Palace applauds Filipino athletes at SEA Games

With Filipino athletes bagging 111 medals as of Saturday afternoon, Malacañang said it is impressed with how they are performing at the 28^th South East Asian Games in Singapore.

“Congratulations to them… It’s a very big responsibility to go out and to represent their country and they did this very well,” Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said over Radyo ng Bayan.

She said the athletes deserved applause because “despite the limitations that they face, they still stood there and they still went to bear the flag.”

Valte said those who won gold medals on Friday, the 117^th Independence Day of the country, would have felt really proud.

She said they are just awaiting feedback on when the athletes will visit Malacañang for a courtesy call with President Benigno Aquino III.

As of Saturday 4 p.m. the Philippines has 24 gold medals, 30 silver and 57 bronze, ranking 6^th out of the 11 participating countries.

Winning gold for the men’s poomsae team competition on Friday were Dustin Jacob Mella, Raphael Enrico Mella and Rodolfo Reyes Jr.

Christopher Ulboc also received a gold medal for the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase.

READ: SEA Games: PH manages 2 golds Friday | PH wins gold in men’s team poomsae, silver in women’s individual