CREATING HER own brand dedicated to women in sports, professional journalist Beatrice “Bee” Go (BS MGT ‘17) envisions a brighter future for the Filipina athlete. The Ateneo alumna’s journey of grit in the world of athletics and media is a shining testament to how women can transform spaces of marginalization into gardens of equality and unencumbered potential.
The first few chapters
Journalistic purpose first came upon Go during her time as the team captain of her high school swimming team. However, despite the squad’s commendable performance, no one was documenting their gold medal wins, and there was a lack of recognition of the national athletes who graduated from the team. Go, who was also a member of the campus newspaper, heard and answered the call to remedy this.
As she embarked on her college journey, her talent in the waters then became an asset for the Fast Ateneo Swimming Team (FAST). The former student-athlete competed in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 77, where the women’s team claimed the coveted championship after a six-year title drought. Fanning the fire of her journalistic passion alongside this, the FAST swimmer also became a member of The GUIDON Sports after a teammate encouraged her to apply.
Well-acquainted with the challenges of being a collegiate athlete, Go possessed a unique but natural affinity when she wrote about the Blue Eagles. Under the mentorship of other writers around her, Go refined her skills through stalwart coverage. “I was surrounded by great writers. It’s a lot of thanks to The GUIDON that I honed the craft,” the former campus journalist shares.
Despite the early goals she was checking off, her time in The GUIDON was not always smooth sailing. Go revealed that she harbored self-doubt in terms of her writing abilities. Prioritizing consistency and openness to feedback, she prevailed over these hurdles and developed a strong and versatile character as a writer. These developments eventually resulted in Go confidently taking on the role of Sports Editor in her fourth year.
“In those first three years, I felt that everyone else was a better writer than me. But I really felt that [the editorship] was my seat to take,” the writing veteran recalls. As the only woman in the staff back then, she utilized a visionary leadership style to create a space of growth and efficiency while guiding her co-writers.
Taking the seat
After graduating Cum Laude from the Ateneo and fulfilling her Sports Editor duties, Go proceeded to work for Rappler, where her fortitude and flexibility were tried and tested. Right off the bat, she was assigned to the 2017 Southeast Asian Games where she valiantly trailed the learning curve and expanded her skill set to multimedia reportage.
Defying expectations, Go proved herself beyond competent, being entrusted to cover the 2018 Asian Games at 22 years old. As the youngest delegate assigned to a veteran beat, many questioned her capabilities, but Go persisted and delivered to spotlight the Philippines’ podium finishes across a multitude of athletic events.
Given that the Sports section of Rappler was primarily female-driven, she experienced no gender bias in the workplace. However, Go notes that she still experienced her fair share of double standards from outside parties. “Back then [when] I was on-cam… I’d get messages like: ‘Why do you have that haircut? Grow it out,’” she recalls.
Despite such comments, Go’s editors remained confident in her aptitude for reporting. “It’s not about the looks and appearances, but it’s about your capabilities to tell the story,” she says.
Nearing the end of her time with Rappler, Go recounts that her most impactful coverage was the investigative article in 2021 about renowned pole-vaulter EJ Obiena rejecting the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association’s embezzlement allegations towards him. After receiving documents about the issue, she recalls spending two frustrating weeks investigating and communicating with lawyers and personnel from Obiena’s team—all while in isolation due to COVID-19.
“It was so lonely, stressful and scary. My work as a journalist was now bleeding into my personal life, and I felt like I risked it all that time,” she said. Impressively, her resolution and courage in taking on the issue bore fruit when it went viral on social media.
Eventually, the matter was brought to the Senate, and the Commission on Audit eventually cleared Obiena’s name. “Those documents already landed on other peoples’ [laps] but they didn’t do anything about it. But for me, there’s a purpose for why I had those documents. I would rather take that seat. It was a resounding call, to take my seat in places that were prepared for me,” she shares.
Becoming a force for justice in the world of sports media, Go utilized her platform to do the same for another sector that needed attention: women in sports.
Fulfilling a vision
The conception of her brand Atleta Filipina was more than a two-year work in progress. In 2021, Go worked as an audience researcher for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, tasked to tackle women’s sports content in the Philippines. During this time, she connected with Splice Media, where Go’s research was funded. She used her experience to introduce a workshop on covering women’s sports without gender bias.
However, Go hit a roadblock as she faced personal challenges in 2023. “I was an emotional wreck, just because I wasn’t okay enough to start this thing,” she shares. Putting her plans at a pause, Go continued with freelance work while tending to her mental health.
Eventually, an opportunity presented itself and she took a shot in the dark to apply for a fellowship held by the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ). It was here that she pitched an article on girls’ participation in sports in the Philippines, where she was granted a mentor to help with her research. Slowly but surely conquering her own battles, Go felt ready to push through with Atleta Filipina in November 2023.
“In this era of media and content, it’s all about niche and interest. I have the network for women’s sports. I seized the opportunity to be the first business to cater to the women’s sports community in the Philippines,” Go proudly notes.
After her enduring research for the ICFJ, she saw the lack of recognition, participation, and funding for female athletes in the country. With this, Atleta Filipina aims to be another force in bridging that gap for empowerment. Kicking off as a media startup for now, Go plans to grow her brand over time and partner with different stakeholders in the sports ecosystem. With the next generation as her muse, Go paints a picture of an industry where female athletes are respected and celebrated as they rightly should.
As such, Bee Go is one of many women in sports who are forging the path towards equality. Leading with unwavering boldness and confidence, her remarkable commitment to chronicling stories not only opens doors for aspiring Filipina athletes but also serves as a beacon of hope that breaks through the sporting world’s glass ceiling.
Editor’s Note: Beatrice T. Go is a former Sports Editor for The GUIDON.
