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30th South East Asian Games skating events' workforce, volunteers, and coaches
SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City, Philippines
Photo credit: Lyndel Novencido |
There’s always a profound feeling of joy when I say I enjoyed my SEA Games experience. Just a little backstory, I haven’t taken a job since I graduated from my masters in June 2019, so come SEA Games season (which is December), I had been unemployed for 6 months already. I sure applied for different jobs but unfortunately there wasn’t any door that opened for me. I was in a constant wrestle with God during those times and I am sure that He is telling me to rest so I took a rest while waiting. Little did I know that something exciting is going my way during my waiting season!
I stood as a workforce volunteer at the 30th SEA Games, particularly for the skating events (figure and short track). I initially planned to sign up for the obstacles event at Filinvest Alabang since it’s nearer where I live, but the list’s apparently full so my friends and I were reassigned to skating at SM Megamall instead.
The skating competitions lasted for 4 days. Figure skating was held on Nov. 29 and Dec. 1 while speed skating was held on Dec. 3 and 4. Prior to the competition, we should attend two trainings. The first one was at the National College of Public Administration and Governance (NCPAG) in UP Diliman. The topics were generally about the history of SEA Games and the volunteers’ program. They also showed the venues, facilities, organizing structure, and how volunteers in different areas (front desk assistants, IT people, ushers, transportation coordinators, etc.) can take part in SEA Games. The second one was venue and sport specific. It was held at SM Megamall, the competition venue itself. They discussed some rules on skating and this is when our tasks were distributed as well. I was not able to attend this training because of a conflict in my schedule but I managed to do a quick makeup training just the night before the first day.
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SEA Games Volunteers' Training at NCPAG, UP Diliman
Photo credit: Maylalyn De Dios |
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First day of duty with my co-volunteers!
Photo credit: Lyndel Novencido |
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| At the entrance booth! |
To be honest, most of the time I neither had a good view nor was I able to watch the complete performance because as a volunteer, I had a task to man the VIP entrance. I had to stand by the entrance with the spectators (the general audience) area in front of me, and most of the time the people are standing while watching so my view is almost always blocked. :( We were also advised not to take pictures and videos during the competition but luckily, during the awarding ceremony for the figure skating event on Day 2, I managed to enter the athlete’s lounge with some of my co-volunteers and took pictures with the athletes. Here's a long thread of the photos:
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Alisson Krystle Perticheto, Philippines
Figure Skating |
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Edrian Paul Celestino, Philippines
Figure Skating
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I am so GRATEFUL for the managers of this skating team, Ma’am CJ and Sir Alvin, for being able to execute the event as excellently as it could be. I also appreciate how we are cared for by Jorrel, our Volunteer Lead. On days of our duty, he would never forget to brief us and remind us about our tasks for the day. He was constantly roaming around the area, doing errands and attending to our needs. He would take note of our individual break times and would insist on getting our snacks so we wouldn’t get hungry. The organizers made sure there is food for everyone in the team. They had been so generous.
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Workforce corner at the foodcourt
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| Good food we have here! They did not let us starve while we were on our duty. |
The volunteers and workforce were also given the chance to take over the ice rink once the event for the day is done!
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Ice rink was all ours!
Photo credit: Audrey Rillera
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| Enjoying the rink with my co-volunteers Cait, John, and Pawi |
In the four days of my duty as an usher, one of consistent attendance in the audience is Mommy Meriam. She is the helper of Julian Yee’s family. Julian is the Malaysian figure skater who bagged the gold medal for the men’s figure skating competition. Mommy Meriam who hails from Baggao, Cagayan has been with Julian’s family since he was 1 year old. She is already like Julian’s second mom. During the awarding ceremony, I saw her teary-eyed and I said, “oh mommy, umiyak po kayo! [you’re crying!]” She just beamed with pride and said, “oo, almost 20 years ko yang inalagaan. Baby pa lang kasama ko na siya. [yes, I’ve been taking care of him for almost 20 years. I have been with him since he was a baby]” Ms. Irene, Julian’s mother, even said that she considers Mommy Meriam part of their family.
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| Mommy Meriam, Julian's guardian |
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| Ms. Irene Cheow, Julian's mother |
I also had memorable moments in my volunteering for the SEA Games. I was cornered and interviewed by the House of Representatives for their publicity and asked about my experience about a volunteer. I also met different people Another memorable experience is that when delegates from other countries gave me pins as a sign of their gratitude when I attended to their needs or answered their questions. And of course, I may had not attended the opening ceremony at the Philippine Arena, but least I was able to witness the closing ceremony at the New Clark City (NCC) Sports Complex! It was a blast! We watched the parade of the athletes. It’s a little bit different compared to the opening ceremony because at that time, they were already winners and the country had already witnessed how the fought hard during the games to win their much-deserved medals. It was such an honor to be in the same atmosphere with the people who represented the countries in the field of sports.
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| Thank you Team Malaysia for the pin! |
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| Me being interviewed by the HoR |
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Entrance to the sports complex for the closing ceremony
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| Parade of the athletes. Thank you, Team Philippines! |
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| My companions during the event: Jorrel, John, and Marx |
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| Our view. We were this close to the stage. |
Afterwards, we made our way to the after-party!!! Our team decided to rent a house, which is roughly a 45-minute drive from the NCC, to celebrate the success of the events and to have chance for ourselves to get together after our SEA Games duties. We did exchange gifts, played games, ate dinner, and just spent the whole night sharing stories and laughter. Everyone was tired, but we sure all enjoyed and made new friendships because of this event. I’m glad that until today, I’m still in touch with some of my friends I met along the way and will still continue to cherish the same experience we share on being part of the 30th South East Asian Games.
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AWESOMEST TEAM! CONGRATS FOR A JOB WELL DONE, GUYS!!
Photo credit: John Divosion |
Aside from taking part in the skating events as a volunteer, I also had the chance to revisit my younger years as a taekwondo athlete and watch taekwondo events at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium!! To be honest, I already forgot most of the steps at the poomsae but when I watched the athletes who were so sleek and snappy during the exhibition, I was reminded of how lousy I was executing my forms when I was a kid! I was around 9 or 10 years old that time. I took pride when the gold medals for both men and women category for individual poomsae was awarded to the Philippines!
Of course, I wouldn’t miss a chance taking a photo and getting an autograph from my childhood taekwondo crush, Japoy Lizardo! I even got an autograph of him and his wife Janice, who is also a taekwondo athlete.
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| Japoy Lizardo, Philippine taekwondo athlete |
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| Janice and Japoy's signatures on my belt |
Well, then. That’s all for this blog! Thanks for reading! :)
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