Molina RP’s Olympic flag-bearer

Miguel Molina, the Best Male Athlete of the 2007 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand, has been designated as the flag-bearer of the Philippine contingent to this year’s Beijing Olympics.

This was announced yesterday by Philippine Olympic Committee vice president and RP team chef-de-mission Monico Puentevella, who said Molina was the hands-down choice for the position.

“Miguel deserves the job, he being the most outstanding male athlete in the last SEA Games,” said Puentevella, adding that he was tasked by the POC board to  name the flag-bearer.

“I was tasked by the executive board to decide on the matter and so I decided it should be Miguel. I already got the board approval about it,” added Puentevella, head of the weighlifting association.

Molina is in the United States training for the Beijing Olympics. Just a few days ago, be broke three of his own Philippine records, and remained optimistic that he’d do even better in Beijing.

He won five gold medals in the Thailand SEA Games and won the hearts of his peers to be named as the best male athlete, an award also won by tanker Eric Buhain in the 1991 Manila SEA Games.

“It’s a great honor for PASA (Philippine Amateur Swimming Association) and the aquatics family. Miguel Molina is a fine example for every Filipino athlete,” said PASA president Mark Joseph.

“He is humble and has been steadfast in his quest for excellence. I remember him telling me that his reason for swimming his heart out is to contribute to the Filipino pride. We are grateful to the POC.”

Joseph said Molina is the third swimmer to carry the RP flag during the Olympic opener after Luis Ayean in 1972 and Buhain in 1988.