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| (Image Source: Manila Standard/Power Sport Images) |
The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) as well as PLDT and its wireless arm Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) are joining the Filipino nation in celebrating the incredible win of the Philippine Women’s National Football Team (PWNFT), booking a World Cup berth for the first time ever. The team defeated Chinese Taipei 4-3 on penalties in a nail-biting quarterfinals game at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Pune, India on the night of February 2, 2022 before losing to Korea Republic in the semifinals four days later. This earned them a slot in the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 slated to take place in Australia.
“Our Women’s National Football Team demonstrated their resilience, skills, and unyielding spirit in the fight to qualify for the World Cup 2023. Congratulations as well to Philippine Football Federation President Nonong Araneta and Secretary General Ed Gastanes for their important role in this achievement and their leadership in developing this sport for Filipinos. This is proof that if we give our athletes the support and training that they need, we can help them reach their goals. We are extremely proud to be part of their journey as they make herstory and bring glory to the country,” said PLDT and Smart Communications President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Alfredo S. Panlilio who is also the President of the MVP Sports Foundation (MVPSF) and the First Vice President of the Philippine Olympic Committee. PLDT and Smart, through MVPSF, have been supporting the PFF through its various programs. Following the breakthrough win of the Philippine Azkals in 2010, the MVP Group decided to invest in football across the country through the PFF-SMART National Club Championships 2011-2015. The foundation then began its support to the PFF's Women's National Team program when the organization decided to invest in Talent Identification of heritage Filipinas playing in the U.S., the FIFA Women's World #1 ranked country.
In addition, MVPSF has been actively promoting football at the grassroots level, running leagues for U7, U9, and developing young talents with U11, U13 regional/provincial cluster festivals for both boys and girls. MVPSF also supports the PFF Coaches' Education initiatives, including the PFF-MVPSF National Coaches' Convention, to update the local instructors and trainers with the latest trends, as well as Technical and Tactical discussions with FIFA and World Football experts who share their knowledge and best practices. “We will continue to support the national team as they prepare for the World Cup in 2023. We will also develop the potential of our athletes who are training under PFF. We hope that this history-making feat of the Women’s National Football Team will inspire more Filipinas to get into the sport,” said PLDT and Smart Communications First Vice President and Head of Sports and MVPSF Executive Director Jude Turcuato.
On the other hand, POC President Rep. Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino stated, “The POC congratulates our women’s football team for making world football history." With the historic feat, Tolentino said Philippine sports have never been this successful. “We won our first-ever Olympic gold medal in Tokyo last July — adding two silvers and one bronze — and then this in football. Filipino athletes have been leveling up and are putting the country prominently on the world sporting map.” Tolentino also congratulated the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) for having accomplished what looked like an “impossible dream,” noting that we are not a football-loving nation.” The PFF is headed by Mariano “Nonong” Araneta with lawyer Edwin Gastanes as secretary general. “These two gentlemen of sports have painstakingly brought Philippine football up there, not to mention that they hold or held sensitive positions in the POC,” said Tolentino. He was referring to Araneta who was chef de mission to the Tokyo Olympics where weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz won gold and boxers Carlo Paalam and Nesthy Petecio clinched silvers and Eumir Felix Marcial bagged bronze last year.
“It's a great achievement for our women's national football team,” Araneta said. “All their sacrifices have paid off. They are proud to represent the Philippines. Para sa bayan!” Gastanes, Tolentino’s secretary general at the POC, described the feat as a “historic milestone.” “Another historic milestone for Philippine sports. Filipina booters showed strength, resilience and hard determination to win for the country and the sporting youth of the land in the AFC Women Asian Cup in India,” Gastanes said. “The Philippine flag will fly high and proud in the FIFA Women World Cup 2023 Australia & New Zealand in July 2023,” Gastanes added. “Thank you to all those who believe on and support the team.”
