A BLAST OF AN OPENER
BOCAUE, Bulacan – The 30th Southeast Asian Games was unveiled on a night of songs, glitz and stunning sights as the hosts welcomed visitors from 10 countries, with President Duterte declaring the meet open to the roaring approval of the crowd at the Philippine Arena here last night.
It was a great spectacle and comeback party 14 years after the Philippines last hosted the biennial conclave in 2005.
The first SEAG opening rites to be staged indoors started and ended on a festive note, turning into a dazzling celebration of Filipino culture depicted through dances by a cast of hundreds.
Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao passed the torch to world women’s boxing champion Nesthy Petecio before the duo lit the cauldron over at the New Clark City Sports Complex, 90 kms away from here, ushering in the Games and highlighting the rites watched by a packed audience and many more at the comfort of their homes. But the ceremony over at the NCC was pre-taped. After the cauldron was lit on screen, a bar on the ceiling lit up, triggering a big burst of fireworks on to the stage, drawing cheers from the crowd.
The President, who arrived at the venue via chopper at 6:30 p.m., practically the same time the gates to the vast arena were opened to accommodate the non-ticket holders, declared the Games open in what could be the briefest speech by a head of state in such opening rites.
“I declare the Southeast Asian Games open for the 30th time. Mabuhay kayong lahat!” said the President after which eight of the country’s sports icons came in with the South East Asian Games Federation flag before it was hoisted by the honor guards.
Earlier, two buses carrying athletes from Laos and Vietnam collided on their way to the arena via NLEX. Bus windows were shattered but no one was seriously hurt in the accident.
Former Asian track queen Lydia de Vega-Mercado led the country’s former sporting gems, who included seven-time SEAG gold medalist Akiko Thomson-Guevarra, her fellow swimmer in 15-time SEAG gold medal winner Eric Buhain, four-time PBA MVP and SEAG gold medalist Alvin Patrimonio, four-time world bowling champion Bong Coo, four-time world 8-ball champion Efren “Bata” Reyes, Atlanta Olympics boxing silver medalist and two-time SEAG gold medal winner Onyok Velasco and four-time bowling World Cup champ Paeng Nepomuceno.
“We live in a world filled with poverty, a world where lies and fake news take center stage, a world where corruption, crime and illegal drugs are destroying the next generation. Yet, we look at our athletes and we see strength and wisdom,” said organizing PHISGOC chairman and House Speaker
Alan Peter Cayetano.
“Today, we stand tall and tell the world that in Southeast Asia, we are disciplined, believe in teamwork and we firmly believe that everyone deserves our respect. Because we believe in God,” he added.
For his part, Philippine Olympic Committee president and Rep. Bambol Tolentino vowed a historic SEAG staging as he joined the whole nation in welcoming the Games delegates, saying: “After 14 years, we are again hosting the SEA Games. With the unwaver- ing support of President Duterte, we are now opening the best and the biggest SEA Games in history.”
Softball’s Francesca Altomonte, representing the athletes, and E-sports Daren Vitug from the judges’ delegation, delivered the oath of sportsmanship.
Hostilities fire off at the break of dawn today in Subic with the Pinoy triathletes fancied to duplicate their 1-2 finishes in both the men’s and women’s divisions in the 2017 Games in Kuala Lumpur.
Forty-seven gold medals are up for grabs in 13 sports in Day One with many sports resuming their preliminary stages at four cluster venues in the event also bracing for a weather disturbance in the next two or three days.
PAGASA said Typhoon Kammuri, which entered PAR (Phl area of responsibility) yesterday, is expected to gain strength after landfall between Monday evening and Tuesday morning in the Bicol region.
But organizers have assured that contingency plans have been laid out to ensure the continuity of the games, particularly sports scheduled on those days outdoors, including baseball and softball in The Villages in Mabalacat, Pampanga, cycling in Tagaytay, football in Biñan and Rizal Memorial Stadium, lawn bowls in Tarlac, obstacle race sports in Muntinlupa, polo in Calatagan, Batangas, sailing and windsurfing in Subic, shooting in Lubao, Pampanga, surfing in Olongapo and beach volley in Subic. All the rest are held indoors. The typhoon is expected to make its exit on Thursday.
It was an electrifying atmosphere in anticipation of the program’s start with the huge crowd cheering as they saw performers taking position and the honor guard with the Philippine flag walking onto the stage.
The cheers turned into roars as the President and Games’ guest Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei were introduced, signaling the start of the opening proper that also featured different dances from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
Cellphones captured videos and snapshots of ethnic performances in an instant, appreciating difficult dance moves and the tinikling dance amid a backdrop of colorful native-inspired videos on the giant screen.
Lani Misalucha led the singing of the Philippine National anthem followed by a series of production numbers showcasing the Filipinos’ diverse culture and heritage.
After the countdown, the nations came in alphabetical order led by former Filipina beauty queens. The Philippines, as host, was last to enter.
Expectedly, the loudest cheers were reserved for the hosts, who entered the stage with Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach, and who came in gyrating to the tune of “Manila,” a song written by Filipino band Hotdog in 1976 about the love for the Philippine capital, the President gladly accompanying the beat by clapping then waving to the Filipino athletes in a gesture of good luck as the 1,094-strong athletic delegation braced for battle with their regional counterparts in various fronts in the next 11 days.
As the classic song was played many times over, all the others followed suit and danced to the beat, including Sen. Bato dela Rosa. Robert Seña then sang the award-winning “Kay
Ganda ng Ating Musika” in its English version with some fiddling in the chorus part, stressing the beauty of the Philippines with lines of invitations to the Games’ guests to visit the country again in the future.
Other performers were Aicelle Santos, Iñigo Pascual, KZ Tandingan, Elmo Magalona, Ana Fegi, Christian Bautista, Jed Madela, the TNT Boys and Apl.de.ap. Meanwhile, the golden chase begins today. Filipino athletes open their bid for redemption over a finish most fouled two years ago in Kuala Lumpur.
The triathletes are expected to deliver the first two golds in Subic early today with Kim Remolino and John Leerams Chicano along with Kim Mangrobang and Kim Kilgroe out to duplicate the country’s sweep of not only the golds but the silver medals as well in both sides in the last 2017 Games in Malaysia where the Phl contingent wound up sixth for the second straight time after a worst-ever seventh place finish in 2013 in Myanmar.
“The fearless forecast is that we will win four of the gold medals at stake,” said triathlon chief Tom Carrasco, whose wards will launch their bids at the break of dawn today with the first gold expected to be captured by 8:20 a.m.
After the 1.5km swim, 40km bike and 10km run race, next up is cycling over in Tagaytay with Ariana Dormitorio and Avegail Rambaon shooting for the gold in the mountain bike cross country race for women and Nino Surban, John Flores and Jericho Rivera slugging it out with the region’s top riders for top honors in the men’s side.
Dancesport is also out to make an impact and help spark the hosts’ drive for the overall crown in this 11-nation, 12-day event spread over in four cluster venues in Luzon under threat by an oncoming typhoon.
Eight gold medals will also be disputed in arnis over at the Angeles University Foundation where the Pinoy bets target to haul at least half of the 20 golds in the event making its SEAG return after it was first introduced as a demo sport when the country last hosted the Games in 2005.
The hosts also eye to nail at least three of the five gold medals staked in Kurash at the Laus Group Events Center, also in Pampanga.
Over at the newly refurbished Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Carlos Yulo showcases the stuff that made him the country’s newest sporting hero as a world artistic gymnastics champ. He heads the country’s bid in the individual all-around along with the likes of 2017 gold medalist Reyland Capellan (floor), Ace de Leon, Jan Timbang and Matthew Vergara.