Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 2) — Alyssa Valdez will be carrying the Philippine flag during the parade of athletes at the 32nd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games opening ceremony on May 5.
The volleyball superstar will lead the all-women athlete opening rites delegation at the Morodok Techo Stadium in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
“Alyssa best fits our goal of an almost all-female delegation in the opening ceremony. She’s not only the face of Philippine volleyball, but Philippine sports as well,” Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Bambol Tolentino said.
The choice of Valdez is a departure from the POC’s earlier statement that three men will join the Filipina athletes — Tolentino, chef de mission Chito Loyzaga, and the flag bearer whose identity would be revealed a few days before the opening.
This is the second time that Valdez has been named the country’s flag-bearer for the biennial sporting event with the first in 2015 in Singapore.
“It’s such an honor to be the flag bearer for this year’s SEA games. It’s a big responsibility but I’m grateful for the trust given to me once again,” she said.
The Cambodia SEA Games Organizing Committee limited the number of athletes for each nation to 50 for the traditional parade of athletes.
