OFW chosen Olympic torchbearer

MANILA, Philippines - An Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) got an opportunity of a lifetime as he made it to the list of torchbearers in the Olympic Torch Relay leading to the London Games this July.

Reymund Enteria, a native of Antipolo City who works as a therapist in Kent, England, was among the 7,300 torchbearers named for the momentous event lasting 70 days and set through 1,000 cities, towns and villages in a 8,000-mile journey that kicks off May 18.

“I am truly grateful to be chosen as torchbearer. I share this honor to all OFWs around the world. I’m proud to represent our country,” the 30-year-old Enteria said in an e-mail to Philippine Olympic Committee president Peping Cojuangco.

“To my family, friends, relatives, patients and colleagues at work, be proud as I am officially chosen to be an Olympic torchbearer,” added the son of a former jeepney driver who’s been working abroad since he was 25.

Enteria made it along with 7,229 others after passing the public nomination processes run by the Olympic organizers and presenting partners Coca-Cola, Lloyds TSB and Samsung. The remaining 300 will be chosen in the coming weeks.

Enteria’s big Olympic moment comes on July 22, when the torch relay enters Barking and Dagenham boroughs in the heart of London, five days before the biggest, greatest athletic show on earth comes off the wraps.

He will be among the 115 people who’ll take the limelight as torchbearers on that special day, when the Olympic Flame enters its final few stages before arriving at the Olympic Stadium for the opening ceremonies on July 27.

When informed of the news, Philippine team chief of mission and POC vice-president Manny Lopez immediately congratulated Enteria for getting the “honor which comes only once in a lifetime”.  

“It (his inclusion in the relay team) will be a good representation for the more than 90 million Filipinos,” said Lopez. “It shows that the IOC (International Olympic Committee) and LOGOC are putting credence to our presence in the Olympic movement.”