Filipino football fans around the globe could barely contain their excitement with the FIFA Women’s World Cup just around the corner. For the first time ever, the country’s flag and colors are set to make an appearance on the grandest stage of the world’s biggest sport, represented by Summit Natural Drinking Water’s newest ambassador, the Filipinas.

The Philippine National Women’s Football Team made it a habit to surpass expectations throughout their remarkable rise, embodying the Filipino’s strong resolve and unbreakable spirit. It all began last year when the Filipinas became the toast of Philippine sports thanks to its string of historic victories. 

In February 2022, the squad barged into the semifinals of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup, consequently booking a ticket to next month’s highly anticipated FIFA Women’s World Cup. The Filipinas also ended a 37-year medal drought in the Southeast Asian Games with a dramatic, come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Myanmar to take home the bronze. Then, in July 2022, the team lifted the country’s first major football trophy after thrashing Thailand, 3-0, in front of the home fans at the raucous Rizal Memorial Stadium. 

Now ranked 46th in the latest FIFA Women’s world rankings, a record-high position for the team, the Filipinas is nowhere close to being done. With the team as it chooses to be greater is Summit Natural Drinking Water, also the trusted hydration partner of fellow Filipino star athletes Hidilyn Diaz, the first Filipino Olympic gold medalist, and Asia’s No. 1 Pole Vaulter, EJ Obiena.

Summit’s advocacy has always been to support Filipino athletes in their Thirst for Gold and the brand believes in the capability of the Filipinas to proudly represent the Philippines in the international stage. For their part, the team’s decision to partner with Summit was an easy choice to make.

“Summit has always been a brand associated with world-class Filipino athletes,” says Tahnai Annis, captain of the Philippine Women’s National Football Team, who will lead the squad in July’s  FIFA Women’s World Cup. “We’re truly grateful to be part of this family of amazing athletes.”

Ahead of the Filipinas’ biggest challenge to date, let’s recount some of the team’s inspiring shero backstories, which the players hope will continue to inspire this generation and the next.

Hali Long, defender

An acclaimed defender, Hali Long knows a thing or two about making the big leap. The U.S.-born player once bet on herself, spending all her life savings on a trip to the Philippines for a chance of cracking the national squad.

Long refused to give up. She persevered and eventually made the cut.

In 2016, she was finally selected to don the national colors at the 2016 AFF Women's Championship in Myanmar. From then on, Long proved that she belonged. Most recently, aside from stopping the opponent’s attacking players, Long found herself on the scoreboard, nailing a goal for the Philippines at the 2023 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.

Inna Palacios, goalkeeper

Filipinas goalkeeper Inna Palacios does not take for granted the opportunity of playing at the World Cup, representing the Philippines.

She remembers entering all those tournaments with the Filipinas as underdogs, and managing to surpass expectations by giving their all every time. She also remembers having no voice as a young, female athlete, but eventually garnering the strength to speak up after finding inspiration from one of her coaches who bagged a bronze medal at the SEA Games.

Today, Palacios serves as an inspiration herself to a new generation of young Filipina athletes. More importantly, she’s ready for more.

Sarina Bolden, forward

Filipinas forward Sarina Bolden enjoys the distinction of booking the team’s World Cup ticket after converting her penalty kick in the shootout over Chinese-Taipei at the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in India last year.

It was undoubtedly one of the biggest goals in the career of the Filipina scoring machine. But Bolden refuses to rest on her laurels as she continues to put the work in day in and day out to become her best self.

Aside from Hali and Inna, the other Filipinas players include goalkeepers Kiara Fontanilla, Kaiya Jota, and Olivia McDaniel; defenders Maya Alcantara, Alicia Barker, Angela Beard, Reina Bonta, Malea Cesar, Jessika Cowart, Sofia Harrison, and Dominique Randle; midfielders Tahnai Annis, Ryley Bugay, Anicka Castañeda, Sara Eggesvik, Kaya Hawkinson, Eva Madarang, Jessica Miclat, Isabella Pasion, Quinley Quezada, and Jaclyn Sawicki; and forwards Sarina Bolden, Isabella Flanigan, Carleigh Frilles, Katrina Guillou, Chandler McDaniel, and Meryll Serrano.

As these inspirational women gear up for the biggest fight of their lives, there to support them all the way is Summit Natural Drinking Water. Enriched with minerals such as Calcium, Magnesium, Bicarbonates, Potassium and Sodium Chloride, Summit gives the right hydration and the right minerals to support the body as we make greater choices, much like it does for the Filipinas.

Know more about the team and join the Summit Natural Drinking Water #ThirstForGold on Summit’s Facebook page. Check out Summit on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/summitwaterph/ and visit its online store at https://asiabrewery.com/collections/vendors?q=Summit.

ABOUT SUMMIT NATURAL DRINKING WATER 

Summit Natural Drinking Water comes from natural underground sources around Mt. Makiling in Laguna and is further processed by ionization and filtration, making it clean and refreshing. Summit Natural Drinking Water is available in 350ml, 500ml, 1L, 1.5L, 2L, 4L, 5L and 6L bottles in leading stores nationwide. Grab yours now as every bottle contributes to the training of athletes for the upcoming SEA Games. For more information, visit facebook.com/SummitNaturalDrinkingWater and instagram.com/summitwaterph/.