ASEAN Para Games | What does it take to be a blind runner's guide?

Blind runner Evenizer Celebrado and his guide Daniel Enderes Jr. crossed the finish line second for the men's 1500m T11 event during the 13th ASEAN Para Games on Wednesday, January 21.

They had an extra burst of energy at the last stretch, but it was not enough to beat the team from Vietnam.

But as it turned out, the Filipinos had a lucky break.

Vietnam was disqualified, and that meant Celebrado and Enderes were the gold medalists with a time of 4:57.49.

That also meant their compatriots Roldan Sagan and his coach/guide Julius Sermona climbed up to bronze.

"Sobrang saya," Celebrado told One Sports after the event. "Sabi ng guide ko, last 100 [meters] ibuhos na namin. Kahit anong buhos ko, 'yun lang talaga makaya ko. Silver lang po, naging ginto."

Coach Joar Calvadores of the para athletics team considered it a huge stroke of luck.

"It's a lucky break for us kasi 'yung guide namin for Celebrado, nag-stick sa plan," Calvadores told One Sports.

Lucky break is an understatement.

Celebrado wasn't even supposed to compete in this event. He was initially slated in the T12 category, for visually impaired athletes with significant residual vision.

Instead, he was moved to the T11 category (completely blind), and must compete with a guide.

Enderes, who will be competing in two T20 (intellectual impairment) events himself, became Celebrado's guide. They only had two days to train together in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.

"Kinakausap ko siya lagi na ganito gagawin namin para sa laro, ma-apply namin yung training namin," Enderes shared.

It usually takes years to build up chemistry between a guide and a runner.

And the Davao-based Celebrado has only been with the national team for a year. But their long-time camaraderie was more than enough to make up for it.

"Turing ko na tong kapatid eh. Sa lahat gina-guide niya ako kahit saan magpunta," Celebrado shared. "Wala akong masabi sa kanya. The best 'to, the best talaga."

"Kiss ka na! Joke lang," Enderes chimed, prompting laughter from the blind runner.

"Okay naman si Kuya Even, sobrang bait," he added.

"Teamwork lang po kami," Celebrado explained. They were four athletes who happened to stay in the same dorm room, and Evenizer was considered the eldest, the kuya.

Can anyone be a guide? Can a casual runner who does marathons be a guide?

No, the para athletics national team doesn't just pick anyone.

"Hindi naman kami nagse-select na malakas yung atleta namin tapos mahina yung magiging guide namin," Calvadores explained. "Dapat malakas yung stamina, endurance ng isang guide. Hindi pwedeng ang guide ay mahina para dun sa isang atleta."

Usually they take a former national athlete, a member of a college varsity team, or even athletes from the university. They have to be fit, most importantly.

A blind runner has to follow the instructions of the guide and run as best as he can, while the guide has to think of many things at the same time.

"Habang tumatakbo ka, nagsasalita ka," Enderes said, explaining that he has to speak up to either push his runner more or whether to make him ease up.

And speaking takes up a lot of air for any runner.

"Very important 'yung coordination niyo, especially sa swing," the coach explained. "Kasi maghihilahan kayo 'pag nag-opposite yung swing nyo."

"Halimbawa, 'pag si runner pataas, si guide naman pababa, mahihila niya yung tether. Ngayon, yung tension nun, yun ang magbibigay ng break. Magbi-break si runner, ma-i-stop siya. Mawawala yung momentum niya. Masasayan yung ginawa niyong momentum."

He can never be ahead of the runner. He cannot pull his runner. He should never let go of the tether connecting him to the runner until they leave the track.

And that's actually what happened to Vietnam that led to the Philippines' gold.

Celebrado and Enderes were catching up in that final 100 meters, but the Vietnamese runner was running out of gas. 

"Nauna 'yung guide niya sa kanya. Bawal yun, DQ yun." Calvadores said of Team Vietnam. "Tapos yung pagbitaw niya ng tether, bawal din yun."

A guide cost the Vietnamese runner a gold medal. An unexpected guide helped the Filipino athlete clinch one.

Lucky break? More like, make or break.

Katrina Alba is a sports journalist and producer, notably with SportsCenter Philippines before taking on her current role at One Sports. She primarily writes about basketball and volleyball, with experience covering the SEA Games, Asian Games, and the FIBA World Cup.

Outside of work, her hobbies include running, swimming, pickleball, yoga, arnis, and krav maga.