The 2019 Southeast Asian Games curtain came down in a club party style during the games’ closing ceremonies at the New Clark City Athletic Stadium.
Athletes from the 11 participating countries and thousands of local and foreign audience in the stands witnessed the ceremonial turnover of the SEA Games hosting from the Philippines to 2021’s host Vietnam.
As the Vietnam national anthem was done, a group of Vietnamese performers put up a cultural presentation to formally accept the hosting and to welcome the ASEAN Family to Hanoi in two years.
With the athletes flocking to the pitch from a parade, it was Arnel Pineda who gave the upbeat vibe.
The “Journey” frontman sings hits from his band such as “Don’t Stop Believing,” some other rock anthems like “We Will Rock You,” and one of the songs of the meet, “Rock the SEA Games,” with American band KO Jones.
A drone show was held after the performance, showing different sports contested in the SEA Games, and highlighting the motto, “We Win As One.”
Swimmers Quah Zheng Wen from Singapore and Nguyen Thi Anh Vien from Vietnam were awarded as the best male and female athletes, with both earning six golds and two silvers.
The fair play award was awarded to Filipino surfer Roger Casugay, who rose to fame when he saved his Indonesian opponent Arip Nurhidayat even when he’s en route to a gold medal.
Philippine Executive Secretary Salvador Meldialdea closed the ceremonies, which then led to the extinguishment of the fire from the cauldron.
As the fireworks display was done, it was time for American pop/hip-hop group Black Eyed Peas to close the show.
BEP partied with the crowd, from modern chart-toppers like “The Time” and reggaeton-pop song “Ritmo,” to classic hits like “Where is the Love?” and “Pump It.”
Apl.de.ap, a.k.a. Allan Pineda, also performed some of his songs from the group such as “Bebot” and “The Apl Song” with Filipino artist and new band member Jessica Reynoso.
