Flags raised for 30th SEAG

MANILA, Philippines — Unity was demostrated as 11 Southeast Asian countries led by host the Philippines formally raised their flags yesterday in a modest ceremony at the Athletes Village plaza at the New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac, on the eve of the formal SEA Games opening rites.

Team Philippines deputy chef de mission Stephen Fernandez together with Athletes Village Mayor and Bases Conversion Development Authority vice president for business development Arrey Perez led the rites with contingents from 11 participating countries, reassuring the sportsmanship, love and friendship within the SEA region.

As host, the Philippines was the last to raise its flag with Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Timor Leste, Vietnam lifting their colors in alphabetical order.

 “Of course as the host, the Philippines was the last country to raise the national flag. It was a very simple program with either the chief of mission or deputy chief of mission leading the respective delegations,” said Fernandez, who spoke on behalf of Philippine Sports Commission chairman and chef de mission William “Butch” Ramirez.

“There was an exchange of tokens while Perez gave an inspirational talk, reminding everyone of maintaining the spirit of fair play and sportsmanship when the actual competition begins and urging everyone in making the SEA Games a success,” Fernandez added.

Fernandez and Perez were joined by Filipino arnis bets and the NCC Athletes Village medical staff in the simple occasion.

The flag-raising event was a prelude to the anticipated grandiose opening ceremonies tonight at the 55,000-seat Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan where the country will feature a world-class, Philippine-themed spectacle to signal the start of the biennial meet rolling until Dec. 11.

New Clark City, for its part, will be the main hub of the 30th staging of the biennial meet, housing the centerpiece event athletics at the 20,000-seater athletics stadium and the much-awaited swimming competitions at the 2,000-seater aquatics center. Both facilities were certified by the world federations IAAF and FINA.

Aside from the delegates in athletics and swimming, the NCC is also expected to welcome other athletes who will be competing at the Subic and Pampanga clusters.