MORE OFTEN than not, women’s sports have been celebrated as moments of progress, but rarely regarded as foundations meant to last.

Despite having female athletes who have championed athletic excellence and national pride, systemic problems such as inadequate funding and insufficient facilities continue to persist.

While athletes like Nesthy Petecio and Alex Eala have brought visibility to their respective sports through historic achievements, public attention often stops at initial celebration. Even then, the spotlight that shines during women athletes’ milestones fails to translate into meaningful structural support.

Statement wins

Now, more than ever, female representation in sports is becoming more apparent. In 2020, 10ten names bannered this movement: Hidilyn Diaz, Petecio, Yuka Saso, Bianca Pagdanganan, Margielyn Didal, Elreen Ando, Irish Magno, Kiyomi Watanabe, Kristina Knott, and Remedy Rule.

For the first time, during the Tokyo Olympics, Filipina women outnumbered the male delegates—two, in particular, even brought home a silver and the country’s first gold.

Since then, sportswomen in the Philippines have been recognized for the honor they carry for the country. The gaze on female athletes has widened from a focus on volleyball to an appreciation for previously unsung sports. One notable example is how Petecio, the sole Philippine Olympic double-medalist, became prominent in an exceptionally male-dominated field such as boxing.

“The world needs more women who can dream big,” Petecio stated after being selected as the Philippine Sports Commission’s 2025 Athlete of the Year alongside fellow amateur boxer Aira Villegas.

Given the lengths Filipina athletes have reached, more women have boldly stepped up to amplify their stories from the sidelines. Organizations such as Mariana Lopa, JD’s Girls Got Game, and Camille Rodriguez’s Ribbon Sports became bridges between women athlete narratives and the public.

One woman in particular, Patricia Bermudez-Hizon, walked among these pioneering advocates of women’s sports to bring about change in a male-led profession.

Through her hard work, Bermudez-Hizon was appointed the first female Philippine Basketball Association anchor in the 2010s and has remained the lone one up to this day.

In all her years in the industry, the veteran reporter witnessed the “domino effect” in the elevation of women’s sports. As female athletes gain more opportunities, sports officials and journalists, too, become more prominent.

Women empowering each other has paved the way for representation. However, the pursuit does not end there. Behind the accolades female athletes achieve are remaining gaps to address.

More left to conquer 

Bermudez-Hizon’s career as a sportscaster has been a step forward for women in sports media, showcasing how representation can make its mark on traditionally male-dominated spaces. Even with this, she notes that progress must move past recognition and translate into action.

“If we keep providing support for women to occupy spaces that […] traditionally do not allow or accept women, I think that will definitely push for more opportunities and more women to come [into male-dominated spaces].”

Creating a similar impact in athletics, Eala has also grown to become a household name after bringing pride to the country, following her stellar international performance that bagged the top 40 spot in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA). By representing the Philippines on the global stage, she has become a catalyst for Filipina athletes in a sport dominated by Western and European countries.

While women’s athletics in the Philippines has grown and made significant impacts, gaps in resources and institutional support continue to limit its expansion. 

Eala herself notes the difficulties of limited opportunities for women at the developmental level. In the recently concluded WTA event in the Philippines, she highlighted how the inaugural Philippine Women’s Open could both be a “stepping stone” and “wake-up call” for Philippine tennis, shifting the attention away from herself and toward the state of the local programs.

Moreover, she voiced out that there are only two professional tournaments for female tennis athletes. Without the proper opportunities and avenues for growth, the milestones reached by female athletes remain symbolic rather than sparking change.

Both Eala and Bermudez-Hizon’s call for action stems from a shared reflection that, despite progress in the field of women’s sports, female athletes continue to face gaps in opportunities, funding, and program support.

The disparity between men’s and women’s programs can be seen in the UAAP basketball scene, where men’s games are often faced with sold-out tickets and high resale value, while women’s games are met with quieter arenas.

Bermudez-Hizon pointed out that Filipinas deserve more than just visibility, stating that empowering today’s generation can inspire future generations to rise in their fields.

She also highlighted the importance of setting roadmaps for future generations. “[Our generation] has to show them how to not just celebrate women in sports, but [also] how to really support them,” she urged.

Female athletes deserve more than just celebrations. Their achievements highlight the potential of growing future champions through local programs, and progress needs recognition to translate into support that develops the ability of future athletes.

Building beyond the moment

Gaining a platform was a right that women had to work for. Bermudez-Hizon acknowledges that despite the challenge and pressure of working alongside Philippine Basketball Association sportscasting veterans, it was a great opportunity for her to show what a woman is capable of.

“For us women, all we need is a chance, and when you give us that chance, we definitely will make the most of it,” Bermudez-Hizon shares. The sportscaster stated that she dedicates her life to training young women in sports media, highlighting the importance of support in a taxing discipline.

Without a doubt, groundbreakers like Bermudez-Hizon have come a long way in navigating male-centered fields such as sports. It is through these actions that improvement can be put into action.

According to Bermudez-Hizon, women’s success in sports can serve as a starting point for improving access to training programs and tournaments.

“Honestly, there are [generally] a lot of great athletes [in the Palarong Pambansa]. If we don’t […] give them opportunities, and […] provide them with the right coaching and platform, [organizations] are going to miss [the opportunity to build on their potential],” Bermudez-Hizon stated. She then shared how their work in the Shakey’s Super League focuses on empowering high school girls’ volleyball all over the country.

For Bermudez-Hizon, grassroots programs such as barangay leagues allow more opportunities for young female athletes, supporting them to pursue professions that were once not viable options.

Efforts made by women, for women, are what have allowed the field to progress this far.  Through such labor of love, females earned their places in once patriarchal fields such as sports, even inspiring more individuals to advocate for their cause.

Women in sports are not mere fleeting triumphs; they are the frontrunners of change. After proving their abilities and creating the blueprint for change, it is now time to build more spaces and openings for women to flourish.