Kyla Louise Bulaga etched her name in Philippine swimming history after becoming the youngest member of the SEA Games-bound national team.
This came after 15-year-old protégé of Olympian Ryan Paolo Arabejo (2008) from the La Union Bullsharks Swim Club clinched a silver medal in the girls’ 400m individual medley at the close of the 2025 Philippine Aquatics, Inc. (PAI) National Tryouts on Sunday at the historic Teofilo Yldefonso Swimming Center in Malate, Manila.
Bulaga clocked 5:11.84 to finish behind veteran campaigner Xiandi Chua of FTW Royals Club, who clocked 5:05.61. Both surpassed the qualifying standard of 5:13.05 to earn slots in the PH team that will see action in the biennial meet this December in Thailand.
“Masayang-masaya po at very proud. Dati po pinapanood ko lang yung mga langoy nila ate Xiandi (Chua), ngayon nakasabayan ko siya tapos silver medal pa ako. Very grateful ako sa mga suporta, specially sa parents ko at kay coach Ryan,” said Bulaga, who earlier ruled the 400m freestyle but missed the qualifying mark of 4:45.74.
For her part, Chua secured berths in five events, including her favorite 200m backstroke where she is the defending champion and record-holder. She clocked 2:17.10 to qualify, though well off her SEA Games record of 2:13.20.
She also qualified in the 100m freestyle (56.95), 100m backstroke (1:03.07) and 200m IM (2:18.38).
Olympic relay silver medalist Kayla Noelle Sanchez also looms as one of the country’s biggest hopes after qualifying in six events: 100m freestyle (55.00), 50m back (29.00), 200m free (2:01.41), 50m butterfly (27.46), 100m back (1:02.38) and 50m free (25.38).
Also making to the national team are returning foreign-based swimmers Chloe Isleta, Miranda Renner, and Teia Isabella Salvino, along with first-time Fil-Am Gian Santos, Fil-Mongolian Metin Junior Jason Mahmutoglu, Fil-Canadian Joran Paul Orogo, Fil-Japanese Logan Wataru Noguchi, Fil-British Heather White, and homegrown standouts Ivo Nikolai Enot, Quendy Fernandez, and Micaela Jasmine Mojdeh.
