By CONG B. CORRALES
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—The metal plates clanked as the trainer slid two additional 25-pound weights on both ends of the Olympic bar, adding to the four 45-pound rubber weights already on it. The powerlifter, lying on her back on the bench, carefully adjusted her hands on the bar and then took a deep breath before lifting the almost 250 pounds of weights and bar, away from her chest thrice.
It was the last bench-press for the peak of the training program of 39-year-old Adeline Dumapong-Ancheta, who has been preparing to compete in the Paralympic Games in London to be held from Aug. 29 to Sept. 9. Five days every week since April, trainer Marlon Tajale pushed and goaded Dumapong-Ancheta to ace her powerlifting program prepared by her coach and champion powerlifter Ramon Debuque.
Dumapong-Ancheta and her assistant stand out amid the male bodybuilders and trainers at the massive Misamis Oriental Fitness Gym at the Pelaez Sports Center. Tajale, who has co-managed the gym since 2007, said no other woman who frequents the gym could lift the weight Dumapong-Ancheta has lifted.
