President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declared the games open in a brief appearance in the opening rites attended by former President Fidel Ramos and other dignitaries.

The Chief Executive was introduced by Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee (Philsoc) chairman Roberto Pagdanganan and escorted by Philsoc chief executive officer Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr. as she congratulated those who led the oath of sportsmanship before taking the exit.

This early, Pagdanganan said the Games has turned to be a huge success “and this won’t be possible without the valuable support and leadership of our beloved President.”

“Hosting the Games has become a formidable challenge for the Philippines because of the difficult times. But the indomitable spirit of the Filipino people exhorted by no less than the President won’t accept failure as an option,” said Pagdanganan.

And the Filipino athletes manifested this when they came through with 14 medals, including five golds, to seize the early lead in Day One of competitions in various fronts.

Cojuangco, meanwhile, talked about unity and brotherhood among the Southeast Asian nations in his welcome speech.

“After the individuals, teams and nations have been honored, names, faces and statistics may be forgotten. What endures is the brotherhood of nations — one Southeast Asia,” said Cojuangco.

The country is hosting the biennial games again after 14 long years with a colorful but austere ceremony.

It started as scheduled at 5:30 p.m. before an estimated 200,000 fans who witnessed the cream of athletes in the region in parade at the open field fronting the Quirino Grandstand.

Equestrianne Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski brought in the torch, riding her favorite horse at the Rizal monument, then taekwondo Olympian Maria Antoinette Rivero, carried it all the way to the grandstand, the throng parting to give way.

Then she lighted the cauldron to a burst of fireworks and cheers from the crowd, signaling the start of hostilities in the biggest sporting event this part of the world.

More firework displays lit up the Manila skyline at the end of the two-hour ceremonies produced by renowned TV personality Maria Montelibano and featuring, among others, the San Miguel Philharmonic Orchestra and the San Miguel Chorale under the baton of musical genius Ryan Cayabyab, and nine-year-old soprano Julia Abueva who belted the SEA Games song.