Palace dismayed ‘kikiam’ served at SEA Games

MANILA, Philippines—Malacañang frowned at reports that Southeast Asian (SEA) Games organizers served Filipino streetfood “kikiam” as breakfast for the regional meet’s athletes.

“Ang alam ko lang kinakain ‘yun pag medyo wala ka nang makain,” presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said Tuesday in an interview over state-run Radyo Pilipinas.

(All I know is that you only eat that when you have little to eat.)

Kikiam became a trending topic on social media on Monday after Let Dimzon, the coach of the Philippine women’s football team, bared that the street food was served to athletes as breakfast.

Transportation, billeting, food, and facility hassles were among the misfortunes that marred the country’s hosting of the biennial multi-sport meet, which will run from Nov. 30 to Dec. 11.
The national football teams of Cambodia, Myanmar, and Timor-Leste complained of encountering transportation and hotel accommodation woes upon arrival in the country over the weekend. Thailand, meanwhile, complained of having to squeeze three people into rooms that could only accommodate two and its football team had to cancel its scheduled practice at Biñan Football Stadium due to traffic.

Photos of yet to be finished facilities, like the press center at the Rizal Memorial Stadium, also circulated on social media, drawing the ire of the public and several other government officials.

Panelo said President Duterte, who is currently in Busan for the Asean-Korea Commemorative Summit, is “angry” at the reported blunders.