MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Sunday hailed Filipino athletes who bagged the country’s first medals for the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games on the first day of the biennial sports meet.
“We have to congratulate our Filipino athletes for that. Talagang nakaka-inspire. Tsaka maganda ang preparation nila (It is really inspiring. They have really prepared well). No substitute for preparation in any competition,” Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in an interview with Radyo Inquirer.
He also praised the “superb” and “world-class” opening ceremony for the Games featuring Filipino artists, held at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan on Saturday.
Filipino athletes have started to ace different sports events at the SEA Games as of posting time, with John “Rambo” Chicano winning the country’s first gold medal in the men’s triathlon.
Triathlon sensation Kim Remolino, meanwhile, won the silver medal.
READ: John Chicano delivers 1st SEA Games gold as Filipinos go 1-2 in triathlon
Agatha Wong, meanwhile won the country’s second gold medal in the women’s taijiquan category in the wushu event. She was the 2017 Sea Games champion and the 2018 Asian Games bronze medalist for the same event.
READ: SEA Games: Agatha Wong defends wushu title, scores 2nd gold for PH
Filipino wushu bet Daniel Parantac likewise bagged the country’s first bronze in the men’s taijiquan category.
Kim Mangrobang also bagged a gold medal in the women’s triathlon, outdueling teammate Kim Kilgroe who snatched a silver.
READ: Kim Mangrobang wins gold anew as Filipinos secure triathlon double sweep
The country’s dancesport team also scored medals, with the pair of Sean Mischa Aranar and Ana Leonila Nualla dancing their way to gold medals in Tango, Viennese Waltz, and Five Dance events. The pair of Mark Jayson Gayon and May Joy Renigen also got gold medals in Standard Waltz and Slow Foxtrot, and a silver in Quickstep.
READ: SEA Games: PH dancesport plucks 5 gold medals in standard events
Dexter Bolambao took hold of the gold medal in men’s 55-kilogram full contact live stick arnis, while Avegail Roman plucked the bronze medal in the women’s cross country mountain bike event.
READ: SEA Games: Bolambao wins PH arnis first gold medal
READ: SEA Games: PH’s Roman grabs bronze in cross country MTB race