4 Pinoys to join Olympic torch relay

MANILA, Philippines - A hotel employee who saved a neighbor at the height of tropical storm “Ondoy” and a hotel executive housekeeper active in charity work are among four Filipinos chosen as bearers of the Olympic flame in the torch run across the United Kingdom.

British Ambassador Stephen Lillie told The STAR the four would be among 8,000 participants in the torch run, which kicks off on May 18 and will be held all over the UK until the opening of the 2012 London Olympics.

Lillie announced the participation of the Filipinos during a reception the other night to celebrate the birthday of Queen Elizabeth II.

Two of the torchbearers are based in London: Steven Cheung, 19, is an Olympic Youth Ambassador for Waltham Forest, while Reymund Enteria, 30, is an occupational therapist.

The two others are based in Manila: Joven Mallo, 29, is a sales and services assistant at Crowne Plaza Manila while Marcy Reyes, 47, is an executive housekeeper of Holiday Inn.

They are among eight delegates representing InterContinental Hotels Group, owner of the hotels where they are employed and the official hotel sponsor of the Olympics.

Speaking with GMA News Online last week, Reyes said she considered the torch bearing assignment “a once in a lifetime experience.” The torch flame, she said, represented her love and commitment to her family, work and community.

Mallo, for his part, told GMA News Online that his selection was unexpected and he was excited and grateful for the honor. He thanked those who helped him join the torch run.

In a press statement on April 20, the hotel group said, “Mallo was chosen for his heroic act during typhoon Ondoy. Instead of fleeing to safety with his belongings, he chose to stay and brave the flood to rescue his old neighbor that he barely even knew.”

Reyes, meanwhile, was selected for being an exemplary employee and charity worker, the hotel group said.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) earlier said Enteria and Cheung were dedicating their participation in the torch run to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

“Being chosen as a torchbearer is a true honor, and I dedicate my run to all my fellow OFWs,” GMA News quoted Enteria as saying.

For his part, Cheung said, “I hope my run does inspire Filipinos and young people everywhere to become more actively engaged in their communities.”

The London Olympics will be held from July 27 to Aug. 12. The torch for the event was designed by London studio Barber Osgerby, a joint venture between Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby. The design was chosen from among 89 entries.

The aluminum torch has 8,000 perforations, representing the runners who will carry the Olympic Flame, in relay or by convoy, over 70 days through every UK county, every Local Authority area in Northern Ireland and Scotland, and every borough in London – a distance of about 8,000 miles – up to the Olympics opening ceremony.