Aira Villegas and Albert Ian Delos Santos are Team Philippines' flagbearers during the 20th Asian Games opening ceremony at the Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Nagoya, Japan. POC Media
NAGOYA – The country's flagbearers proudly raised the Philippine flag in the 20th Asian Games opening ceremony at the Paloma Mizuho Stadium here.
Olympic bronze medalist boxer Aira Villegas and Southeast Asian Games silver medalist weightlifter Albert Ian Delos Santos were the flagbearers for the opening festivities.
Delos Santos arrived hours before the opening, along with the Philippine national weightlifting team.
Upon his arrival, the pride of Zamboanga City met with Villegas and posed for photos with the official parade uniform designed by Francis Libiran.
The two athletes were once again grateful for the opportunity to carry the flag at the continental showcase.
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"First, shocked and surprised kasi I wouldn't have thought na ako maging flag bearer. Sure, back then, torchbearer sa mga ibang events but not particularly in this type of level. Mga locals lang. But becoming a flag bearer was just so unexpected talaga sa akin," Delos Santos said in an interview with POC Media.
Villegas has experienced being a flag bearer before, but she said this experience hits different especially since it marks the start of the Asiad.
"Ako sobrang happy and proud. Proud moment. Siyempre, naranasan ko siya noong Olimpika sa closing ceremony lang. Then ngayon, sa opening, first time. So, sobrang nakaka-proud na kami ang magdadala ng bandila ng Pilipinas," she told POC Media.
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Villegas aims to bring home a medal for the country, especially since the last time a Filipino boxer won gold was Rey Saludar in the 2010 Guangzhou edition.
"Siyempre po, lahat naman po as an athlete, gold po talaga. Gusto namin makapag-win ng ginto sa Pilipinas. Pero kung ano pong ibibigay ni God, gagawin lang namin yung best namin sa game, then kung anong ibibigay sa amin ni God," she said.
As for Delos Santos, he's looking forward to having fun and enjoying his first appearance in the Asian Games.
"I'm just gonna use it for motivation, just to have fun. Pressure is something na hindi ko pa nafe-feel in a sense. But I just use it for a reason for me to just have fun and make it my playground. Just be a kid and roam around," he said.
"Just like to say thank you for supporting us and yeah, watch us please. Thank you," Delos Santos said.
"Sa lahat po ng Pilipino, Salamat po sa suporta niyo sa amin," Villegas added.
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The Philippines aims to surpass the four gold medal haul from the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.
The country is already assured a medal in the continental meet, after the women's soft tennis team reached the semifinals good for bronze.
"Excited na tayo sa opening. And after opening kasi, bakbakan na yan. And we're also looking yung mga previous games na nauna, football, soft tennis, teqball humahataw tayo diyan," Philippine Olympic Committee President Abraham Tolentino told POC Media.
The Philippines aims to surpass the four gold medal haul from the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.
"Sana, we're all praying for that. Sana malampasan, madoble. Lahat yun ang pangarap natin dahil handang-handa naman tayo sa Asian Games after four years. Pinaghandaan talaga ito," Tolentino said.
"Sa ating mga atleta, nagpaka-training kayo ng napakahirap. Bigay na natin lahat at sana nasa puso ninyo yung laro ninyo at ibigay nyo lahat para manalo tayo... Matalo, manalo, basta magawa nila yung pinakamagaling nila kasi daladala nila ang ating bansa," Asian Games Chef de Mission Richard Lim added.