Pinoy gets 2nd top votes for Olympics torch relay

A Filipino may be able to join the elite group of eight expatriates who will carry the Olympic Torch in the Beijing Games in August 2008. Marco Antonio Torres emerged as the second most popular expat vying for the once-in-a-lifetime slot to carry the revered Olympic flame in the upcoming multi-national sporting event. According to the Chinadaily website, Marco garnered 13,342 votes when the online voting concluded on October 14. Marco was able to gather votes through the concerted efforts of several bloggers who have featured his bid and rallied support in their blogsites. “Winning an Olympic gold has been elusive for the Philippines. This is an opportunity to unify all Filipinos towards a single golden Olympic cause," Marco said. “Should I (be) chosen, I will take it as an opportunity to promote China to the Philippines and vice versa. There is truly more to China than the Great Wall, it is after all one of the earliest civilizations, and China has a lot of unique and interesting things to share the world. This is probably why despite over a year of exploring, you just can’t get enough of China," he added. Marco has lived in Beijing for a year now as a marketer for M Moser Associates, a top international firm that specializes in the creation of interior offices and work-support facilities. Aside from Marco, other Filipino expatriates in China have joined the rare opportunity, including Filipino-Chinese Vlad Reyes, CNN Beijing bureau chief Jaime Florcruz and daughter Michelle, and Philippine vice consul Noel Novicio. The Shanghai Daily has reported that more than 21, 880 torch-bearers from China and around the world will participate in the 137,000 km torch relay route. According to the official 2008 Beijing Olympics website, the Torch Relay will travel across Greece from March 25-30, ending at the Panathinaiko Stadium, the site of the first modern Olympic Games in 1896. “After the handover ceremony in the stadium, the Olympic Flame will arrive in Beijing on March 31, 2008. In Beijing, a ceremony will be held for the arrival of the flame into China, and the Beijing 2008 Olympic torch relay will commence," it said. For the first time, the Olympic flame will also travel to the world’s highest peak, Mt. Qomolangma (Mount Everest). It is touted to be longest relay route in Olympic history. The final roster of runners will be announced in February 2008. - Mark J. Ubalde, GMANews.TV