Athletics headlines the record Philippine contingent with a powerhouse 61-athlete roster in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games set December 9 to 20 across Bangkok, Chonburi, and Songkhla in Thailand.
The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) has unveiled the country’s official roster for the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand, confirming a record 1,168-member delegation—the largest the Philippines has ever sent to the regional meet.
The national team will gather for a formal send-off ceremony at 4 p.m. on Friday, to be led by Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Pato Gregorio and POC president Bambol Tolentino, marking the final gathering before the majority of athletes fly out for Thailand.
Despite athlete-number cuts imposed by Thai organizers due to updated competition rules, the Philippines still surpassed the 1,115-athlete delegation it fielded as host in 2019. At the forefront is Athletics, the country’s biggest group with 61 competitors, expected to contend across sprints, middle-distance events, jumps, throws, relays, and multisport disciplines.
Football follows with 59 athletes, including 13 for Futsal. Aquatics and Jiu-jitsu each field 45 athletes, Ice Hockey lists 44, Floorball has 40, Shooting brings in 39, and Volleyball fields 38. Other large contingents come from Cycling (36), Handball (35), and Cricket (32), reflecting the Philippines’ wide-scale participation in both Olympic and emerging sports.
Ahead of the team’s departure, the Philippine National Anti-Doping Organization (PHI-NADO) held a major Anti-Doping Education Session on November 25 at Solaire Resort to ensure all athletes, including those from the youth and para games, are competition-ready not only physically, but ethically.
Gregorio delivered a firm reminder that compliance with global anti-doping standards is non-negotiable.
“Today’s session is more than just a requirement. It is part of our commitment to fair play, integrity, and excellence,” Gregorio said. “Dapat ang panalo ay malinis, mahusay, at galing sa puso ng bawat atletang Pilipino.”
The seminar drew nearly 500 on-site participants and another 200 online, including athletes and staff for both the SEA Games and the 13th Asian Youth Para Games. Present at the program were Philippine Paralympic Committee president Michael Barredo and former Olympian Akiko Thomson-Guevarra.
Sessions were led by PHI-NADO Head Dr. Alejandro Pineda Jr., with supporting lectures on sports medicine, psychology, nutrition, and conditioning.
Some athletes, including boxers and the field hockey squad, have already arrived in Thailand for early training camps. The rest of the delegation will convene on Friday for the official send-off ceremony.
