SEAG torch relay to begin in Naga, Davao

Naga and Davao have been designated as starting points of the traditional torch relay run covering the length and breadth of the country for 30 days and leading to the opening of the 23rd Southeast Asian Games at the Rizal Park on Nov. 27.

The national torch relay hits the road by the last week of October upon the turnover of the SEAG torch by Vietnam to the Philippines through Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose Cojuangco Jr., who is also chief executive officer of the Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee (Philsoc).

Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Angelo Reyes has issued a directive to all local government units to support the program involving several personalities.

The torch run starting in Naga will go as far as Baguio in the north then swings back to Manila while the one in Davao covers the Mindanao and the Visayan regions.

The two simultaneous runs converge in Monumento in Caloocan during the penultimate day on Nov. 26 then proceed to Rizal Park passing through Malacañang for the opening ceremonies.

Philsoc media bureau chief Clarito Samson said the final leg of the torch run will involve all 11 member nations of the games. However, Samson wouldn’t name the person or persons chosen to do the honor of lighting the urn which is the highlight of the opening rites.

Cage legend Caloy "The Big Difference" Loyzaga, then track queen Lydia de Vega and ace jungolfer Gerard Cantada did the honor the last time the Games was held here in 1991. They then represented the past, present and future of Philippine sports.

Samson said the national torch relay run will also pass through all playing venues of the games, including Subic and Clark in the north and Cebu and Bacolod in the south.

At the same time, Samson said the SEA Games Ambassadors have started their task of promoting the Games with Mikee Cojuangco and Onyok Velasco gracing the NCAA cheering competition at the Araneta Coliseum yesterday.

Philsoc has arranged TV guestings by the Ambassadors in GMA 7 news programs and ABS-CBN 2 entertainment shows aside from a series of mall tours to help drum up the games.