Palace commends Filipino athletes as PHL bags medals ahead of SEA Games opening

Malacañang on Thursday congratulated Filipino athletes who have already won 11 medals in the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam.

“Congratulations po, laban atletang Pinoy sa Hanoi," acting presidential spokesperson Martin Andanar said at the Palace briefing.

(Congratulations. To all the Filipino athletes in Hanoi, keep fighting.)

Before the opening ceremony of the SEA Games on Thursday, the Philippines had already secured one gold, five silver, and five bronze medals as of Wednesday, according to the Philippine Olympic Committee.

The country is currently in fourth place in the medal tally.

The Philippines is competing in 39 of the 40 sports prepared by Vietnamese organizers, and of these 39 sports, the country is participating in 44 disciplines.

It is looking to defend the overall championship after ruling the 2019 edition on home soil, where Filipino athletes bagged 149 gold, 117 silver, and 121 bronze medals. —VBL, GMA News