BOCAUE, Bulacan – The beauty of a “united Philippines” was in full display as the 30th edition of the Southeast Asian Games kicked off with a grandiose opening ceremony last night at the Philippine Arena here.
Dubbed as “historic” and “eventful,” the opener to the 11-day biennial sporting event lived up to the billing as it featured a strong thematic thread of inclusivity, from complex warrior dances to the many struggles of the host country’s marginalized sector.
“We pray as one, we build as one and we win as one,” Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee chair Alan Peter Cayetano said. “Thank you for believing in us that we can prepare in the 18 months given to us.”
“We live in a world filled with poverty, a world where lies and fake news take center stage, world where corruption, crime and illegal drugs are destroying the next generation yet we look at our athletes and we see strength and wisdom,” he added.
“Today we stand tall and tell the world that Southeast Asia, we are disciplined, believers in teamwork and we firmly believe that everyone deserves our respect,” he said.
No less than President Rodrigo Duterte, who was seated beside Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, declared the opening of the SEA Games in front of a majority Filipino crowd at the 55,000-seater arena.
“I declare open the SEA Games for the 30th time, celebrating the gains of the Southeast Asia. Mabuhay kayong lahat!” the Chief Executive said.
Around 10,000 athletes and officials from 11 competing nations namely Philippines, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, Timor Leste, Singapore, and Vietnam paraded in the two hour long ceremony.
The opening rites also showed the simultaneous lighting of the controversial cauldron by Filipino boxing champions and Senator Emmanuel Pacquiao and Nesthy Petecio at the New Clark City in Capaz, Tarlac.
Asia’s Nightingale Lani Misalucha led the singing of the Philippine National Anthem, followed by a four-part production, complete with song and dance numbers performed by Filipino celebrities.
Filipino-American rapper Allan Pineda Lindo, popularly known as apl.de.ap, along with musical artists Christian Bautista, Aicelle Santos, Jed Madela, KZ Tandingan, Robert Seña, Ana Fegi, Iñigo Pascual, Elmo Magalona, and the TNT Boys performed a medley of songs, including the 2018 SEA Games theme song, “We Win as One.”
Broadway star Lea Salonga, the voice behind the SEA Games official theme song, missed the event due to a conflicting schedule.
Dancers from the Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group, as well as student performers from different colleges and universities nationwide, also entertained the crowd.
“The next 11 days will be eventful and historic,” said Philippine Olympic Committee President Abraham Tolentino. “We are opening the best and biggest SEA Games in history.”
“We look forward to the power of sports to unify and as we stand together anchored in the spirit of hope, unity and love for country, we win as one,” he added.
A total of 530 gold medals are to be contested in 56 events in the biennial sport meet, which will be played in 44 venues across Metro Manila and Southern Luzon, Subic and New Clark City.
Philippine Sports Commission chairman and Team Philippine Chef de Mission William “Butch” Ramirez believes that the country is capable of winning the overall title, just like in the country’s previous hosting in 2005.
“With the country officially pulling back the curtains to welcome everyone to the greatest athletic show in the Southeast Asian region this year – the 30th Southeast Asian Games, I would like to share some thoughts as a 69 year old who has been given the privilege to witness first-hand the, and at times be part of, our colored sporting history,” said Ramirez.
“We will have 11 days of competition, and I can see the 1496-strong Philippine contingent fighting it out with their every breath and exerting their effort to the last drop of their sweat to bring honor to this country, in front of their very own blood and flesh,” he added.
“From our forebears who have shown the skillfulness of the Filipino athlete and our natural inclination to being champions, I have faith that our present breed of athletes will also meet their destiny with success,” he said.
This will be the fourth time that the country is hosting the biennial sporting event with the first three happened during 1981, 1991 and 2005, where the country won the overall title with 291 medals (113 golds, 84 silvers, 94 bronzes).
