Beginning May 19, five Filipinos will be representing our country in the 2012 London Olympics Torch Relay that will stretch across 1,000 cities, towns, and villages in the United Kingdom.
Steven Cheung and Reymound Enteria, both from London; Rodolfo Sebastian Carlos, a resident of the United States; and Joven Mallo and Marcy Reyes, who are both based in Manila, will be among 8,000 torchbearers from all over the globe.
Steven Cheung is an Olympic Youth Ambassador for Waltham Forest, a borough of London, UK, while Reymound Enteria is an occupational therapist.
The remaining three participants were among the eight chosen by the InterContinental HotelsGroup (IHG)—the official hotel sponsor of the London Olympics and the parent company of the hotels at which they are employed.
Joven Mallo, a sales and services assistant at Crown Plaza Manila, was chosen for his heroic act during Typhoon Ondoy. Instead of fleeing to safety with his belongings, he chose to stay and brave the flood to rescue an elderly neighbor.
Marcy Reyes, an executive housekeeper at the Holiday Inn, was chosen as a representative for her dedication to family, commitment to work, and caring for the community.
Rodolfo Carlos, who works at IHG in Atlanta, is a thryoid cancer survior.
According to the London Olympics official website, the Olympic Flame stands for peace, unity, and friendship. It will be carried by the 8,000 inspirational Olympics Torchbearers across 1,000 British cities, towns and villages. The Olympic torch will be lit at the Temple of Hera in Olympia and is expected to arrive in the UK on May 18 before setting on the 70-day Olympic Torch Relay the next day.
(Photos of Marcy Reyes and Joven Mallo courtesy of IHG)
