordan had to bear all the hurting words and continued taunting that left his self-esteem very low and made him slowly drift away from his peers.
Fortunately, he found a group that brought out the best in him, loved him unconditionally and made him a world-class athlete – The Philippine Dragon Boat Team under the tutelage of Jonne Go, President of the Philippine Canoe Kayak Dragon Boat Federation and Head Coach Len Escollante.
Jordan acknowledges how his TEAM that gave honor to the country, become the source of his courage, confidence, and inspiration and from thereon the healing was complete. Today, the new and transformed Jordan De Guia is confident, jovial and optimistic.
Watch Jordan’s inspiring story and learn how the “Michael Jordan of the Philippine Dragon Boat Team”, brought honor and the gold medal during the recent ICF World Dragon Boat Championships held in Georgia, United States of America.
