Yes, torch lighting at opening was taped

MANILA, Philippines — If that lighting of the cauldron at the opening of the 30th Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) looked taped, you’re right.

Floy Quintos, creative director of what Malacañang has described as the “superb” SEAG opening ceremonies, said yesterday that the lighting of the cauldron was taped about a week before the opening last Saturday as part of contingency planning to avoid glitches.

Quintos, who has been involved in staging ceremonies for the leaders’ summits of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, said a taped version of the torch lighting was their “Plan B” in case bad weather or other problems threatened to mar the opening ceremonies.

This kind of planning is standard operating procedure for those who want flawless staging of such events, Quintos told “The Chiefs” last night on Cignal TV’s One News.

Quintos also defended the selection of the Hotdog song “Manila,” saying it had a catchy beat and was renowned enough for the audience to sing along with – which was what happened as the participating teams marched into the Philippine Arena.

President Duterte’s daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte Carpio, had said the song did not represent the entire Philippines or Filipinos like her who are not from Manila.

Quintos said they did their best to be as inclusive as possible in staging the ceremonies. They had originally considered folk songs, but these were regionalistic, he said.

Aware of the possibility of typhoons that might hit the New Clark City sports complex where the controversial cauldron is located, he said they planned to have a taped version of the torch lighting.

Quintos, however, is unsure who decided to do away altogether with the live lighting of the torch on opening day.

He also said their group did not have a say in the selection of the Philippine Arena in Bulacan instead of the New Clark City sports complex as the site for the opening ceremonies.

People including photojournalists had flocked to New Clark City last Sunday, believing that boxing champion Manny Pacquiao would be lighting the torch, whose P50-million price tag was described as “extravagant” by Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon.

Instead they were told that the sports hub was on lockdown and the ceremonies would be staged only at the Philippine Arena.

Ramon Suzara, chief operating officer of the Philippine SEAG Organizing Committee (Phisgoc), told The Chiefs last Monday that the government was initially asked for a rental fee of P25 million for the use of the Arena, but he said this has been lowered by about 50 percent.

Suzara would not say if the torch lighting was taped, and could not say who made the decision to use the Philippine Arena instead of New Clark City for the opening ceremonies.

He would only say that “these are part of the creative, unique experience of the SEA Games.”

Suzara stressed that no one was alerted or invited to go to New Clark City for a torch lighting ceremony on opening day.

Quintos said US-based company 5 Currents, in partnership with Filipino firms Videosonic and Stage Craft, had won the bidding last year to stage the opening ceremonies. The stage was designed by Michael Peña.

“We had a lot of time to prepare,” Quintos said.

He noted that 5 Currents handled the opening ceremonies for the London Summer Olympics in 2012 and has global experience.