Digong pangungunahan ang opening ng 30th SEAG
MANILA, Philippines — Ipaparada ng Pilipinas ang world class athletes sa opening ceremonies sa pangunguna ng anim na atletang magsisilbing flagbearers ng Team Philippines.
Ito ay sina world champion Nesthy Petecio at reigning titlist Eumir Felix Marcial ng boxing, Rio Olympics silver medallist Hidilyn Diaz ng weightlifting, Tokyo Olympics qualifier EJ Obiena ng athletics, three-time Southeast Asian Games champion Kiyomi Watanabe ng judo, at Asian Games gold medallist Margielyn Didal ng skateboarding.
Makulay at kapana-panabik na opening ceremonies ang ipinangako ng Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc) sa biennial meet ngayong hapon sa 55,000-seater na Philippine Arena sa Bocaue, Bulacan.
Ang US-based production company na Fivecurrent, namahala sa mga Olympic at Asian Games programs, ang kinuha ng Phisgoc para sa opening rites ng 30th SEAG.
Isasaere ang opening ceremonies nang LIVE sa ABS-CBN.
“This is the first time in the history of the Southeast Asian Games that the opening ceremonies will be held indoor,” wika naman ni Phisgoc Chief Operating Officer (COO) Ramon ‘Tats’ Suzara.
Itatampok ang pag-iilaw sa kontrobersyal na cauldron na nasa New Clark City sa Capas, Tarlac na 90 kilometro ang layo mula sa Philippine Arena.
Ito ay iilawan nina Filipino world eight-division champion Manny Pacquiao at lady boxer Petecio na magsisilbing torchbearers.
Sina Pinoy sports icons Paeng Nepomuceno (bowling), Lydia de Vega-Mercado at Elma Muros-Posadas (track and field) ang magdadala sa SEA Games Federation flag.
Magsisilbing mga muses sina 2015 Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach (Pilipinas), 2013 Miss World Megan Young (Indonesia), 2005 Miss International Lara Quigaman (Malaysia), 2018 Miss International Karen Gallman (Brunei Darussalam), 2018 Miss Multinational Sophia Senoron (Cambodia), 2017 Miss Earth Karen Ibasco (Myanmar), 2014 Miss Earth Jamie Herrell (Singapore), 2015 Miss Earth Angelia Ong (Thailand), 2018 Miss Eco International Cynthia Thomalla (Laos), 2018 Miss Asia Pacific International Sharifa Akeel (Vietnam) at 2017 Miss Tourism International Jannie Alipo-on (East Timor).
Pamumunuan ni singer Lani Misalucha, kakanta sa Philippine National Anthem, ang mga performers kasama sina Christian Bautista, Aicelle Santos, Jed Madela, Elmo Magalona, KZ Tandingan, Inigo Pascual, The TNT Boys, Ana Fegi, Robert Seña at Apl.De.Ap.