Lia in London: Dinner at the Philippine Embassy and a peek inside Athlete’s Village

LONDON — The Philippine Embassy here hosted a dinner for Team Philippines before the start of the Games. It was a relatively small gathering, but a typical Filipino one, with food, drink, a lot of happy faces and a lot of Kodak-an.

The Philippine Embassy in London. Ibandera ang watawat.

Team Pilipinas with Ambassador Enrique Manalo. Missing were boxer Mark Anthony Barriga, who was training in Cardiff, Wales, and BMX rider Danny Caluag, who was still in the US.

Having a bit o’ champagne at the Philippine Embassy. Can’t complain, can’t complain.

One of the best parts of the dinner was that one of the much-talked-about “It’s More Fun in The Philippines!” double-decker buses was parked right outside the embassy — a total photo op that even I couldn’t resist.

It’s More Fun in the Philippines!!!

Lucky me, I got to hop in with the driver!

Interviewing our two archery bets, Rachel Cabral and Mark Javier

Speaking of the athletes, here’s a glimpse at the Athlete’s Village inside the Olympic Park. We’re talking about 11 residential plots, with 2,818 apartments and townhouses to house up to 16,000 athletes and officials for both the Olympics and Paralympics. The units look pretty cozy, with balconies and amenities that are practically hotel-like. And yes, it is within these walls that those 150,000 condoms will be distributed.

The Athlete’s Village in the Olympic Park.

The different countries pimp their units out by hanging their flags (and other forms of patriotic expression) on their balconies. We spotted the Philippine flag, but it was all the way in the back, nowhere near the Plaza where I took this shot.

The Athlete’s Village plaza, where their ceremonies and activities have taken place. This is far as the media is allowed to go. Not a cloud in the sky, you may have noticed. London is sizzling hot right now. Summer na summer.

These photos only go as far as the Plaza, because media isn’t allowed within the residences, for security reasons. And it is quite a secure facility, from all the airport-like processes one has to go through before making it to the Plaza, with scanners, detectors and x-rays, again, adminstered by the Marines. The residences are another story.

Goofing around in the International Olympic Committee (IOC) office. How’s about that gold torch, yeah?

Inside the Village, in the common area, there’s a map for visitors to post their messages of encouragement for the athletes.

Me and AKTV's Direk Dong Capinpuyan with the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, who was visiting the Village the same time we were there.

Oh my oh my oh my. All those BMWs. Row upon row of the official Games Vehicles.

After the Games, these apartments will become 2,800 new homes for East London residents, with planned construction for new parks, open spaces, transport links and community facilities including a school. Anyone looking for a flat?

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