The Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympics opened with an extravagant fireworks display surrounding the Maracana Stadium on Friday evening, August 5 (August 6, Saturday morning in Manila), in Brazil's capital.
Rio Olympics laces fun and frivolous opening show with messages about global warming, conservation https://t.co/9ZsdgrCgwi via @spinph
— SPIN.ph (@spinph) August 6, 2016
This marked the first time the Olympics will be held in South America.
Thirteen of our top Filipino athletes joined the Parade of Nations with first-time table tennis Olympian Ian LAriba as the flag bearer.
Through a test message sent by Palace Spokesperson Ernesto Abella to ABS CBN News, President Rodrigo Duterte posed a challenge to the 13 delegates "to give 100 percent for the honor of the country, and wishes them the best."
Meanwhile, boxing champion Manny Pacquiao took to his social media accounts to send his message to the aspiring Olympians.
He wrote, "God bless the Filipinos representing our country in the 2016 Rio Olympics. #Rio2016."
Other athletes who extended their best wishes to the Philippine team were former Gilas Pilipinas captain Jimmy Alapag and Ateneo Lady Eagle's volleyball star player Alyssa Valdez.
Incredible opening to the #Rio2016 Olympics. Hope to see more of our Filipino athletes experience something like this in the future????????
— Jimmy Alapag (@JAlapag3) August 6, 2016
Good luck to all the Filipino Athletes. #LabanPilipinas #RioOlympics2016 ????????
— Alyssa Valdez (@AlyssaValdez2) August 6, 2016