With SEA Games gold, Filipinas remind the forgetful who they are

The Filipinas gave the Philippines its first-ever gold medal in SEA Games football history across all genders and levels. (Photo: PWNFT/Facebook)

Missing her penalty kick in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifiers nearly became Hali Long’s football TOTGA – the one that got away – if the Philippines ended up losing to Chinese Taipei in the quarterfinals of the 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup.

Gladly, it didn’t.

While fate favored the Filipina booters at that time, which led them to where they are now, Long took the lesson to heart.

In a different situation, but of similar magnitude, with history on the line, under the bright lights of Chonburi Stadium, the veteran defender redeemed herself. She buried the ghost of the past after beating Vietnam keeper Thi Kim Thanh Tran to keep the Philippines in the advantage in the gold medal match of the 2025 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games women’s football tournament.

“I've never felt so calm in penalties before. I'm usually just losing my head. I think since our World Cup qualifiers, when I missed that [penalty kick], I really had to channel my inner ‘ate,’ [older sister] step up to the plate each and every time to show that we can do it. It's just an unreal feeling,” Long told Cignal in an interview.

Her fellow penalty takers followed through with Jaclyn Sawicki firing the winning penalty. But it was goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel who put an end to the country’s long wait for a first-ever SEA Games football crown. She shut the door on Tran Thi Thu’s potential equalizer.

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“Every single time I went back in, I told myself, ‘I’m going to save one. I’m going to get one.' Whether it be the first one or the last one, I was going to get one, and luckily, I got the most important one,” said McDaniel, according to the Philippine Olympic Committee.

Wearing the captain’s armband, Long couldn’t help but distinguish what she felt with her 100th and 101st caps against Thailand and Vietnam. 

“100 was good, but 101 feels even better,” said the 30-year-old center-back, who’s the most capped female Filipino footballer. 

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But it wasn’t just a special moment for Long. She, her teammates, and the coaching staff knew the gold medal was for the Philippines and its people to give them a sense of pride and glory. A source of hope amid their plight in a corrupt and sick system. They have bravely and tirelessly fought for “Lupang Hinirang” to be played in the awarding ceremony for the first time in SEA Games football history. A privilege only given to champions.

If some Filipinos had forgotten, winning the elusive gold medal in the biennial meet wasn't the first time the Filipinas made them proud.

They are the first of firsts.

First World Cup appearance.

First World Cup win.

First ASEAN title.

And now, first SEA Games gold.

“Anytime we can put our country on the pedestal and make it the talking point, and make sure people are talking about us and know how strong we are, that’s the most important,” said McDaniel. “We belong in this conversation. We belong at the top, we’re just continuing to prove that again and again, and we want to be regulars at the top.”

Yet 2025 wasn’t the smoothest year for the Filipinas. Doubts and naysayers rose as results dipped and inconsistency crept in, with the team unable to defend their ASEAN title and posting mixed results in international friendlies.

It might not be an exaggeration to say that the light of the once-brilliant squad dimmed after an unforgettable World Cup debut, which fans have been clinging to ever since.

With expectations soaring, few could have imagined the challenges the Filipinas had to overcome to restore faith in themselves.

The SEA Games became their platform. On top of that, they got themselves a shot at a second World Cup stint after booking a spot in the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup earlier this year.

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Only time will tell what’s next for the Filipinas.

But one thing is certain: they are here to stay.