It's a barong. It's modeled by Majoy Baron. It's giving us joy. Designer Avel Bacudio wants Filipinos to remember their roots and the nod to simple fun when Team Philippines heads to the 33rd SEA Games in Thailand.
Team Philippines will be giving a nod to the traditional Philippine games played by kids when athletes march inside the Rajamangala National Stadium for the 33rd Southeast Asian Games opening ceremony on December 9.
Designer Avel Bacudio had Larong Pinoy or traditional Philippine games in mind when he designed the opening ceremony outfits for Team Philippines, dubbing the theme "Laro ng Lahi".
"Muli nating balikan ang laro ng mga nakaraang panahon, at muling ipakilala sa ating mga bagong henerasyon, kasabay ng pagkilala sa ating mga manghahabi, na tungkulin nating ipagpatuloy at alagaan ang kultura at sining upang mahalin, at alagaan ng mga susunod na henerasyon. MABUHAY ANG MGA MANLALARONG PILIPINO," he wrote on social media.
Both male and female athletes would be wearing barong for a top, pants, as well as an intricately woven vest—giving a sense of modern suit sensibilities while being undoubtedly Filipino in origin.
The barong is the highlight of the outfit, with the fabric being a blend of abaca, pineapple, bamboo, banana, and water lily fibers.
The collars feature the Philippine flag and the Philippine Olympic Committee crest.
The top three buttons are multicolored—blue, yellow, and red—as nods to the flag.
Running on the side of the barong and the pants is a red, blue, and white stripe, nodding to the colors of the Philippine flag while mimicking the design of a modern tracksuit.
Subtly featured in the barong and embossed in the fabric are silhouettes of traditional Philippine games, or laro ng lahi.
The pants have been made by local weavers, using textile patterns and textures of trambia found in the Ilocos region.
The uniform also features a dark blue, red, and white double-breasted vest with gray accents—a modern, slim cut with undoubtedly traditional texture and fabric.
The outfits were modeled by basketball player Ricci Rivero and volleyball star Majoy Baron, prompting fans to fondly make a play on her name online—Majoy Barong.
"Ang tagumpay ng ating manlalaro ay tagumpay ng bawat Pilipino sa mundo. Balikan natin at bigyan muli ng halaga ang mga laro ng nakaraan para sa kasaysayan ng ating KULTURA AT SINING," Bacudio wrote.
"Ang bawat hibla na hinabi ng ating mga manghahabi ay patunay na hanggang sa ngayon ay nasa puso pa rin natin ang pamana ng ating mga ninuno para sa ating mga susunod na henerasyon. MABUHAY ANG ATING MANLALARO!"
Aside from the opening ceremony outfit, the Philippine Sports Commission also showed the regular get-up that athletes would wear from Peak.
This includes a colorful blue jacket and a similar shirt, with nods to Philippine sceneries and landmarks. Participants would also get a white sneaker with red and blue accents, a blue cap, two pairs of socks, a pair of slippers, and black bags with the Philippine label.
"More than just a uniform, this apparel stands as a powerful symbol of the nation’s trust and support. It reflects the excellence, discipline, and unwavering dedication our athletes pour into every moment of their preparation as they fight to bring honor to the Philippines," the PSC wrote.
Leading the Philippine team are tennis sensation Alex Eala and volleyball star Bryan Bagunas as flagbearers.
The opening ceremonies will be livestreamed on December 9 via One Sports YouTube and Pilipinas Live. It will also be shown on TV via One Sports and One Sports+
[ALSO READ: SCHEDULE | Team Philippines competes at 33rd SEA Games in Thailand]
Katrina Alba is a sports journalist and producer, notably with SportsCenter Philippines before taking on her current role at One Sports.
She primarily writes about basketball and volleyball, with experience covering the SEA Games, Asian Games, and the FIBA World Cup.
Outside of work, her hobbies include running, swimming, pickleball, yoga, arnis, and krav maga.