The Southeast Asian (SEA) Games triple gold winner made the Olympic cut after submitting a time clocking of two minutes and 03.73 seconds in the men's 200-meter individual medley in the ongoing World Championships in Melbourne, Australia, said the report.

Philippine Amateur Swimming Association (PASA) president Mark Joseph said the FINA, the world governing body for aquatics, had set the qualifying time of two minutes and 05.65 seconds for contenders in the Beijing Olympics.

Molina was one of the three best performing athletes in the 2005 SEA Games held in Manila after winning three golds in swimming, said the report.

The other two most bemedalled Filipino athletes at that time were diver Shiela Mae Perez and Cue artist Alex Pagulayan.

Molina, who trains in the United States, has improved his world ranking from 30th to 24th, said the report.

Apart from swimming, Filipino taekwondo jins, wushu artists and boxers are set to compete for the Olympic qualifying this year.

The Philippine Sports Commission is expecting at least 40 Filipino athletes from 12 priority sports to qualify in the Beijing Olympics.