Honored at Malacañang, Alex Eala shares why recognizing her Pinoy roots matters

Amidst her rise on the global stage, one thing will never change for Alex Eala: her pride in being Filipino.

Honored at Malacañang on Monday by President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. following her breakthrough Wimbledon campaign, Eala shared why her Filipino heritage remains one of her greatest sources of pride.

She said remembering where she came from has shaped who she is today and who she will be in the future.

"Lubos kong ipinagmamalaki ang pagiging Pilipino. I carry the flag with me wherever I go and I am a firm believer that where you come from is a big part of who you are," Eala said in her speech.

(I am immensely proud of being Filipino. I carry the flag with me wherever I go and I am a firm believer that where you come from is a big part of who you are.)

"I'll do my best to represent the best of our country, on and off the court, because I'm really proud and it comes from a genuine place of love. I promise that I will continue to represent the Philippines in the best way that I possibly can."

While she said she was rarely nervous when talking to the public, Eala admitted this evening was an exception.

"I have to confess, I normally do not get very nervous when I have to talk but today is the exception. I am pretty nervous," Eala, now the world No. 28, added.

"Never in my wildest dream would have I thought that I would be having dinner here at the Malacañan Palace and be receiving such kind and genuine words. I feel very seen and hearing that come from you, I feel like all the hard work that I've done is seen, all the hours that aren't on TV are seen and validated and appreciated so thank you so so much."

Eala said every milestone she has achieved so far is also a victory for the Philippines as she continues her pursuit of a place in the history books.

At Wimbledon, Eala made history as the first-ever Filipino to ever reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam event. During that stellar run, she dethroned Iga Swiatek in their Round of 32 clash with a hard-earned 7-6(9), 6-2 victory. She fell to Jasmine Paolini in the next round to formally close out her run.

Still, Eala said she was overwhelmed by the support she received from the Filipino community, something she remained proud of despite the loss.

"I cannot begin to describe how overjoyed I am to see how my progress has been received by the Filipino people. And it warms my heart because I know that it comes from a profound and shared love for our nation."

—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA News