GOLDEN DEBUT 🥇

Taekwondo rising star Tachiana Mangin strikes gold in her first Southeast Asian Games stint as she rules the women's 49kg kyorugi by beating home bet Kamonchanok Seeken of host Thailand in the final on Friday, December 12.

Mangin, 18, adds the SEA Games gold to her growing collection, which includes a title in the 2024 World Taekwondo Junior Championships.

GOLD AGAIN 🥇

John Ivan Cruz gets a gold medal for the second straight Southeast Asian Games as he ties for the top prize in the men's vault event of the artistic gymnastics competition in Thailand on Friday, December 12.

Cruz, who won the floor exercise in the 2023 Cambodia edition, shares the gold with Malaysia's Muhammad Sharul Aimy as they both average 13.833 points.

RECORD BREAKER 🫡

John Cabang Tolentino sets a new Southeast Asian Games record in the men's 110m hurdles as he clocks 13.66 seconds on the way to the gold medal in Thailand on Friday, December 12. 

Tolentino, who improves on his bronze finish in 2023 in Cambodia, shatters the former SEA Games mark of 13.69 seconds registered by Thailand's Jamras Rittidet in 2015.

ON A ROLL! 🥳

Swimmer Kayla Sanchez, part of the winning women's 4x100m freestyle relay team, becomes the first Filipino athlete to win multiple gold medals in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand as she tops the women's 100m freestyle on Friday, December 12.

Clocking 54.82 seconds, Sanchez claims her fourth medal in this SEA Games following silver finishes in the women's 50m backstroke and 200m freestyle events.

The Philippines gets a one-two finish, as Heather White bags the silver with 55.36 seconds.

RED LIONS ROAR FOR TITLE NO. 24!

The greatest basketball program in NCAA history extends its legendary run as the San Beda Red Lions sweep historic rivals Letran Knights in the NCAA Season 101 men's basketball finals!

San Beda routs Letran in Game 2, 83-71, despite not fielding suspended star Janti Miller. The Red Lions also won Game 1 in an 89-70 blowout.

GOLD IN A DIFFERENT SPORT 🥇

Chino Sy captures his second gold medal in the Southeast Asian Games after beating Indonesia's Gede Ganding Kalbu Soethama via ippon in the judo final of the men's -100kg in Thailand on Saturday, December 13.

Sy, who hails from Davao City, also won gold in the 2019 Philippines edition, but in sambo.

YOUNGEST GOLD MEDALIST 🥇

Eleven-year-old skateboarder Mazel Paris Alegado becomes the Philippines' youngest gold medalist in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand as she rules the women's park event on Saturday, December 13.

Alegado leads a 1-2 finish for the Philippines, with teammate Elizabeth Amador, 11, bagging the silver.

ANOTHER ONE 🥇

Swimmer Kayla Sanchez picks up her third gold medal in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games following her victory in the women's 100m backstroke final, where she clocks 1:02.35 on Saturday, December 13.

The 24-year-old Olympic medalist also won gold medals in women's 4x100m freestyle relay and 100m freestyle.

DOUBLE GOLD IN SKATEBOARD! 🥇

Skateboarder Jericho Francisco Jr. adds a gold medal to the Philippines' haul in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand after topping the men's park on Saturday, December 13.

The Philippines sweeps the park events in skateboard as 11-year-old Mazel Paris Alegado won the women's division.

GOLDEN STREAK CONTINUES 🥇

Wushu star Agatha Wong strikes gold for the fifth consecutive Southeast Asian Games as she wins the women's taijiquan-taijijian event in Thailand on Sunday, December 14.

The 27-year-old captures her sixth SEA Games gold overall after picking up one each in 2017, 2021, and 2023, and two at home in 2019.

CARDIAC MAROONS STAY ALIVE!

The UP Fighting Maroons' UAAP men's basketball title defense lives on in Season 88 as they escape the La Salle Green Archers in a cardiac 66-63 finals Game 2 finish!

The championship will be decided in a winner-take-all Game 3 on Wednesday, December 17. https://www.rappler.com/sports/uaap/men-women-junior-high-school-basketball-games-schedule-results-team-standings-season-88-2025/

[HOMESTRETCH] Raising Alex Eala: An ace for Philippine tennis

In this episode, we discover that the story of Alex Eala is shaped not only by blood, but by bond — a journey shaped by family, discipline, gratitude, and heart. https://youtu.be/vQee5ajSsxs

TEAM TRIUMPH 🥳

The Philippines bags a second judo gold medal in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand a day after Chino Sy (men's -100kg) won the first one following a victorious run in the mixed team event on Sunday, December 14.

Sy claims another gold, sharing it with Gabriel Benedict Quitain, Randy Ferrera Jr., John Viron Ferrer, Rhyan Zarchie Garay, Esleken Kedo, Joemari-Heart Rafael, Leah Jhane Lopez, Khrizzie Pabulayan, Margaret Fajardo, and Maxine Denise Mababangloob.

MEXICO'S PRIDE 🇲🇽👸🏻

Miss Universe 2025 Fatima Bosch celebrates with the crowd during her homecoming in Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico, on Sunday, December 14. Photos by Luis Manuel Lopez/Reuters

ELREEN IS GOLDEN 🥇

Two-time Olympian Elreen Ando delivers the Philippines' first weightlifting gold medal in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand as she tops the women's 63kg category on Monday, December 15.

It is the second SEA Games gold for the Cebuana after her triumph in the 59kg class in 2023.

ONE MORE FROM WUSHU 🥇

The Philippines gets a second gold medal in wushu in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games courtesy of Jones Inso, who reigns in the men's taijiquan-taijijian event on Monday, December 15.

Inso replicates the golden feat of teammate Agatha Wong, who won the women's taijiquan-taijijian.

HITTING THE MARK 🥇

The Philippines rakes in four gold medals in practical shooting in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand as Rolly Nathaniel Tecson, Erin Mattea Micor, Edcel John Gino, and Genesis Pible win their respective events on Monday, December 15.

DEBUTING IN STYLE 🥇

Young athletics standouts Hussein Loraña and Naomi Cesar get the job done in their first Southeast Asian Games stint as they both deliver gold medals for the Philippines on Monday, December 15.

Loraña, 21, tops the men's 800m, while 16-year-old Cesar wins the women's 800m.

ROWING TO VICTORY 🚣🏻‍♂️

Rowers Joanie Delgaco and Kristine Paraon deliver the Philippines' 26th gold medal in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand as they win the women's double sculls on Tuesday, December 16.

Delgaco and Paraon clock 8 minutes and 16.976 seconds to beat home bets Sukkaew Rawiwan and Chaempudsa Parisa (8:21.634).

27TH GOLD! 🥇

Kickboxer Zyra Bon-as captures the Philippines' 27th gold medal in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand as she wins the women's low kick 48kg class on Tuesday, December 16. 

Bon-as, 24, ekes out a 2-1 win over Thai foe Jantakarn Manoban in the final.

GYMNASTICS GOLD! 🥇
The Philippines gets its third gymnastics gold in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand thanks to Jasmine Althea Ramilo, who tops the women's individual all-around in rhythmic gymnastics on Tuesday, December 16.

TITLE DEFENDED! 🥇

EJ Obiena wins a gold medal in the Southeast Asian Games for the fourth straight edition as he retains his men's pole vault throne on Tuesday, December 16. 

Obiena edges Thailand's Patsapong Amsamarng via countback as they both clear a SEA Games record of 5.70 meters, with the Filipino needing just a single attempt to pass the height. 

The Philippines gets a 1-3 finish as Elijah Cole bags the bronze.

HARD WORK PAYS OFF

La Salle head coach Topex Robinson sits alone outside the Green Archers' locker room overcome with emotion immediately after his team's rousing three-game UAAP Season 88 men's basketball finals conquest of rival UP.

Plagued with injuries all season long, La Salle becomes the lowest-seeded team in 11 years to win the coveted championship. | via @JR Isaga - Rappler

MOTOR MIKE GOES OUT ON A HIGH.

Mike Phillips, the proverbial heart and soul of the La Salle Green Archers, ends his incredible UAAP career as the UAAP Season 88 men's basketball Finals MVP! | via @JR Isaga - Rappler

TWO FROM MUAY 🥇🥇

Islay Erika Bomogao and LJ Rafael Yasay deliver a pair of gold medals in muay for the Philippines in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games on Wednesday, December 17.

Bomogao beats her Thai foe to rule the women's -45kg class, while Yasay overcomes his Malaysian opponent to win the men's -51kg division.

ESPORTS KINGS 👑

Sibol captures the men's Mobile Legends gold medal for the fourth consecutive Southeast Asian Games following a resounding 4-0 win over Malaysia in the best-of-seven final on Wednesday, December 17.

The team is composed of Team Liquid PH players Karl Gabriel Nepomuceno, Kiel Calvin Soriano, Sanford Vinuya, Alston Pabico, and Jaypee dela Cruz, and John Carlo Roma.

FOOTBALL QUEENS OF THE REGION 👑

For the first time ever, the Philippines captures the women's football gold medal in the Southeast Asian Games as it edges four-time defending champion Vietnam on penalties, 6-5, following a scoreless draw in a grueling final on Wednesday, December 17.

Jael Marie Guy, Alexa Pino, Hali Long, Angie Beard, Ariana Isabella Markey, and Jaclyn Sawicki all convert on their penalties as goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel seals the win by stopping the last Vietnam attempt.

REGION'S BEST 🥇

Modern pentathlon standout Melvin Sacay, who hails from Ormoc City, adds to the Philippines' golden harvest in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand by winning the men's individual laser run on Wednesday, December 17.

RIDING THE WIND TO GOLD 🥇

Dhenver John Castillo earns the Philippines' lone windsurfing gold medal in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand as he rules the men's U19 iQFoil class on Wednesday, December 17.

ALEX THE GREAT 🥇

Filipina tennis star Alex Eala earns her first Southeast Asian Games gold medal as she reigns supreme in the women's singles on Thursday, December 18, beating Thailand's Mananchaya Sawangkaew, 6-1, 6-2, in the final.

Eala becomes the first Filipino to win the event since Maricris Fernandez ruled in 1999.

SOFTBALL DOMINATION! 🥇
The Philippine Blu Boys reinforce their status as the men's softball kings in the Southeast Asian Games after a 3-0 win over Singapore in the final in Thailand on Thursday, December 18. 

The Philippines has won the event for the 9th time out of the 11 editions the SEA Games staged a men's softball competition.

SEA GAMES CHAMP AGAIN 🥇

Actor-athlete Michael Ver Comaling gets another Southeast Asian Games gold medal in modern pentathlon after topping the men's triathle event on Thursday, December 18. 

The pride of Ormoc City, Leyte, also won the event in 2019 when modern pentathlon debuted in the SEA Games.

GLIDING TO GOLD 🥇 

Short track speed skater Peter Groseclose helps the Philippines' cause in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games as he claims the men's 500m gold on Friday, December 19.

HER-STORY 🥇

Alas Pilipinas makes history as it claims the women's beach volleyball gold in the Southeast Asian Games for the first time by sweeping three-time defending champion Thailand on Friday, December 19.

Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons score a 21-17, 21-15 win in the first match and then Dij Rodriguez and Sunnie Villapando post a 21-13, 17-21, 15-6 victory in the second to capture the crown.

Despite a sudden downpour, stars of the 2025 Metro Manila Film Festival brave the rain to greet waiting fans and promote their movies during the Parade of the Stars in Pasay City on Friday, December 19. 📸 Rappler

Read this article for a rundown of the eight official MMFF 2025 entries premiering nationwide this holiday season: rplr.co/MMFF2025Films

SOFTBALL QUEENS 👑

The Philippine Blu Girls retain the Southeast Asian Games women's softball gold medal after a 4-1 win over Singapore in the final on Friday, December 19.

It is a golden sweep for the Philippines in the sport as the Blu Boys captured the men's softball title as well.

BACK ON TOP 🏆

Gilas Pilipinas Women reclaim the Southeast Asian Games crown following a hard-fought 73-70 win over host Thailand in the women's 5-on-5 basketball final on Friday, December 19.

The Filipinas return to the top of the podium after settling for silver in the 2023 Cambodia edition.

TITLE DEFENDED 🥇

Gilas Pilipinas overcomes the hosts' flip-flopping on players' eligibility rules as it protects its Southeast Asian Games throne with a 70-64 win over Thailand in the final on Friday, December 17.

The Philippines captures a 20th gold medal in men's 5-on-5 basketball in the regional showdown.

BOXING GOLD AT LAST 🥊

Eumir Marcial captures the Philippines' first and only boxing gold medal in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games as he rules the men's 80kg class with a split decision win over Indonesia's Maikhel Muskita in the final on Friday, December 19.

Marcial earns his fifth SEA Games gold after victories in 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2021.

ANOTHER ONE 🥇

Samuel German delivers the Philippines' third gold medal in modern pentathlon in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games as he rules the men's obstacle laser run on Friday, December 19.

GOLDEN TAKEDOWN 🥇

Gabriel Thomas Dinette scores the Philippines' lone freestyle wrestling gold medal in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games after ruling the men's 86kg class on Friday, December 19. 

The 26-year-old goes unbeaten in his class, beating all of his four opponents.

Five-time SEA Games boxing champion Eumir Marcial serves as the Philippines' flag bearer in the closing ceremony at the Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok on Saturday, December 20.

Marcial captured the Philippines' lone boxing gold in this edition, helping the country finish with a 50-gold haul.

Other Filipino athletes who are part of the parade include father and daughter Richard and Juliana Gomez, who won medals in sporting clays and fencing, respectively.