Among the sports represented by the nation's athletes, the Philippines marked its Olympic debut in golf (new to the 2016 Games) and table tennis, as well as its return to taekwondo after an eight-year absence.

The Philippine delegation featured four returning Olympians, with only two of them headed to their third straight Games: 35-year-old long jumper Marestella Torres (the oldest competitor of the team), and world-ranked weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz.

The remaining returnees on the Philippine roster were swimmers Jessie Lacuna and Jasmine Alkhaldi, who both competed at their maiden Games in London four years earlier.

Meanwhile, nine Filipino athletes made their Olympic debut in Rio de Janeiro, including table tennis player Ian Lariba, who was appointed by the committee as the flag bearer for the country's delegation in the opening ceremony.

[1] The Philippines left Rio de Janeiro with a historic silver-medal feat from Diaz in the women's 53 kg category, ending the nation's twenty-year-old drought on the podium.

[1] The 16-man Philippine delegation, which composed of six athletes, coaches and officials led by Romasanta and POC 2nd Vice President Jeff Tamayo flew to Rio de Janeiro on 23 July 2016.

[14] The Philippines was the seventy-fifth country (based in the Portuguese language) to walk in the parade of nations rites during the opening ceremonies of the 2016 Summer Olympics on 5 August 2016.

Rogen Ladon and Asian Games runner-up Charly Suarez had claimed their Olympic spots at the 2016 Asia & Oceania Qualification Tournament in Qian'an, China.

[19][20] Suarez failed to advance to the next round of the men's lightweight division, after losing to his opponent Joseph Cordina of Great Britain in the opening match through a split decision, with judges scored 2–1, in favor of the latter boxer.

Ian Lariba scored a second-stage draw victory to book one of the six remaining Olympic spots in the women's singles at the Asian Qualification Tournament in Hong Kong.