Women Can and Will Keep Philippines Proud

Disclaimer: This is based on the author's personal opinion and does not reflect the views and opinions of all the other individuals that are part of Eat, Sleep, Breathe Football gang.

Photo Credits: Philippine Women's National Football Team

March is known globally as Women’s Month - a month wherein we celebrate women from all walks of life, regardless of what they do and what they have achieved.

As the lone woman in the ESBF gang, I believe that it is just fitting for me to pay tribute to the Filipinas this Women’s Month in a way that I know best.

I remember about 2 years ago, during the episode pilot of #TitaKicks where I got to interview Inna Palacios, Coach Marielle Benitez-Javellana, and Mia Montayre and we were able to touch up on the topic that any football player’s ultimate dream, regardless of the gender, is to play in the World Cup. At that time, the Filipinas qualified for the Asian Cup, which is a notch closer to the World Cup dream and that’s where we also discussed what are the chances of the Philippines clinching a spot in the Women’s World Cup.

Coach Marielle predicted that it won’t be for long until we witness our flag being hoisted in a World Cup venue. And as we wrapped up the show, Tito Jay, Johnny Pampa and I unanimously agreed with Coach Marielle’s prediction. We just simply know that the Philippines is so close to getting on that path.

And the Filipinas delivered the following year, upsetting Chinese-Taipei through a penalty shootout in the Quarterfinals of the Women’s Asian Cup. Sarina Bolden’s penalty was the nail in the coffin that helped earn our spot in the World Cup.

Photo Credits: AFC

Shortly after their success in the Women's Asian Cup, the Filipinas showed their dominance in the region after securing the country's first-ever trophy in the AFF Women's Championship 2022. A feat that the Azkals have been working on since 2010. With this victory, the Filipinas cemented their status as the new face of Philippine Football.

Photo Credits: Philippine Women's National Football Team

Fast forward to 2023 - where the Philippines welcomed Women’s Month in a very remarkable way with the visit of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Original Trophy. Tito Jay and I were among those who flocked to the Glorietta Activity Center last week to experience the beginning of the Women’s World Cup hype. We’re just glad to be a part of this historic (or should I say, “her”-storic?) moment in Philippine Football because this is an affirmation that we are indeed part of the 32 competing nations that will be welcomed in Australia and New Zealand a few weeks from now.

Photo Credits: Philippine Women's National Football Team

Having the World Cup trophy in our country for the first time also affirms all of the hard work that the Filipinas made to take the Philippines to the most prestigious football competition on the planet. At the short program in the trophy tour, there was a video presentation of the Filipinas’ journey to the World Cup, and just watching it gave me goosebumps because it still felt surreal that hey, who would have thought that the first team to bring the country to the world cup is the women’s team? But here we are, experiencing the festivities that once seemed far-fetched for football fans like me and you.

While there’s no competition between the Men’s and the Women’s team, I’m pretty sure that I’m not the only one who expected that the Azkals will be the first to reach that dream for the country. And yet, our Filipinas rose above the challenge and gave the ultimate plot twist that perhaps, not everyone was expecting. I’d like to think that rising above the challenge is innate to every woman so we can prove that we can do what men can do.

The path that the Filipinas carved to take the Philippines to the World stage is not an easy one. They struggled, poured in blood, sweat, lots of tears, determination, and passion. Every member of the team had that strong desire to keep pushing to bring home honor and glory for the flag and our people. These things alone are enough reason for me to be very excited to see them play in the World Cup.

I’d start assuming that the moment Lupang Hinirang echoes the stadium on their first game in the World Cup, I’ll feel more than goosebumps as I might cry my heart out!

Making it to the World Cup is only the beginning of a very bright future for our Women’s Football team, and I sincerely wish that we’ll never stop supporting them - be it in defeat or in victory.