OLYMPIAN boxer Aira Villegas and weightlifter Albert Ian Delos Santos were named as flag bearers for the Philippines in the 2026 Asian Games opening ceremony.
Villegas, 31, made a name for herself after winning the bronze medal in the 2024 Paris Olympics in the women’s 50 kilogram (kg) division.
The pride of Tacloban City used to sell peanuts, worked as a parking attendant, and washed cars to make ends meet before making the Philippine boxing team. Her life ultimately changed when she won the bronze in the Olympic Games.
Villegas was not present during the send-off ceremony for the Philippine delegation at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum on Thursday when the names of the flag bearers were announced.
She is currently training in Baguio City but expressed her gratitude via a social media post.
“It is one of the greatest honors of my life to be chosen as a flag bearer for the Philippines at the 20th Asian Games. To carry our flag is to carry the hopes, dreams, sacrifices, and prayers of an entire nation,” she wrote. “Dadalhin ko ang ating bandila nang may dangal, tapang, at pusong Pilipino. Para sa Pilipinas. Para sa bawat Pilipino. Para sa pangarap (I will carry our flag with honor, courage, and a Filipino heart. For the Philippines. For every Filipino. For the dream),” she added.
The last time the Philippines won an Asian Games gold medal in boxing was in 2010 in Guangzhou, China, when Rey Saludar topped the men’s flyweight 52kg division.
Joining Villegas in the Asian Games-bound national boxing team are Riza Pasuit (women’s 54 kg), Nesthy Petecio (women’s 60 kg), Carlo Paalam (men’s 55kg), Junmilardo Ogayre (men’s 60 kg), and Norlan Petecio (men’s 70 kg).
The other flag bearer for the Philippines is Delos Santos, who bagged three gold medals in the Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships.
Villegas came from a family of weightlifters. His late dad Alvin was a former Southeast Asian Games gold medalist and weightlifting coach and his mom Diwa, is a former member of the national weightlifting team.
Getting the honor of carrying the Philippine flag is a dream come true for the family. “I was totally speechless, then I texted him, ‘Anak (child), you got picked as the flag-bearer, you and Aira — I'm so happy,’ and he started thinking about how happy his dad would be if he were still alive,” said Alvin’s mom as the young weightlifter was also not in attendance during the send off.
“Before, I only said that maybe I could play in the 2022 Asian Games, now it's my child who is playing, and he's even the flag-bearer. There's pressure, but I'm excited.” Tennis sensation Alex Eala, the most popular and most accomplished Filipino athlete today, was initially tagged as flag bearer.
Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham Tolentino, however, explained that Eala will not be the flag bearer for the Philippines in the 2026 Asian Games to give the 18th ranked player in the Women’s Tennis Association ample rest ahead of the Singapore Open.
The WTA 500 tournament will run from Sept. 21 to 27 while the Asian Games tennis competition is scheduled from Sept. 27 to Oct. 3.
“I was on a phone call with Alex’s dad, and he kindly said that she needs to rest for the Singapore Open, so we agreed,” Tolentino said during Thursday's send-off ceremony.
