The Philippine delegation will proudly march at the opening ceremony of the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Bangkok, Thailand, wearing specially designed parade uniforms by acclaimed Filipino designer Avel Bacudio. The 1,600-athlete contingent will parade at the Rajamangala National Stadium on December 9, highlighting Filipino craftsmanship and national pride on the regional stage.

Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino announced that the uniforms were created with a distinctly nationalistic flair. “Our athletes and officials will be clad in elegant and nationalistic parade uniforms crafted by no less than renowned designer Avel Bacudio,” he said. “Any if not all of Avel’s designs are always dedicated and reflective of our country.”

National colors and traditional fabrics on display

Athletes will wear red uniforms, while officials and coaches will be dressed in blue, both carrying the Philippine flag on the left chest and the POC logo on the right. Bacudio’s designs incorporate traditional Filipino materials such as piña, bamboo, water lily, abaca, and saluyot fibers, woven by artisans from Tawi-Tawi, Zamboanga, Ilocos, Abra, La Union, Aklan, and Bacolod.

“The collection represents every island of the Philippines. They are new, but they have history,” Bacudio said in a Mega Asia feature that highlighted his Alas ng Pilipinas and Gintong Sinag collections, both tributes to Filipino athletes. Tolentino added that yellow and white elements, colors associated with the national palette, are also part of the design.

Bacudio, known for his sports luxe creations, is also First Lady Lisa Araneta Marcos’s favorite designer and has previously held fashion shows at Malacañang during sendoff events for national teams.

Full participation in all sports

The Philippines will compete in all 50 sports scheduled by host Thailand across three key locations. Bangkok will serve as the main hub with 32 sports and three demonstration sports in 48 venues. Chonburi will host 17 sports and one demonstration sport in 21 venues, while Songkhla will feature nine sports in 10 venues.

The parade and uniform reveal mark a symbolic start for Team Philippines’ SEA Games campaign, showcasing both athletic ambition and cultural identity on the international stage.