As the Philippines’ best athletes flock to Paris for the 2024 Summer Olympic Games, boxers Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam are set to banner the national flag during the quadrennial tournament’s opening ceremony in a custom Francis Libiran Barong Tagalog that wholly embraces the country’s rich heritage.
Instagram: @olympic.ph and @francislibiran8
Dubbed the “Sinag” (“Rays of the Sun”) barong, Libiran regards the piña-jusi piece as the physical embodiment of Filipinos’ “spirit and pride” with their undying hope and optimism, regardless of the challenges confronted.
The long-sleeved formal shirt sports a convergence of embroidered sun rays and Pintados-inspired patterns on its collar, alongside a detachable silk organdy sling on its bodice. Its red-white-blue-yellow palette is reminiscent of the Philippine Flag, intertwined with another warrior pattern that stretches from the front to its sleeve.
While Libiran’s “Sinag” marks his first designing stint for the Philippine Olympic Commission, he crafted pieces for the national roster during the 2023 (“Araw”), 2022 (“Agila”), and 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.
