(Eagle News) – The official theme song of the Southeast Asian Games 2019 was finally revealed during the press launch on Tuesday, Sept. 3.
Noted Filipina singer and actress Lea Salonga, who is also best known for her roles in musical theaters and plays, sang the 2019 SEA Games official theme song, “We Win as One” which was composed by Philippine National Artist for Music maestro Ryan Cayabyab and written by Palanca awardee Floy Quintos.
The song will be played at the opening of the SEA Games at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan on November 30.
During the press launch, the official music video of the song was also shown.
“The inspiration is actually in the motto or the tag that we are using, ‘we win as one’. Yun palang, napakalaking inspirasyon na,” said Cayabyab.
“Kasi we are not only talking of ourselves as one community or one nation, but we are also talking about our relationship with our neighboring countries,” he said.
Lea Salonga said it is an honor to again represent the Philippines through her singing of the SEA Games official theme song.
She said that this is the time for the country to show the world that best of what we have.
“It’s our athletes. It’s our venues. It’s really making the effort to put our best feet forward,” she said. “So I think we have to be unified in that regard.”
Salonga said that since this is an international sports event, all eyes will be on the Philippines, observing how the country will handle and host the prestigious games.
House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said that the SEA Games will feature the best of what the country has to offer – from the best artists to the best players.
“The President’s hope is that umpisa pa lang ito. It will trigger investments in sports, arts and culture,” he said.
Philippine National Police is set to deploy 14,800 cops to secure the 12 sports venues in Metro Manila.
The Philippines-Southeast Asian Games organizing committee (Phisgoc) said that over 10,000 athletes from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, Timor Leste, Singapore and Vietnam will participate in 543 sports events.
Aside from Metro Manila, the SEA Games venues are in Laguna, Bulacan, Tagaytay, Subic, and New Clark City sports complex in Capas, Tarlac.
This is the fourth time that the Philippines will be hosting the SEA Games. This year’s SEA Games will run from Nov. 30 to Dec. 11 this year.
It was in 2005 that the Philippines won its first-ever SEA Games overall championship.
It was also the last time it hosted the biennial meet.
The Philippines also hosted the 1981 and 1991 editions of the SEA Games.
