KUALA LUMPUR – The Philippines will formally receive the Southeast Asian Games flame from 2017 host Malaysia in a handover ceremony that will kick off the country's hosting preparations into high gear.

Philippine Olympic Committee board member Cynthia Carrion is scheduled to accept the flame from Malaysia Olympic Committee president Norza Zakaria on Thursday in a ceremonial lighting of the lantern set at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium in Kuala Lumpur.

Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC) chief operating officer Ramon Suzara and commissioner Celia Kiram of the Philippine Sports Commission will grace the event, which signals the countdown to the opening of the 11-nation meet on November 30 at the Philippine Arena in Marilao, Bulacan.

The PHISGOC ceremonies and cultural events department is organizing the ceremony as part of a series of events highlighting the symbolism of the SEA Games torch and flame.

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"The flame handover is an important symbolic ceremony showing the turnover of responsibilities from past host to present," PHISGOC ceremonies director Mike Aguilar.

Malaysian hosting mascot Rimau will likewise meet Pami, the official mascot of the 30th Southeast Asian Games, during the ceremony.

Filipino boxer Ian Clark Bautista and taekwondo jin Pauline Lopez also joined the Philippine delagation that arrived from Manila, including Capas, Tarlac Mayor Reynaldo Catacutan. New Clark City, the hub of the Games, is located in Capas, Tarlac.

From Kuala Lumpur, the lantern will be brought to the Philippines, kicking off the torch run activities to be held in various parts of the country, namely in Davao City, Cebu City and Clark. It will also be brought to the Senate, House of Representatives and Malacanang.

The official torch for the 30th SEA Games portray the national symbols of the Philippines.

The torch, symbolizing unity and celebrating a common message of sportsmanship, athletic superiority and artistic achievements, was designed by the country's foremost metal sculptor, Daniel dela Cruz.

His torch design for the 30TH SEA Games is inspired by and is a stylized interpretation of our Philippine national flower - the sampaguita, symbolizing purity, simplicity, humility and strength.

Eleven nations -- Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor Leste and Vietnam – will see action on November 30 to December 11 in 56 sports events. They will be spread out over four main venues in Clark, Subic, Manila, and Tagaytay.

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