SEA GAMES DAY ONE: RP BAGS 3 GOLDS

Manila, Oct. 13, 1997 - The Philippines captured three gold medals on the first day of the South East Asian Games (SEA Games) being held in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Filipino swimmer Ryan Papa displayed the advantages of his US Training in the 200- meter backstroke. Papa, fourth year computer science scholar from the University of Michigan, was timed at 2 minutes and .96 seconds, .35 seconds off the Asian Games record.

Taekwondo jin Alessandro Lubiano received the first gold medal for the Philippines in this year's SEA Games. Lubiano, from the University of the Philippines, defeated Malaysia's Chung Chung Pin, 6-1 in the finals.

In fencing, Ramon Portugal won over fellow Pinoy Ramon Endriano in the finals of the men's individual foil for a gold and silver finish by the Philippine team in the event. Portugal and Endriano reached the finals of the game after dispatching their regionals. Indonesians settled for the bronze medals.

Total haul of the Philippines on opening day: 3 golds, four silvers and five bronzes, for a second place over all position behind host Indonesia, which garnered 16 golds.