Marites Burce

Date of Birth: August 15, 1975

Hometown:  Roxas, Isabela

Current Occupation: Teacher

Disability: Orthopedic impairment

Cause of Disability: Polio

Years in Competitive Sports: Since 2005

When she was nine months old, Marites Burce was already dancing “El Bimbo” in her jumper suit.  But that was the same time she got infected with poliovirus which led to paralysis, and so she has never been able to use her legs since then.

Now a mother of two, Burce teaches children with disability at the Tahanang Walang Hagdanan, a home for the orthopedically-handicapped in Cainta, Rizal. With a degree in Education major in Guidance and Counseling, Burce teaches by telling stories through visualization. Her husband also had polio and is a wheelchair user like Burce.

Burce has also won medals in international competitions in shot put, discus and javelin throw.–Artha Kira Paredes

Click here to see the other 2012 Paralympians