Albert Ian Delos Santos, Aira Villegas named PH flagbearers for Asian Games

MANILA, September 11 ------ Olympic boxing bronze medalist Aira Villegas and bemedalled young weightlifter Albert Ian Delos Santos will carry the Philippine flag at the opening ceremony of the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

Philippine Olympic Committee President Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino announced the two athletes as the country's flag-bearers during the send-off ceremony on Thursday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum. "Si Ian yung male. Si Ian Delos Santos yung male [flagbearer] being the world champion at madami siyang world record. Sa female, I mean from the Olympian boxer, si Aira [Villegas]," Tolentino said during his speech.

Villegas made the country proud after clinching bronze at the 2024 Paris Olympics, while also bagging a silver medal at the 2025 Southeast Asian Games. Delos Santos, for his part, has been lifting his way to gold and records at the IWF Junior World Championships and Asian Junior Championships, as well as capturing silver in his SEA Games debut.

Tolentino explained that there are several factors behind the decision on the country's flag-bearers for the Asian Games opening ceremony. "May laro yung iba eh, hindi pwede mapagod. Yung iba nasa Tokyo ang layo two hours away kung babalik. So kung sino yung walang laban diba? Kaya mahirap pumili," he said.

The POC chief said they initially considered Filipina tennis ace Alex Eala to be one of the flagbearers again, following her historic gold medal at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games. However, Eala will arrive straight from the Singapore Open, which takes place right before the continental showcase. "Kausap ko siya [Alex] kanina, pati yung tatay eh. Kailangan niya magpahinga after Singapore [Open]. After Singapore, kailangan niya ng rest to focus. Hindi pa siya nakakapag-gold sa Asian Games," he said.

Albert's mother and coach, former national weightlifter Diwa delos Santos, became emotional upon hearing that her son had been named one of the country's flagbearers in the continental showcase. "Unang-una na-shock ako akala ko ano lang, although nasabi sila pinagpipilian pero hindi pa final. Pero nung narinig ko sinabi na si Ian, parang na-speechless ako," she said.

The Delos Santos matriarch immediately messaged her son to inform him of the news. She also couldn't help but think of Albert's late father, a national weightlifter, whose dream was for the young athlete to compete for the flag. "So happy and then naisip ko na if buhay yung papa niya, siguro we would be crying. Kasi big honor sa atin na maging flagbearer, hawak yung flag natin. Anak ito na, ikaw yung napili. Thank you Lord," she said. "Before sinabi ko lang makalaro ako sa Asian Games noong 2022, now anak ko na naglalaro and then flagbearer pa siya. Excited pero may pressure. Sabi ko, pa, ito na yung hinihintay mo na pagkakataon na maglalaro anak mo flagbearer pa," Delos Santos added.

Meanwhile, the Paris Olympic bronze medalist is grateful for the chance to carry the flag at the continental showcase. "It is one of the greatest honors of my life to be chosen as a flag bearer for the Philippines at the 20th Asian Games. To carry our flag is to carry the hopes, dreams, sacrifices, and prayers of an entire nation," Villegas said in a statement.

The Olympic boxer said she is not only raising the Philippine flag for her fellow athletes, but also dedicating it to the Filipino people. "Ang bandila natin ay sumisimbolo sa bawat Pilipinong lumalaban sa kabila ng hirap, sa bawat atleta na tahimik na nagsasakripisyo para sa pangarap, sa bawat pamilyang walang sawang sumusuporta, at sa bawat batang Pilipino na naniniwalang walang imposible kapag may pangarap at tiyaga," Villegas said.

Association of Boxing Alliances of the Philippines (ABAP) President Marcus Manalo lauded Villegas for what he called a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. "We're extremely proud of Aira. I think she deserves it, being an Olympic medalist. I think she's a good ambassador also for the sport," he said. "Maganda rin yung story ni Aira. 'Yung family nila Yolanda survivor yung mga yan from Tacloban. And ang tagal niya sa national team pero never siya nag-gold medal until the month until the Olympic qualifiers where she qualified," Manalo added.

The ABAP president believes the journey of Villegas will be able to touch a lot of people, not just her fellow athletes. "Yung story niya will be very inspiring for those who will follow her. And itong very rare opportunity and I would say once in a lifetime opportunity to be a flagbearer, so siyempre proud na proud kami," he said.

The 20th Asian Games will officially open on September 19 at the Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Nagoya, Japan.

Source: news.abs-cbn.com