THERE’S absolutely nothing wrong with the presence of Filipino-foreign players in the national women’s football team which made history by advancing to the 2023 FIFA World Cup next year.

In fact, the entry of these foreign-bred, foreign-trained Filipino players with dual citizenships made the big difference in the sporting scene.

Philippine Ladies Football Association (PLFA) founding president Cristy Ramos is one of the staunch advocates of this new trend in sports.

“I think it made the big difference not only in women’s football, but in all sports. It’s very positive. It does add some dynamism to sports,” said Ramos during her special appearance at the “Sports On Air” program via Zoom.

“We are able to take advantage of the talents from abroad. Hindi lang naman sa sports pero even sa Miss Universe at ibang beauty pageants. Dahil sa dual citizenship law, nag-iba yun scenerie, yun dynamics,” explained Ramos, who also served as the only female president of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) from 1997-1999.

“Ngayon legally, pwede na magkaroon ng Fil-foreigners. Ang proof lang ay kailangan ng Philippine passport for those living abroad, and when they come here, they can still retain their foreign citizenship. Ganun din naman ginagawa ng ibang bansa, like sa France, Germany or Africa. Maraming players ang mixed ang heritage or parentage.”

Ramos, however, reminded fellow sports officials to continue their grassroot sports development program and discover and train new talents.

“Pero nakalulungkot din na some sports officials now overly rely on foreign-based talents for short cuts instead of looking for talents in the countryside, ”explained Ramos, who served as skipper of the national wonens football team from 1980-1986.

“Given our population of more than 100 million Flipinos, kung tutuusin napakadaming talents dito pa lang sa ating bansa. Hindi naman siguro tayo talagang kailangang lumabas at maghanap.

Pumunta lang tayo sa mga probinsya, develop the young talents we have, nourish them and give them good training hanggang tumanda,”added Ramos, also the captain of the Edward Magallona-led squad at the 1981 AFC Women’s Championship

“So while I’m saying there’s nothing wrong in getting talented Fil-foreign players, gusto ko pa din suportahan natin yun mga homegrowns. Alagaan natin from elementary, high school at college hanggang maging eligible to play at the senior levels.”

“Our NSAs should also give emphasis on local development. Siguro pwede nilang lagyan ng percentage yun composition ng team. For example, at any given time, dapat 60 percent or 70 percent of the members of the national team or training pool ay nasa Pilipinas instead of living abroad.”

Ramos also compared sports to agriculture.

“Sa agriculture, mahirap naman yung we are an agriculture country nga, pero we are now the No. 1 world importer of rice. Pwede naman tayo mag-tanim ng bigas natin. Ganun din sa ibang industries. Kung puro imported, ano mangyari sa atin. Kawawa mga magsasaka natin. Sa sports, ganun din. We need sustainable development and not a quick-fix solution lagi.”

The outspoken but purpose-driven daughter of former President Ramos also expressed hope that the foreign-based talents of the national team can find time to visit the countryside and share their talents.

“Napag-usapan nga maganda itong mga nangyari sa women’s football team natin, lalo na nandyan na sila sa FIFA Women’s World Cup. Napakalaking achievements yun. Pero sana itong mga foreign-based national players natin dalhin sa mga probinsya para magturo. Mas maganda ang magiging connection nila sa ating mga bata. Right now ang nangyayari babalik na sila sa mga bansa nila if they are based in US or Europe.”

Ramos, who also played football for University of the Philippines is also not in favor of calling the national team members as “Malditas”.

“I was also a national team player before. It’s a big honor to represent the country. You carry the flag. Ibig sabihin nun isa ka sa mga pinakamagagaling sa buong bansa. Like now, they are the best in the country, so let’s showcase the best image.of the country,” explained Ramos.

“So why call them Malditas? Maybe flashy or catchy yun ganung pauso na tawag. But if you look at the Spanish dictionary, parang hindi maganda yung meaning. I was part of FIFA for a long time at yun mga Spanish-speaking countries, tinatanong nila sa akin why is the national team called Malditas. Pati sa salita natin, pag sinabing bitch ibig sabihin maldita. Hindi maganda sa imahe lalo na sa mga kababaihan. Personally, I feel really insulted and degraded.”

She urged football officials to come up with a new monicker.

“Sana mag-isip sila ng ibang tawag. Like maybe the Gabrielas in honor of Gabriela Silang. Feisty woman, a real fighter. She is really part of Philippine history.”

Asked about the coming national elections and the impending change of leadership in the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Ramos expressed hope that the new sports officials would continue the good program initiated by the present PSC leadership.

“We have a lot of very good achievements in sports, especially among women. But sustainability is very important. For example, sa next Asian Women’s Cup and FIFA World Cup, nandyan pa rin ang Pilipinas. focus,” explained Ramos.

“Sa PSC and even the NSAs (national sports associations), dapat tuloy pa din yung mga grassroots development program. Hindi lang dapat puro elite sports ang focus of attention.”

“As you can see, yun ibang mga Southeast Asian Games countries, they really believe in their people. They invest for the future. Vietnam really started from scratch after more than 20 years of war.

They could have easily gotten French-Vietnamese or French-American to bolster their national teams pero talagang nag-pursige sila at sinanay yun mga homegrown athletes nila.”

“Sana ganyan din tayo dito sa Pilipinas, Sana ganyan din mag-isip ang mga sports officials natin ngayon.” With reports from Gab Ferreras