Ian Delos Santos carries mom’s Asian Games dreams, PH flag, too

Rising weightlifting star Albert Ian Delos Santos is Team Philippines’ flag bearer at the Asian Games 2026. –CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — When Albert Ian Delos Santos was named a Philippine flag-bearer alongside Olympic bronze medalist boxer Aira Villegas, his mother and coach, Diwa, could hardly contain her pride.

Diwa, a national weightlifting coach, immediately texted her son after Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino announced the flag-bearers for the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Thursday during the national team’s sendoff at Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

“I was speechless. I texted him and said, ‘Son, you were chosen as one of the flag-bearers. You and Aira,’” Diwa said in Filipino. “He even thought of his father and said, ‘What if he were still here?’”

Diwa once dreamed of competing in the Asian Games herself. Now, her son will fulfill part of that dream while carrying the Philippine flag during the athletes’ parade.

“Now, my son is the one competing, and he’s even a flag-bearer. Of course, there’s pressure, but I’m also excited,” she said.

Diwa Delos Santos, mother of weightlifter Ian Delos Santos, during the send of Team Philippines in the Asian Games 2026. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

“He told me, ‘Ma, this is what you’ve been waiting for—the chance to see your child compete.’ I’m just so excited. I told him, ‘Son, this is it. You were chosen.’ Thank you, Lord. Thank you to the PSC and POC for trusting us.”

The 20-year-old Delos Santos won a silver medal at the Southeast Asian Games, finishing behind Thailand’s reigning world champion Weeraphon Wichuma.

In August, Delos Santos won three gold medals and set multiple records at the Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

Diwa believes her son can carry that momentum into the Asian Games. Delos Santos also trains under Olympic champion Hidilyn Diaz and her husband and coach, Julius Naranjo.

“We just have to trust in God and trust in his progress,” Diwa said. “He trains every day, so we just have to keep believing. As long as God is there, and his dad is there to guide him, I have faith in him.”