Inna Palacios and Gretchen Ho on ‘Embracing Equity’
Coca-Cola Philippines hosted a panel discussion on “Embracing Equity: Stories of Championing Every One.” The program also celebrated a significant milestone in Philippine sports: the FIFA Women’s World Cup qualification of the Philippine Women’s National Team, the first Filipino team to compete at the WWC 2023.
The event falls under the company’s advocacy to support diversity, equity and inclusion aligned with International Women’s Day’s 2023 global theme of “#EmbracingEquity.”
The discussions featured stories and insights from Gretchen Ho, news anchor, TV host and athlete; Inna Palacios, Philippine Women’s National Football Team goalkeeper; Dave Javellana, Philippine Football Federation Grassroots Development head; and Jonah de Lumen-Pernia, Philippine franchise director, Coca-Cola ASEAN & South Pacific, among other strong women equality advocates.
While there were so many insights worth sharing, we are dedicating this feature to the ones related to the National Women’s Football Team. First to be interviewed was Inna Palacios, who was asked to reflect on the historic moment that sealed their qualification to the World Cup this year.
“That time, it’s just crazy thinking about it. It’s been very surreal. Really like a dream come true because we never thought that we’d be in that kind of situation. But we always believe that we can do something more than what we’re giving. So, you know, that belief, that hard work, we all just put into that team,” related Inna.
And that preparation, she added, was very hard, because it was during the height of the pandemic.
“We even moved to the US, to a more lenient place, where we could play just to be able to live this dream and keep it alive,” Inna shared.
The team didn’t even realize that wanting to qualify meant getting in the semifinals of that tournament.
“The fact that we got there with so little, and we made it through to the World Cup, meant that we can do anything we put our minds to. We had to live our dreams to breathe it. And, you know, we had nothing to lose, but everything to win at that point. So when we qualified, it just felt so good,” she enthused.
Inna was one of the few people who has been with the team for more than 10 years.
“Our coaching staffer Patrice (Impelido), who was my captain when I first came, was tearing up because I knew the part she played in that team,” shared Inna. “And to see that it came to life, it felt like I was also giving it back to her and to the whole community. It just means so much because we had to take that exact journey just to make it where we are right now. And I think that’s significant, because I wouldn’t want it any other way. I think that hardship led us to where we are right now,” she emphasized.
From the sidelines
Witnessing the momentous victory — to see the women’s team banner football in a sport that has been long dominated by the Azkals — “felt so surreal,” added Gretchen Ho.
“I never thought that we would get to that level with the women’s team. So seeing how the team did it and how solid they were as a unit, and getting to that level, was ‘astig’ (solid, awesome).”
Ho added: “Seeing the girls, seeing them win, seeing them in their jerseys and hugging each other made me feel proud as an athlete, as a woman. And I think it’s a banner year for women in Philippine sports with Hidilyn (Diaz), Margielyn (Didal), Nesthy (Petecio), and the whole female football team.”
What is impressive is that Philippine Women’s National Football Team didn’t just do it once; they also won in the SEA Games, the AFF, and the FIFA World Cup.
“So you see a solid culture around the team,” Gretchen added. “There’s really something here that you need to take a look at. I guess the question now leading to the World Cup is how do we sustain the interest and how do we tell the story properly? That is the challenge moving forward.”
Women in sports
As for the challenges/difficulties faced by female athletes, Inna shared: “It’s difficult because in the Philippines, we do not see sports as a career. So that’s very hard for someone who is very inclined towards sports and is actually excelling.”
And oftentimes, these athletes must make a choice: to keep playing (but not having the means to really get the life they want); or quit playing (and make it through life and get everything that they want).
“That’s a hard choice,” Inna admitted. “Because when they play, even after college, they’re fighting for more than just playing and having fun. They’re fighting to grow the sport. And that takes a lot of courage, a lot of vulnerability and a lot of belief in themselves.”
By playing, by being visible, you get the chance for everyone to see the sport. And that brings growth.
“I think it’s the growth that Philippine sports and football deserve. And that’s why we need to stay visible, because in that way, we become attainable and reachable. In doing so, we allow these little boys and little girls to dream. We’re paving the path for them. They have to see sports beyond the playing aspect. They have to understand why athletes are fighting so hard, putting their bodies on the line, giving everything for the country, for the sport, because it’s more than that. It’s about giving sports a chance to be a career here in the Philippines,” added Inna.
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