From Nagoya, With Love: Thank You, Team Philippines!

05 Oct From Nagoya, With Love: Thank You, Team Philippines!

The 20th Asian Games is now over.

What started with the Philippine delegation proudly walking into the Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium, carrying the Philippine flag and wearing their “Malaya” ceremonial outfits, has now come to an end.

The opening ceremony was a moment of pride. Seeing our athletes walk together, representing the Philippines in front of Asia, was only the beginning. What followed were days of competition, pressure, victories, heartbreaks, and countless moments that made us cheer from home.

And what a campaign it was for Team Philippines.

The Philippines finished the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games with 4 gold medals, 9 silver medals, and 16 bronze medals, for a total of 29 medals—our best Asian Games medal haul in 64 years.

To our gold medalists, thank you for bringing home the gold. Congratulations to Carlos Yulo, who ruled both the men’s floor exercise and vault in artistic gymnastics; EJ Obiena, who once again conquered the men’s pole vault and set a new Asian Games record; and Jeus Gabriel Derick Yape, who delivered a historic gold in the mixed individual virtual taekwondo event while also adding a bronze in men’s individual poomsae.

To our silver medalists, thank you for fighting until the very end. Congratulations to Jean Claude Saclag in MMA; Kacey Dela Rosa, Amyah Espanol, Kennan Ka, and Maria Pasilang of Gilas Pilipinas Women 3×3; Nelly Jay Salon, Jean Marie Sucalit, and Abegail Sinogbuhan in women’s doubles sepak takraw; Amaya Amparo Cojuangco in archery; Juliana Mykhail Candelaria, Tachiana Mangin, and Kurt Barbosa in taekwondo; Carlo Paalam in boxing; and Alexandria Enriquez in jiu-jitsu.

And to all our bronze medalists, congratulations for putting everything on the line: Princess Catindig, Bien Zoleta, Christy Sanosa, Shyryn Salazar, and Hilary Paas of soft tennis; Carlos Alvarez in MMA; Samantha Veguillas, Ysabielle Arrogante, and Rebecca Torres in karate; Marie June Adriano in karate; Jeus Gabriel Derick Yape in taekwondo; Jason Huerte, Jom Lerry Rafael, Reynaldo Asilum Jr., Glindel Phori, and Ronsited Gabayeron in sepak takraw; Eldrew Yulo in artistic gymnastics; Albert Ian Delos Santos in weightlifting; our SIBOL teams in Pokémon UNITE and Honor of Kings; John Cabang Tolentino and Victoria Bossong in athletics; Jayuard Alciso in surfing; Alexandra Eala in tennis; Khylem Progella and Sofiah Pagara in beach volleyball; and Kaila Napolis in jiu-jitsu.

But the 29 medals tell only part of the story.

Behind every medal was a journey—the early mornings, the long hours of training, the injuries, the sacrifices, the pressure of competing under the Philippine flag, the moments of doubt, the wins that made us celebrate, and the losses that were difficult to accept.

And for every athlete who stood on the podium, there were also Filipino athletes who gave everything they had but came home without a medal. To them, this message is just as much for you.

You represented the Philippines. You carried our flag. You stepped into the arena knowing that an entire nation was watching and cheering for you. And that alone is something to be proud of.

Because representing the Philippines in the Asian Games is not an easy task. It takes years of preparation for one moment, one race, one match, one lift, one routine, one opportunity. Some moments ended with medals. Some ended with heartbreak. But every single one of you gave us something to cheer for.

To every Filipino athlete who represented our country in Aichi-Nagoya, medalist or not, thank you. Thank you for carrying the Philippine flag, wearing our colors with pride, giving everything you had for the country, and making us believe, even for a moment, that anything is possible.

And most of all, thank you for reminding us that every time a Filipino steps onto the field, the court, the mat, the pool, the ring, the track, or any arena, we fight.

But as the celebrations begin to settle, Team Philippines already has another destination in sight.

Los Angeles.

Philippine Olympic Committee President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino made it clear that the direction now is toward the LA 2028 Olympics.

Looking back at the Nagoya campaign, Tolentino noted that the Philippines matched its previous four-gold output while improving its silver and bronze haul. He also pointed out that all four of the country’s gold medals came from Olympic sports, with medals coming from 10 Olympic sports overall.

“Masaya ba tayo sa resulta? Yes. Dahil nga dun sa record-breaking natin. And, almost all medals from Olympic sports,” Tolentino said.

And looking ahead, his message was clear: focus on the Olympic sports, prepare for the qualifying tournaments, strengthen training, bring in the necessary exposure and support, and do not hold back on funding.

“Yan yung dapat tutukan kasi we’re talking now of let’s move forward, we’re talking of LA Olympics.”

And perhaps that is the most fitting way to close this chapter.

We celebrate Nagoya. We celebrate the four golds, nine silvers, and 16 bronzes. We celebrate every athlete who stood on the podium and every Filipino who fought until the very last moment.

But we do not stop here. The next journey has already begun.

The Asian Games may be over, but the memories you gave the Filipino people will stay. The medals will be counted. The records will be written. The victories will be remembered.

But beyond all of that, what we will remember most is seeing Filipinos stand together, wearing the flag on their chest and fighting for the country they call home.

From Nagoya to the Philippines, you made us proud.

So to Team Philippines, to every athlete, coach, trainer, official, and everyone who helped make this campaign possible: thank you for the fight. Thank you for the memories. Thank you for representing us. And thank you for giving the Philippines another reason to stand together and cheer.

The 20th Asian Games is now behind us.

Now, we look forward to LA.

Until the next Asian Games. Laban, Pilipinas!