Philippine officials have honored the two young Filipinos chosen to serve as torchbearers for the London 2012 Olympic Games, who said they are dedicating their Olympic run to overseas Filipino workers (OFW).
In a statement posted on the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) website, Reymund Enteria and Steven Cheung said they already felt that the Philippines had already won a gold medal at the Olympics with their role as torchbearers.
OFW POEA Work Abroad Echague Isabela
OFW POEA Work Abroad Echague Isabela
"The Games have not yet begun, but it's like the Philippines already has a gold medal,"the DFA quoted the two as saying.
"Being chosen as a torchbearer is a true honor, and I dedicate my run to all my fellow OFWs (overseas Filipino workers)," Enteria added.
The Olympics is an international sporting event held every two years (summer and winter games alternating) featuring thousands of athletes from over 200 nations all over the world.
Structural Steel Detailing Batanes Islands
Enteria and Cheung, who were chosen from tens of thousands of nominees, visited the Philippine Embassy in London last April 2.
Work in Singapore
The DFA said Enteria and Cheung will each run 300-meter stretches of the torch relay:
Work in Singapore
The DFA said Enteria and Cheung will each run 300-meter stretches of the torch relay:
- Cheung will run in the London Borough of Waltham Forest on July 21, while
- Enteria's will run in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham on July 22.
The DFA said Enteria and Cheung expressed hope that Filipinos in the UK will turn out in great numbers to witness the Olympic flame passing through the country and to cheer the Philippine team throughout the Games.
Philippine Ambassador Enrique Manalo had invited Enteria and Cheung to the Embassy to recognize their achievements as well as give them a chance to share their inspirational stories with the rest of the Filipino community.
"Our kababayans all over the world are very proud of your selection as Olympic Torchbearers and we will all be looking for your parts of the relay loudly cheering you on," Manalo told the two.
Enteria was chosen as one of the 8,000 “Coca-Cola Future Flame” participants, or the “inspirational people who will carry the Olympic Flame” as it goes around this year’s host country for 70 days.
He is currently working as a senior occupational therapist at the Raphael Medical Centre in Kent who focuses on neurological rehabilitation and mental health patients.
He has received several professional awards and commendations for his work.
On the other hand, Cheung is an Olympic Youth Ambassador for his home borough of Waltham Forest, responsible for ensuring that the voices of the youth are heard by senior officials.
He is likewise the co-founder of the SCF Foundation which seeks to elevate the presence of Filipinos in the UK through trade, social enterprise, volunteering, and political participation.
"I hope my run does inspire Filipinos and young people everywhere to become more actively engaged in their communities," he said.
