Cherrie Pinpin

Cherrie Samonte Pinpin was born in Quezon City on 27 October, 1962. A below knee osteosarcoma developed starting age 9 so by age 11, she elected for an above-knee amputation to halt the spread of cancer. She attended the UP Integrated School, Diliman, Quezon City but graduated as a Visual Arts scholar from the Philippine High School for the Arts, Los Baños, Laguna. Pinpin graduated with a BFA Visual Communication degree from the University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City.

Training home base is Taal Lake Yacht Club[4], who run inclusive sailing events[5][6]. The changing weather conditions in Taal Lake has helped improve her boat-handling skills in light to heavy weather.

Countless hours on Taal Lake came in handy as Pinpin battled[7] “survival” sailing conditions[8] in the Baltic sea during the 2017 Para World Sailing Championships in Kiel, Germany, where she won the Bronze medal[9] in the Women's Hansa 303[10]. Filipina teammate Clytie Bernardo finished at 4th place[11].

Pinpin and Bernardo started their 2017 Sailing season in Hong Kong, attending Para World Sailing’s Paralympic Development Program[12] to learn Para World Sailing’s Strategic Plan[13] on how to help get Para Sailing reinstated in the Paralympics. Likewise try new Paralympic class boats - Pinpin[14] sailed a Norlin 2.4 One Design keelboat[15] while Bernardo tried a Hansa 303 both from World Sailing partner SailabilityHK[16].

Sailing at the 2015 ASEAN Para Games,[17] Pinpin won silver in the Women's Hansa 2.3 Single Person keelboat while Clytie Bernardo took Bronze[18].

One of the 3 Philippine Paralympians in the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing, Pinpin crewed a SKUD 18 for severely disabled helm Pedro Sollique[19] in the two-person keelboat event held off Qingdao.

In between sailing training in 2007, she took 8 months to relearn SH1 Air Rifle (Paralympic shooting) at the PNSA Range. Pinpin went on to win the Para Shooting SH1 Women’s Standing R2 bronze medal[20] in the January 2008 ASEAN Para Games, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand. In March 2008, she and skipper Sollique qualified[21] the Philippines for a Paralympic Sailing slot after racing a SKUD18[22] in the 2008 IFDS Two-person Keelboat World Championships, Changi, Singapore.

She first competed for the Philippines in para sailing (introduced as a demo sport), in the 2005 ASEAN Para Games, Manila[23] and internationally in the Hansa Liberty[24] class in the 2006 FESPIC Games, Kuala Lumpur.

Pinpin has raced an assortment of sailboats in both para and open fleets. She previously crewed a Simonis Voogd-designed SV14 2-person keelboat[25] supplied by Disabled Sailing Thailand[26], 2.4mR Paralympic-class keelboats[27] in Hong Kong, Topcat catamarans with the Romblon Yacht Club and raced home-built wooden dinghies and Oz Goose dinghies[28] in Taal Lake.

When not preparing for her next sailing campaign, Pinpin works as a freelance creative director. She was the executive producer for Liquid, a watersports television series[29]

Pinpin received the Apolinario Mabini Award[30] twice-in 1996 (Disabled Filipino of the Year) and 1985 (Ist Runner – up, Disabled Filipino of the Year)[31]. The Disabled Filipino of the Year award is in recognition for outstanding contributions by disabled Filipinos, who have served as role models to inspire both able and persons with disabilities.