THE FIRST LIGHT

In a Vogue Philippines exclusive, FRANCIS LIBIRAN shares his inspirations for the attire Filipino athletes will wear at the Paris Olympics.

- CHELSEA SARABIA

THE COUNTDOWN TO THE PARIS SUMMER GAMES is marked by the passing of a torch. Earlier in May, the Olympic flame had reached the ports of Marseille from Greece, where it was lit by the sun’s rays in a ceremony held in Olympia, just as it’s been done for centuries. Since then, it has been passed hand-in-hand in relay all through France over the past two months, and by now, it should have reached the town of Reims before crossing over to Lille. The route will culminate in Paris on July 26, igniting the start of the 2024 Olympics.

The opening parade will cruise along the Seine, with at least 80 boats assigned to each national delegation. These boats will wind slowly down the river on a six-kilometer route from Pont d’Austerlitz to Pont d’léna, where the athletes will disembark for the final ceremony held in the Trocadéro Plaza beneath the looming shadow of the Eiffel Tower.

Along the crowded Seine river, the Philippine team is already set to make an entrance with added flair, wearing no less than celebrated Filipino designer Francis Libiran. Their Olympic attire consists of a barong affixed with a detachable sling. With embroidered light rays extending over and across, the name he chose to give his design is exactly that: “Sinag.”