Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam will be wearing custom-made Barong Tagalog designed by no less than Filipino designer Francis Libiran.
Nesthy Petecio couldn’t help but be surprised upon learning she will be one of the flag bearers of the Philippine Centennial team in the Paris Olympics.
After carrying the Philippine flag during the closing festivities in Tokyo, Petecio thought EJ Obiena and Carlos Yulo would be tapped to do the honors this time around.
[RELATED STORY: Carlo Paalam, Nesthy Petecio to serve as Philippine flag bearers in Paris 2024]
“To be honest po, 'di ko in-expect, kasi ang nasa utak kong maging flag bearer si EJ po at Carlos Yulo. Sila po talaga,” she said during the Phlippine Airlines’ exclusive dinner for the Paris-bound athletes on Wednesday, June 20.
“Surprised, blessed, and thankful na napili po ako na isa sa magdadala ng bandila ng Pilipinas.”
The Filipina pugilist will carry the flag with fellow Tokyo silver medalist Carlo Paalam.
The male boxer, meanwhile, could feel the weight of this rare opportunity.
“Sobrang saya po. Hinddi lang apelyido dala namin. Buong Pilipinas po, tsaka team Pilipinas,” he said.
The pint-sized boxer is thankful nonetheless.
“Sobrang thankful po. Sobrang saya po kasi lalaban na hindi lang para sa sarili namin,” he said.
It’s only fitting that they will be sporting signature barong tagalog designed by Francis Libiran when they take the spotlight a month from now.
[ALSO READY: Punch of elegance: Flag bearers Carlo Paalam, Nesthy Petecio will sport Francis Libiran's barong in Paris 2024]
Story summary:
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Nesthy Petecio expressed surprise and gratitude upon being chosen as one of the flag bearers for the Philippine Centennial team at the Olympic Games Paris 2024, expecting EJ Obiena or Carlos Yulo to receive the honor instead.
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Alongside Tokyo silver medalist Carlo Paalam, Petecio will proudly carry the Philippine flag during the opening ceremonies, marking a significant moment in their athletic careers.
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Both athletes are honored to represent their country, emphasizing the broader significance of their roles beyond personal achievement, and will wear specially designed Barong Tagalog by Francis Libiran for the occasion.
[Editor's note: This article was written by a member of the One Sports Digital team. The summary was generated by AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]