SUBIC BAY FREEPORT – Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) administrator and chairperson Wilma Eisma led the ceremonial lighting of the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games cauldron to formally launch the biennial meet here on Monday.
SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma, PHISGOC Director of Ceremonies and Cultural Events Mike Aguillar, SEA Games triathlon gold medalists Ma. Claire Adorna and Nikko Bryan Oreta Huelgas take part in the ceremonial lighting of the SEA Games cauldron in Subic on Monday.
The freeport zone and former US naval base will host the SEA Games triathlon competition and several other events.
Citing the controversies surrounding the country’s SEA Games hosting chores, Eisma said, “There will be a lot of detractors, there will be a lot of comments that will probably break our hearts but we are SBMA – Sa bayan muna tayo (We concentrate on the nation first).”
The Subic cauldron is different from the P50-million cauldron built at the New Clark City for the SEA Games.
“I’m very confident that together we will win as one,” she said to end her speech.
Eisma was joined in the ceremonial lighting by Mike Aguillar, Philippine Sports Organizing Committee (PHISGOC) Director of Ceremonies and Cultural Events, and 2015 SEA Games gold medalist triathletes Ma. Claire Adorna and Nikko Bryan Oreta Huelgas.