Rank Country Gold Silver Bronze Total
    View Today
    Sun, Nov 5

    Controversy gives way to pageantry as biggest-ever SEA Games opens

    Let the Games begin
    Nov 30, 2019

    NEW CLARK CITY – The biggest Southeast Asian Games in history unfolds on Saturday night with a grand celebration marked by elegance and pageantry that stands in stark contrast to the challenges it faced in the days leading up to the event.

    The Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan becomes a colorful sight by the time the opening ceremony formally kicks off at 7 p.m. with no less than President Duterte at hand to welcome Southeast Asian leaders, delegates, and athletes for this 30th edition of the biennial meet that cost the host a staggering P6 billion to stage.

    A mixture of Filipino culture and modern technology will highlight the two-hour show that will have a simultaneous opening at the state-of-the-art New Clark City Stadium in Capas, Tarlac, the same province where the infamous ‘Death March’ took place in one of the most horrific episodes of World War II.

    Around 11,000 athletes and officials from 11 member countries will compete in a total of 56 events – the biggest in the history of the Games – as they vie for pride and glory over the next forthnight.

    The host has the biggest delegation with a strong 1,496 contingent that will be vying to regain the overall crown the country won for the first and only time when it last hosted the event in 2005.

    The country’s young generation of heroes and heroines in skateboarder Margielyn Didal, Olympian pole-vaulter EJ Obiena, judoka Kiyomi Watanabe, and boxer Eumir Marcial serve as the official flag bearer for the Filipino delegation during the traditional marchpast of nations.

    ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW ↓

    A separate group of Philippine sports icons and legends in world champion bowlers Bong Coo and Paeng Nepomuceno, ‘The Magician’ Efren ‘Bata’ Reyes, Lydia De Vega, Akiko Thomson, Olympic silver medalist Mansueto Velasco, and basketball star Alvin Patrimonio, on the other hand, will carry the SEA Games Federation flag also during the ceremony.

    Among the highlights of the program is the lighting of the extravagant P50 million SEA Games cauldron designed by the late national artist Francisco ‘Bobby’ Manosa.

    Legendary and eight-time world division boxing champion Manny Pacquiao will light the towering iron pot together with another world champion in lady pug Nesthy Petecio to mark the opening of the regional competition.

    CONTINUE READING BELOW ↓
    Watch Now

    A hologram of the 40-year-old Pacquiao will reportedly be used to show him carrying the torch from the Philippine Arena all the way to the New Clark City Stadium.

    Grammy award winner Apl. de.ap of the Black Eyed Peas leads a star-studded cast of performers that also include Robert Sena, Ana Fegi, Christian Bautista, Aicelle Santos, Jed Madela, Elmo Magalona, KZ Tandingan, Inigo Pascual, and the TNT Boys.

    A bevy of beauties led by former Ms. Universe Pia Wurtzbach will also act as muses to the 11 participating countries.

    With a typhoon threatening Northern Luzon during the course of the Games, everything seemed to have calmed down after almost a week where the lead head Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc) found itself embroiled in one controversy after another on issues concerning accommodation, transportation, food, unfinished venues and half-finished press centers.

    But with some of the events already underway even before the official opening ceremony, competition is expected to heat up as the Games progress, with gold medals in triathlon, cycling, arnis, dancesports, polo, among others, already at stake as early as Sunday.

    ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW ↓

    MORE FROM SPIN
    MORE FROM SPIN

      And on the eve of the country’s fourth hosting of the biennial showpiece, Team Philippines chef de mission William ‘Butch’ Ramirez encourages and enjoins the Filipinos in getting their acts together.

      “Mga kababayan, magkaisa tayo para sa ating bansa. Wala na tayong ibang bayan kundi Pilipinas lang. Can we focus and get united for these 11 days to support our Team Philippines in the biggest fight of their lives, for honor and glory of our dear motherland,” Ramirez said in a statement.

      “Our athletes, whatever you are going through, know that we are supporting you, recognizing your sacrifices, and cheering you on.”

      Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph

      Read Next
      Watch Now
      Sorry, no results found for
    • POLL

      • Quiz

        Quiz Result