Filipino Olympians to fashion barong

We vow to support them in representing the country in the Summer Games

Filipino athletes will be marching in barong in the opening parade of the Tokyo Olympics at the Japan National Stadium on 23 July.

Sports commissioner Ramon Fernandez yesterday said they have already ordered sets of ready-to-wear barong for the 19-man Team Philippines that will compete in the pandemic-delayed Summer Games.

Although the organizers made it clear that only six members of the delegation will be allowed to march in the traditional parade of colors, Fernandez stressed that everybody, including the coaches, officials and staff, will be given parade uniform.

“Since we are in a pandemic, we decided to just order a ready-to-wear barong for our athletes to wear in the opening ceremonies,” Fernandez said.

“This is part of our commitment to the POC (Philippine Olympic Committee). We vow to support them in representing the country in the Summer Games.”

Barong has always been the attire of choice of Filipino athletes in the traditional parade of colors in major international events.

In the Rio de Janeiro edition in 2016, the Filipino athletes, bannered by the late table tennis sensation Ian Larriba, dazzled the world wearing a short-sleeved barong, black pants and leather shoes.

Three years later, the parade uniform leveled up when the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee commissioned renowned fashion designer Francis Libiran to create a modern barong costume for the country’s hosting of the 30th SEA Games.

“But this time, we just want a simple, but elegant and presentable attire. So we will just purchase a ready-to-wear barong from Kultura for our athletes in the Olympics,” Fernandez said.