Petecio, Paalam lead PH flag-carrying at Paris Olympics

Filipino boxers Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam will carry the Philippine flag during the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics on Friday, marking a century since the Philippines' debut in the Summer Games.

Joining them are fellow athletes Aira Villegas, Hergie Bacyadan, Lauren Hoffman, John Cabang Tolentino, Kayla Sanchez, Jarrod Hatch, Aleah Finnegan, Samantha Catantan, Emma Malabuyo, and Levi Jung-Ruivivar along with Chef de Mission Juanito Victor 'Jonvic' Remulla.

Despite the rain, thousands of athletes from 206 countries paraded on boats along the River Seine during the first-of-its-kind opening ceremony outside a stadium.

Hours before the ceremony, athletes had posted photos wearing custom-made barongs designed by Francis Libiran to symbolize fieriness in battle.

The Philippines has 22 athletes in the Paris Summer Games; half missed the opening ceremony due to training and competition schedules.