Philippines at the 1989 Southeast Asian Games

Philippines at the
1989 Southeast Asian Games
Philippines at the; 1989 Southeast Asian Games
IOC code	PHI
NOC	Philippine Olympic Committee
Website	www.olympic.ph (in English)
in Kuala Lumpur
Medals; Ranked 5th	Gold 26 Silver 37 Bronze 64 Total 127
Southeast Asian Games appearances (overview)
	1977; 1979; 1981; 1983; 1985; 1987; 1989; 1991; 1993; 1995; 1997; 1999; 2001; 2003; 2005; 2007; 2009; 2011; 2013; 2015; 2017; 2019; 2021; 2023;

The Philippines participated at the 15th Southeast Asian Games held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 20–31 August 1989.

SEA Games performance[]

Swimmer Eric Buhain won three gold medals in his favorite events, all in record times, to become the best performer among close to 3,000 peers that represented nine other Southeast Asian neighbors. Buhain's feat served as the saving grace in the otherwise mediocre and scandalous participation of the Philippines in the biennial meet. 15-year old swimming star Akiko Thomson and Buhain's teammate in the swimming squad, also shone with three gold medals, fashioned out in record-breaking times of both the national and SEA Games marks. Elma Muros, tagged to win at least four gold medals, settled for only two following a leg injury, took the gold in long jump, surpassing the Asian Games standard, to become the only other athlete in the field, outside of Buhain to better an Asian record.

The results of the 26 gold medals harvest was the worst finish of any Philippine delegation to the SEA Games. It came too short of an earlier projection of 59 gold medals. Many dubbed the Philippine participation as a debacle or a disaster as cries of resignation for sports leaders were heard. ^[1]

Medalists[]

Gold[]

No.	Medal	Name	Sport	Event
1	Gold	Eric Buhain	Swimming	Men's 200m Butterfly
2	Gold	Eric Buhain	Swimming	Men's 200m Individual Medley
3	Gold	Eric Buhain	Swimming	Men's 400m Individual Medley
4	Gold	Akiko Thomson	Swimming	Women's 50m Freestyle
5	Gold	Akiko Thomson	Swimming	Women's 100m Freestyle
6	Gold	Akiko Thomson	Swimming	Women's 100m Backstroke

Silver[]

No.	Medal	Name	Sport	Event
1	Silver	Philippines	Swimming	Men's Team
2	Silver	Martin Palacios	Swimming	Men's 1500m Freestyle
3	Silver	Eric Buhain	Swimming	Men's 100m Butterfly
4	Silver	Philippines	Swimming	Men's 4x100m Medley Relay
5	Silver	Akiko Thomson	Swimming	Women's 200m Backstroke
6	Silver	Andres Battad Julio Carluen Danilo Pila Rod Rafael

Bronze[]

No.	Medal	Name	Sport	Event
1	Bronze	Eric Buhain	Swimming	Men's 200m Freestyle
2	Bronze	Martin Palacios	Swimming	Men's 400m Freestyle
3	Bronze	Philippines	Swimming	Men's 4x100m Freestyle Relay
4	Bronze	Philippines	Swimming	Men's 4x100m Medley Relay
5	Bronze	Nina Castillejo Sarah Castillejo Jennifer Saret Dorothy Jan Suarez