Filipinas pay courtesy visit to Marcos following AFF championship win

The Philippine national women's football team paid a courtesy visit to President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr. on Wednesday at the Malacañan Palace.

The Filipinas were welcomed by the president following their historic win in the 2022 AFF Women's Championship on Sunday.

The Philippine Sports Commission posted some of the photos of the team with Marcos.

LOOK: President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. @bongbongmarcos welcomes our Philippine Women's National Football Team in a courtesy visit today at the President's Hall in Malacañang Palace, following their historic 2022 AFF Women's Championship title.#GalingngAtletangPilipino pic.twitter.com/7N7SSwDwOp

— Philippine Sports Commission (@psc_gov) July 20, 2022

Also present in the courtesy visit were Philippine Football Federation president Mariano Araneta, secretary general Atty. Ed Gastañes, and Philippine Sports Commission executive secretary and officer-in-charge Atty. Guillermo Iroy, Jr.

Marcos was presented with a Team Philippines jacket during the visit.

The ‘Filipinas’ was accompanied @philfootball (PFF) President Mariano Araneta Jr., Secretary General Atty. Edwin Gastanes, and PSC Executive Dir. and PSC Officer-in-Charge Atty. Guillermo Iroy Jr., who presented Pres. Marcos with a Team Philippines jacket. pic.twitter.com/P5At1pcFeP

— Philippine Sports Commission (@psc_gov) July 20, 2022

In his speech, Marcos said the Filipinas' achievement “is the greatest gift that you have given your country.”

“So I thank you very much, and I congratulate you for this great achievement and great championship," he said.
 
The chief executive also said the government should do better in terms of supporting the athletes.

“We have to do better in terms of government support when it comes to our athletes. Medyo nabawasan nung nawala ‘yung sports sa eskuwelahan, when DECS (Department of Education, Culture and Sports) became Department of Education alone, the emphasis on sport became a little bit less,” Marcos said.

“But that is something that we really should encourage because sport means more than just playing games. It means developing discipline, learning how to sacrifice, learning to be gracious in victory, learning to work with other people as a team."

The national team clinched their first AFF Women's Championship title on Sunday after defeating Thailand in the finals, 3-0.

—Justin Kenneth Carandang/JMB, GMA News