Foreigners living in China are eligible to become an Olympic torchbearer candidate. There will be a total of 8 Expat Torchbearers for the 2008 Beijing Olympics which will be determined via online voting. Umm, well actually the voting has officially ended last October 14,2007. Our proud Pinoy Marco Torres garnered a total of 13,342 votes thanks to the thousands of Filipinos everywhere who supported this cause.
A few weeks before the voting ended, Marco had a quick vacation here to promote his campaign. He appeared and got interviewed in shows and programs from networks like ABS-CBN, GMA, ANC, DZMM, Magic 89.9, Hit 99.5, and many more. I think it was the GMA interview wherein I heard him say (with feelings and a lot of determination), “I wanna carry the torch for the Filipinos!”.
As part of his campaign, he has set up his official “Vote for Marco Torres” website: Pinoy Torch Bearer. At one point, I was actually planning to set up a custom blog design for Marco for free!! to show my support but alas, someone else already made a site for him. You can check out his site to get the latest news about him. or leave Marco a “Mabuhay ang Pinoy” message. I got this from the site:
ONE MAN’S DREAM. ONE COUNTRY’S GLORY.
Go Pinoy. Go Marco.
To God be the Glory.
The official online voting page at ChinaDaily.com seemed to have been taken down already since the voting has ended. You can still view the voting pages of each of the candidates. You can no longer vote but can still leave comments; here’s Marco’s page. Now, I wonder where we can get a final list of those who made it to the Top 10. Having a total of 13,342 votes is huge so did Marco win? His site mentioned he earned the top 2 spot.
Hey Marco, what happened? Can you share to us who made it as part of the 8 expat torchbearers?
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There are 5 comments to this entry
Marc,
Thanks for this excellent site. Its awesome!!!!
Before another day passes by, I want to thank you for all the support you have given me in our quest to have a Pinoy carry the Olympic torch once again after 4 decades of waiting. Thanks to your help, we landed in no. 2 making us one of the 100 finalists.
You can see the tally in the attached link:
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/olympics/torch_page.html
Another link leads you to the top 100 from whom they will choose 8. 5 Filipinos have made it giving us a 5% chance. That is celebration enough. In the end, let’s just pray any 5 of us makes it.
For me, having united all Filipinos for a positive cause is victory in itself. Carrying the torch now will just be icing on the cake.
Thanks Marc and to everyone who believed in me. Thank you!
1. Jenny Bowen (United States): 14,188 votes
2. Marcos Antonio Torres (Filipino): 13,342 votes
3. Mark Atkeson (United States): 13,256 votes
4. Werner Ebel (Germany): 12,849 votes
5. Paul Condrell (United States): 11,868 votes
6. Serena Gao (United States): 11,572 votes
7. Meena Barot (Indian): 9,266 votes
8. Yoshitoshi Mizuya (Japan): 7,935 votes
Mga kababayan!
I am ecstatic! This is all so overwhelming. Finally, a Filipino will once again carry that glorius Olympic torch. I just received the official confirmation from Lenovo. All our work towards this cause has paid off. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart.
Apparently, the formal announcement was done simultaneously today via China Daily (cover story) and the website. Just a few minutes ago, in fact, I received a call from Associated Press (AP) then Southern China Morning Post (No. 1 HK newspaper) on how I am feeling. I also got a call from ABS already, they want to make it in TV Patrol by this pm… whew….this is all so amazing. Even the boss of my company (based in MMoser HK) asked CorpComm to explore PR possibilities for the company on this….he he…
Reading from the news articles, apparently we beat several CEOs (Maersk, Bayer Healthcare, Ford Mazda) as well as diplomats (including the ambassadors to China of Seychelles and Greece).
Nothing beats going for a dream, giving it all you’ve got and getting it. Thank you once again….wala talagang tatalo when Pinoy Power is unleashed!
Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!
Marco
PS Check out the info here:
Home site:
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/olympics/torch_page.html
Which brings you to all these links:
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/olympics/2007-11/02/content_6224927.htm - “Eight expats carry the Olympic torch - for China†- cover story of China Daily
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/olympics/2007-11/01/content_6223947.htm - “Dream a Little Dream†-cover story of the Olympian Olympic supplement of China Daily
http://pub1.chinadaily.com.cn/olympics/torch/members.shtml?mid=117 - Marco Torres page (by clicking my photo)
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/olympics/2007-11/01/content_6223900.htm - Marco Torres in TV talk show
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/olympics/2007-11/01/content_6223896.htm - Marco Torres in radio program
http://www.gmanews.tv/video/12640/Saksi-Pinoy-wants-to-carry-torch-in-Beijing-Olympics - GMA Saksi Link
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