Dabbling in gymnastics, taekwondo, and swimming in her younger years, national team athlete Camille Rodriguez knows fully well the benefits of having a multi-sport background. The Zamboanga City-born football star joins Game On! The Podcast to talk about her emotional connection with football, what it means to be a ‘culture-setter’ for the Philippine team, and how she has embraced her newfound roles as a commentator and a mental performance coach.
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00:00Hello mga kapuso, today we'll be talking about everything football from her story as a football player to her role as a mental performance coach and now as a sports analyst on this episode of Game On The Podcast.
00:16That's a hard question to ask.
00:18She's the most Filipino I've dealt with.
00:20She is on the spot!
00:21This is the first time Ms. Cam Rodriguez is left speechless.
00:31What's up sports fans? Welcome to Game On The Podcast.
00:35The first sports podcast of GMA and this is brought to you by GMA Synergy, GMA Regional TV and GMA DigiLab.
00:43My name is Anton Rojas.
00:45You can find us on GMA Sports and GMA News on Facebook and on YouTube and also on Apple and on Spotify.
00:54I am Coach Hammer Martin Antonio.
00:57And this is Martin Aviar.
00:58Today's guest is a bronze medalist in the 31st Southeast Asian Games, a gold medalist in the 2022 AFF Women's Championship.
01:07She is a midfielder slash striker.
01:10Maybe she'll correct us later.
01:12But she is also a mental performance coach, broadcast analyst and is a member of the CAYA FC and the Philippine national team.
01:22The Filipinas, let's welcome Ms. Cam Rodriguez.
01:28Welcome, welcome to the pod.
01:29Hi everyone. That was such a warm welcome.
01:31Good morning.
01:32I am your, how many guests today?
01:35Okay, but why did you do that?
01:37Oh, no.
01:38Hammer down.
01:42Because of Hammer.
01:43Okay, Cam, welcome to the pod.
01:45This is easy work.
01:46Light work for Cam.
01:48Such a good commentator.
01:50I see your videos on IG.
01:52We also do that.
01:54Cam gets it.
01:58Bob Guerrero doesn't.
02:00Shots fired off again.
02:02But he was included in one of my videos.
02:05I caught his small giggle when two goalkeepers go in one box.
02:09That's his favorite moment when he plays football.
02:11Lucky Bob.
02:13You saw how Bob G was moved.
02:16Bob G.
02:17But Cam, thank you so much for joining us here.
02:20I know you have a busy schedule.
02:22You're doing a lot of football.
02:24You're still part of CAYA FC and you're in the pool for the national team.
02:28Is that correct?
02:29That's correct, yeah.
02:30So, everything football.
02:32I've evolved to more roles as I played.
02:35I've been playing this sport for 20 years, which is a very short time.
02:39And now just evolving into other roles like commentating, performance, coach.
02:43Hold on.
02:44Two decades.
02:45So, when exactly did you start playing football?
02:48Two decades.
02:49Okay.
02:50So, what age did she begin?
02:52Maybe a good guess.
02:54Maybe.
02:55Because here in the Philippines, we have grassroots programs.
03:00There are a lot of youth football programs.
03:03Maybe you started at around five?
03:06Wow.
03:07That's very generous, right?
03:09Not yet.
03:10Not yet.
03:11Later.
03:12Later.
03:13Nine.
03:14Eight, nine.
03:15Not yet.
03:16You're close.
03:17Wow.
03:18Higher, lower?
03:19Higher.
03:20Higher?
03:21Wow.
03:22That's pretty late.
03:23For today's standards, because there are a lot of kids now.
03:25As early as five, bro.
03:27There are seven and under leagues.
03:29Seven on seven leagues every summer.
03:32How about you? Eleven?
03:33Ten.
03:34Ten years old.
03:35So, we're actually very close.
03:36So, fifth grade, I was part of the first ever grade school varsity team.
03:41I was Miriam.
03:42So, that just tells you what it was like back then, right?
03:45The women's football teams weren't that widespread yet.
03:50But Miriam, we know that Miriam reinforced her sports teams.
03:55Volleyball is good.
03:56Women's basketball.
03:57Women's football.
03:58Softball.
03:59Okay.
04:00But, starting that late.
04:03Again, we consider it late because a lot of people started earlier.
04:07Four or five years old.
04:08A lot of people started playing football in the Philippines.
04:10Did you have a hard time?
04:12Or, wait.
04:13Let me ask first.
04:14Was it your first sports venture?
04:17No.
04:18No?
04:19Not at all.
04:20What was your first sport?
04:21My first sport was actually ice skating.
04:24So, gymnastics, ice skating.
04:27So, you got the footwork.
04:28I did.
04:29And then, eventually, that evolved into taekwondo, swimming.
04:32So, my parents really told me,
04:34Sports for life.
04:35Go and explore.
04:38But, my dad would beg to disagree because he's also a football player.
04:41So, I feel like, even though he would allow me to go and support me, honestly,
04:47with my swim meets, my taekwondo bouts,
04:50he would always bring me to his football games.
04:53So, slowly, there was an emotional connection.
04:55But, it ended up that I was able to play football.
05:00Not because of him, but because of my brother.
05:02When my brother got home, he had a medal.
05:04So, I told him,
05:05I have a medal in gymnastics.
05:07I have a medal in swimming.
05:08But, that was the only medal that was celebrated as a family.
05:11He said,
05:12Why?
05:13Why?
05:14Why?
05:15So, I decided to play football.
05:16That's the story of how I started.
05:18Shout out to her dad.
05:21And her brother.
05:22And her brother.
05:23And her brother.
05:24That was the tipping point.
05:25Her dad was the introduction.
05:26Then, her brother was the tipping point.
05:27Wait.
05:28What was the sport that lasted the longest before you started playing football?
05:31Was that the time where you felt,
05:33That time, this is where I could flourish.
05:36Taekwondo.
05:37Taekwondo.
05:39So, before.
05:41There were a few sports during the summer.
05:44There were summer camps.
05:45Parent Camp in our village.
05:47That's where it started.
05:48I enrolled.
05:49Something to do in the summer.
05:50And then, the rest was history.
05:53Support from the parents.
05:54And then, yeah.
05:56It's just the story of my life.
05:57Whenever I try, my parents always support.
06:00Your Wikipedia page says you were born in Zamboanga, but did you grow up there?
06:06Yes, I did.
06:07Do you know Chavacano?
06:08Yes.
06:09So, is there ice skating there?
06:11Sorry, the ice skating was already here when I moved to Manila.
06:14So, I moved when I was seven.
06:16So, all those sports compressed in like three years.
06:19Okay.
06:20So, from the time that you were in Zamboanga, what sports were you into there?
06:29And is football a hotbed?
06:31Is Zamboanga a football hotbed?
06:33It is, especially now.
06:35But growing up in Zamboanga, my cousins played my favorite sports.
06:40That's it.
06:41Oh, okay.
06:42Typical.
06:43So, in Manila is the more serious level.
06:45Yes.
06:46But when you entered football at 10 years old, and your motivation was because my brother won a medal,
06:54was that an impulse decision?
06:56And was that your first time also trying out football?
06:59It was an impulse.
07:00Okay, I want to try that one out.
07:02I want to get celebrated as well with a medal.
07:05Was it an impulsive decision from you?
07:08I think it was years in the making.
07:10Thanks, Dad.
07:11Years in the making.
07:12I think that was just the tipping point.
07:14But I think what was different was that it's my first team sport.
07:18So, all of my previous sports were individual.
07:21So, the first time when I tried and enrolled in AFC, the football center,
07:26I tried playing football and I had my teammates.
07:30I even had my boys with me.
07:32I enjoyed it.
07:33And then it's just like one module after another, and I didn't turn back since.
07:39Typical story of our athlete life.
07:42But the sports that she tried, I mean, lower body dominant, figure skating.
07:48Yes.
07:49Taekwondo.
07:50Maybe it's the feet and eye coordination.
07:53It helps a lot.
07:54Why didn't you play basketball?
07:57No, it's football.
07:58It's really football.
07:59Okay.
08:00So, you got started in Ateneo.
08:02You were with Miriam.
08:03Yes.
08:04Eventually, when you were a kid, did you envision that,
08:08you know, I can actually play for Ateneo in the future?
08:12You know, the blue and white.
08:13Was it your preference as well, school preference at that stage?
08:18At that point?
08:19I'm assuming the worst answer is no.
08:21But everyone else would say, no, I came to Ateneo from the start.
08:25Because I come from a family of Atenistas.
08:27So, my dad studied at Ateneo de Zamboanga.
08:30Brother.
08:32But you're leaning no.
08:36What school did you want to go to first?
08:39Actually, Ateneo UP.
08:40Because of the course.
08:42The top two programs for women.
08:44Okay, so we're going to get to the national team in a bit.
08:47But at what point in your life did you sort of realize that,
08:53hey, I can represent flag and country one day?
08:57Was this during your time in Ateneo and winning like Best Striker,
09:01being part of the Mythical 11?
09:03At what point did you say to yourself, I can do this?
09:06So, if I started playing football at 10,
09:09I started representing the country at around 12.
09:12But it wasn't the national team yet.
09:14It was the club teams.
09:17Club team level.
09:18Then you compete in the coffee cup.
09:21Things like that.
09:23So, it was the Denmark Cup and Norway Cup.
09:25So, it was so fun.
09:26Because finally you get to, well, one, you get to fly with friends.
09:30And then you get to meet all of these new people who play the sport.
09:34And 12-year-old Filipinos don't look like 12-year-old Danish people.
09:40So, that in itself was so fun.
09:43And then from there, I guess my performance in Miriam throughout the RIFA tournaments,
09:49that's when I discovered the national team.
09:52So, I started playing in the national team when I was 14.
09:55From there, again, typical start.
09:58It was just with friends.
10:00Our first tournament was in Thailand.
10:02And I was like, whoa, this is so cool.
10:04I'm playing with Thai people.
10:06They were sort of beating our butts back then.
10:08But it was fun.
10:10So, that's what stood out.
10:12Then at 16, from the youth national team, I joined the senior national team.
10:16So, I was still a baby.
10:17I was with Ina Palacios.
10:19And my athletes were the greats.
10:21Marielle Benitez, Samantha Nieres, Tasha Alcaraz.
10:24So, I just really got into the system.
10:27And when I think about when I started, it was really just fun and learning.
10:33So, you're used to international competition.
10:36Because you've been competing internationally since 14 years old.
10:39So, you're not intimidated anymore.
10:42Like when you go to another country.
10:43Because usually that's the case.
10:45Local competition, you can take on the players here.
10:49You're confident with your skills.
10:50But you don't know what level they compete in.
10:56In Thailand, in Europe now.
10:58But because you've been at it since 14 years old, you're not intimidated anymore.
11:03I would say I'm not intimidated.
11:06But I'm less nervous now.
11:10I'm more prepared.
11:11I know what it's like.
11:13So, my nerves are now welcome.
11:15So, that's a psych in me.
11:16I know that when I start getting nervous, it means I care.
11:19And I get to channel it somewhere else.
11:21And into my why and my fuel.
11:24Let's go first through your career in Ateneo.
11:27Okay.
11:28Do you have unfinished business in Ateneo?
11:32No, you had a stellar career.
11:33That's why I came back.
11:34That's why you came back.
11:35You had a stellar career.
11:36You won, as Anton mentioned, Best Striker.
11:39I think you won third in consecutive seasons as well.
11:43I think that's where my question is going.
11:46Because you consider yourself as one of the best.
11:48You were in the national team since 14.
11:50Did you want to win a championship?
11:53Oh, 100%.
11:55100%.
11:56Who were the champs at that time?
11:59LaSalle and LaSalle F.E.U.
12:01So, they are the powerhouses.
12:03And in my last year in UP, they had their golden spell.
12:08They won a championship.
12:09But we're always just so close.
12:11So, our joke in the Ateneo team is that we're four-peat bronze medalists.
12:18So, I don't ask what the color of the medal is.
12:23But we're four-peat.
12:24Okay.
12:25But that's okay.
12:26At least, it's a podium.
12:28But of course, as a competitor, you aim for more.
12:35So, you've been part of the national pool.
12:38This is now the senior team.
12:43For how long now?
12:46A total of maybe 14 years.
12:48I took a break in college.
12:50But after I graduated, I went straight back into the national team.
12:54I was grateful enough to be in that team that won the World Cup.
12:58How do you like that?
12:59Qualifying to the World Cup.
13:00Shooting for the stars.
13:02By the way, you also won against New Zealand.
13:05Yes.
13:06Very historic.
13:08On their home floor.
13:10In our first World Cup.
13:13What was the vibe when you went to New Zealand?
13:16Actually, I was not part of the final roster of the World Cup.
13:20So, I was with the team for two years.
13:22Qualifying them into the World Cup.
13:24Helping them prepare.
13:25But, you know, in every athlete's life, you experience that.
13:30You don't get to dream, which is to play in the World Cup.
13:32That was mine.
13:33But I took on this new role.
13:36Actually, that win, or the first two games, it was versus Switzerland, the first game.
13:43And then, versus New Zealand, the second game.
13:45Both times, I was the host of the watch party.
13:49So, that was my first introduction to hosting.
13:52But before that, it's a whole other story.
13:55But it really took a lot.
13:57I felt a lot of shame, I guess.
14:02Getting cut.
14:04Not getting your dreams.
14:06But somehow, I was able to gather strength.
14:11If I'm not able to do this, what can I do for my country?
14:14Then, PFF says, do you want to host?
14:16And to me, always when it's about the country, it's an easy yes.
14:20So, that's sort of what opened the door to what you're doing right now, which is sports commentary as well.
14:27So, it was just a redirection for you.
14:29For sure.
14:31Hold on.
14:33Before we let go of the World Cup team.
14:36Because right now, if you look at the makeup of the Filipinas team,
14:40there are a lot of international players.
14:45Half Filipinos playing for the team.
14:49What are your thoughts on that?
14:50Because I know FIFA is more loose with the rules there.
14:59As long as you have a Filipino heritage, you can actually be part of the national team.
15:04What are your thoughts on that?
15:05And especially, this is an interesting perspective because this is coming from a player who,
15:11I don't want to emphasize it, who got cut just right before the big stage.
15:17The final cup.
15:18That's a hard question to ask.
15:21Heard it here first.
15:24Well, first of all, FIFA is actually pretty strict with nationalities.
15:29The process of getting the Philippine passport takes a long time.
15:32Arduous process.
15:33So that's really your main qualifier into playing for the team.
15:37You should be able to prove that you have a Filipino heritage and it's documented.
15:42For example, I'll get too technical, but you just really need to have your passport.
15:48To do that, your parents have to have a passport too.
15:50If they don't, they have to get it.
15:52If not, they have to go even down the line further.
15:55So it really is a whole process.
15:59To answer your question.
16:01This is hard.
16:04She is on the spot!
16:07I think this is the first time that Ms. Cam Rodriguez is left speechless.
16:15With a question thrown at her.
16:17Okay, go ahead.
16:19So for me, how I feel about it is it really is down to how you show up as a Filipino.
16:25To me, the document side, what you need to play for a team is your Philippine passport.
16:31But to me as a player, as a teammate, what I need to see from you is that you have a Filipino heart.
16:38And that means getting to know the language, knowing the anthem,
16:42getting to understand the value of why we do things.
16:46The small nuances that really make up part of our culture.
16:51Because if we don't know all those nuances, then what are we even representing?
16:56So I think I've held that very unique role as that homegrown player in the national team.
17:06Like an old guard.
17:08Okay, there are newcomers here, but this is how we do it.
17:11This is what we stand for.
17:13Culture center.
17:16So very flexible in that role.
17:19Do you like my Miss Universe answer?
17:21Love it!
17:23I'm smiling because you said old guard.
17:27Referring to yourself.
17:29Yet earlier you mentioned the greats, Mariel Benitez and Natasha Alvarez.
17:35Who's our friends also and we've worked with them also as commentators for football.
17:41But I'm going to put some ice on Martin Javier's boiling hot question.
17:46Yes, you got caught.
17:48But you were part of history forever.
17:52Because you were part of the team that qualified for the World Cup.
17:57There was a time when the Philippine Azgals were very popular.
18:03But with all due respect to them, we still didn't make it to the World Cup.
18:08But it was the Filipinas who made it to the World Cup.
18:12And I saw one of your posts on Instagram.
18:14In India, you had the flag.
18:17And it's actually on a book, Fearless Filipinas 2.
18:20Would you say that was your crowning moment in your football career?
18:24Being able to represent the country in India.
18:28And then you have the flag on your back.
18:31For sure, and that moment when we took that photo was the moment after we qualified for the World Cup.
18:37So that was the really long shootout game versus Chinese Taipei.
18:40And actually, a lot of our teammates then posed.
18:44Actually, I was the one who took the photo.
18:46But it was a crowning moment in a sense that we put a stamp.
18:54This is what we were able to do here.
18:57We are in this moment, present, Philippine flag.
19:00We knew what it meant.
19:02So yeah, very much a proud moment.
19:04Was that the most nervous you've ever been in football, watching that shootout?
19:11Actually, for some reason, we entered that game.
19:15I entered that game believing with my whole heart that we were going to qualify.
19:19But the story of the game was something different, right?
19:22It was 1-1 at the end of 90 minutes.
19:25And after an additional 30 more minutes, it was still at 1-1.
19:30And then we had a regular shootout.
19:33It was one of those games where you're like, shucks, okay.
19:36I thought we were in it because we scored first.
19:40And then they scored a banger in response, which was a really good goal.
19:44And the story of that shootout was that we actually were so close to missing out on the slot
19:52because we missed a goal or we missed a shot.
19:55And when that happens, the other team is at an advantage.
20:00But maybe I really trusted the team because even if a teammate missed that goal,
20:06I said, no, I refuse to believe we're not going to qualify.
20:10And again, another missed shot.
20:12And then how that played out was that two of the Chinese Taipei players also missed their shot.
20:18And then our keeper was able to make a shot.
20:21So it really was like just really belief.
20:23That's the value I had.
20:25Okay, but you made history.
20:27As a team, you made history.
20:29And then I want to know what was the vibe during that winning moment?
20:35What was the whole vibe?
20:36Because I can't imagine.
20:38Because that's a big thing for the Philippines.
20:42Our very first football team, male, female, to ever qualify in a World Cup.
20:47That's one of the biggest moments, not just in Philippine football history, but in Philippine sports.
20:53It was huge, 100%.
20:56We knew as a team what was on the line even before entering the Asian Cup, the whole tournament.
21:02But as the games went on, the pressure got bigger.
21:06It matters.
21:08Each game really matters.
21:10But especially that game in Chinese Taipei, it was a semifinals game.
21:15Sorry, a quarterfinals game.
21:17So whoever wins, really, automatic slot.
21:20So we entered that game knowing what was on the line.
21:23But it panned out in the longest possible fashion, showing our adversity as Filipinas.
21:28So that moment when my teammate finally hit that winning goal that sent us to the World Cup,
21:35it was just like a release of air and an exhale.
21:41We're like, wow, finally.
21:43So we all run together.
21:45We just really felt so happy.
21:47Pure joy.
21:49As an athlete, those are the moments that you look forward to.
21:53The moments that you want to be part of.
21:55Nerve-wracking match went up until the very end before things got decided.
22:03You mentioned Serena Bolden.
22:06Serena Bolden with a header!
22:08So if you're a football casual like myself, it's been a while since I've commentated on a football match
22:15and I only ever commented on the UAP level.
22:18If you're doing your research, you're going to see her name all over the place.
22:22The goals, the time of the goal.
22:24Where would you rank her?
22:26I'm curious.
22:28I see this question on ex-formerly Twitter all the time.
22:32In basketball terms, who is Serena Bolden?
22:38Is she one of the GOATs now because of that goal and all the other goals that she's scored for the Philippines?
22:46Definitely. She's now the leading scorer for the country.
22:50So she's up there.
22:52What's funny is that for everyone else, she's this really cool person.
22:57A lot of cool accomplishments.
22:59But to me, she's just another teammate.
23:02It's hard to separate.
23:04So whenever people say, oh, she's the GOAT, you're just like, yeah, she is.
23:08But she's also my friend and I know how she's off the field.
23:11Which makes it more meaningful.
23:13People see her as a game face.
23:18But she's actually so opposite off the field.
23:21She plays with Kenkoy, she plays with Tripp.
23:24She's a great teammate.
23:26She has that switch.
23:28If it's kill time, kill time.
23:30She's an energizer, I think, for both roles, on and off.
23:34Shout out to Sarah Eggersrick with all her assists to Serena Bolden.
23:41She's like the crush of the country.
23:44Sarah, right?
23:46She is, she is.
23:48Talking about switches, she's that type.
23:51Off the field, she's very quiet, timid.
23:54On the field, she's first to press.
23:57She's very body, very...
23:59She's aggressive.
24:01Aggressive, she has to be.
24:03She's an enforcer.
24:05So, Cam, in Ateneo, what course did you take?
24:09Psychology.
24:10And then naturally, one of the roles that you found in football was mental performance.
24:17This wasn't there before.
24:19This wasn't there before.
24:21Okay, coach.
24:23Well, because there are more distractions now.
24:25I'm curious when it comes to mental prep, right?
24:27Was the catalyst for you the cut in the...
24:31Say you said that you were expecting that you would be playing,
24:35and then given a different opportunity to host.
24:37And then coming from you, the conversations that you were having on the preparation side,
24:44was it a catalyst for you to go into mental coaching?
24:48Because it's very difficult for athletes to communicate with other athletes on the mental side.
24:53Right.
24:55I think definitely my journey has helped me form into the mental performance coach I am today.
25:03But my catalyst actually was my experience with the Filipinas.
25:08Because we actually worked with a mental performance coach as well.
25:11So earlier on, when we were preparing for qualifying for the World Cup,
25:15we had a mental performance coach that was with us.
25:18Actually, she is my mentor, and she actually recently passed away this year.
25:23But she's the reason why I even pursued sports psychology because of how it changed my life.
25:30It changed my life.
25:32If I wasn't able to work those two years, I would not be strong enough.
25:40It's the most overlooked facet of being an athlete.
25:43Because I'm more on the physical side.
25:46So a lot of limitations of athletes are limited by their minds.
25:51And once you get into that scope of...
25:54You know that movie, Clear the Mechanism?
25:57It's for love of the game.
25:58Whenever Billy would be throwing that pitch,
26:01he would always say, clear the mechanism.
26:03Same thing as mental coaching.
26:05You need to be never too high, never too low.
26:07Always performing at that level.
26:10No matter what, as what Cam said, is happening outside.
26:14The things that you're controlling should always be at a homeostasis.
26:17It should always be direct.
26:19Just plain.
26:21So Cam, for the non-believers,
26:23there's a whole generation who doesn't believe in mental coaching.
26:30They can do it, they can overcome it.
26:32Especially in sports, with athletes,
26:35the toughness is being felt.
26:37The qualifier is the older generation.
26:39I don't want to specify, but there are people who are still non-believers.
26:48Can you shed some light on this?
26:50How important is it now to have a mental performance coach?
26:55Can you give us an instance or a situation?
26:58For example, in this kind of situation,
27:02we need to intervene, talk to the player,
27:06and try to set him or her straight.
27:10I think for the non-believers,
27:14believe.
27:16It's simple.
27:17That I like, that I like.
27:20Get the mic and drop it.
27:23Believe.
27:25The instance that I'm getting is a great testament of this.
27:31Her achievement is a testament to the power of mental performance.
27:36It's really just our very own first gold Olympic medalist.
27:39We don't cut it.
27:40Yes.
27:42Hedeline Diaz.
27:44She won her gold medal in her very long and...
27:47Arduous build-up.
27:49I was going to say arduous.
27:51Very arduous build-up.
27:53Worked with a mental performance coach.
27:55Sports psychologist.
27:57Doc Karen Trinidad.
27:59So that in itself.
28:01She believes that athletes don't just play.
28:04The nutrition side also needs to be monitored.
28:08The sports psych side.
28:10Strength and conditioning.
28:12So all these little things that are often overlooked by our dinosaurs.
28:16In the sports world right now.
28:19I could double down because I was there when Hedeline was preparing.
28:24I was part of that organization that was helping her.
28:29Doc Karen was one of the heads.
28:31They were grouped in the MSAS of PSC.
28:34And there was this instance that Hedeline was really losing confidence.
28:38I know you know this story.
28:40And Doc Karen had one thing to tell her.
28:42Get better.
28:44That's why she always has a lipstick with her.
28:46When she performs, she would always wear those pink lipstick.
28:50And Hedeline knows this.
28:52Because it was something that she can bank on.
28:55This is my comfort zone.
28:58This is something that would help me prepare and take my mind off things.
29:01And lo and behold, that was the gold.
29:02More than the nutrition.
29:04More than the strength and conditioning.
29:06Because they do both.
29:08How can you get into that mental flow state that you can perform at an optimum level?
29:12I think Coach Hammer also wanted to establish that he's not a dinosaur.
29:17I am. I am. I am a Neanderthal.
29:20And I am proud of that.
29:23But a progressive dinosaur.
29:26He's starting to believe.
29:28I would consider a Neanderthal a downgrade from a dinosaur.
29:32Okay.
29:34Because Neanderthals also have titans.
29:37All they do is hit.
29:39Since Martin mentioned the non-believers,
29:42I think lately we've been in a believer era of sports.
29:47Like Meralco just won their first PBA championship.
29:51And then Chris Newsome,
29:53kind of like what Shaquille O'Neal did,
29:56Can you dig it?
29:58He said to the crowd, Do you believe?
29:59And then Boston,
30:01they won another championship after so many years that anything is possible.
30:05They don't acknowledge that.
30:07The Laker boys are here.
30:09Okay. And then of course, the Filipinas.
30:12I asked you about your crowning moment in your career.
30:15I want to ask you now about winning the first gold medal in the history of Philippine football.
30:21And that happened here in our country.
30:25How good did it feel to experience that?
30:27Like more than 8,000 Filipinos cheering for you guys
30:33and the commentators going crazy as well.
30:36Going viral.
30:38How did it feel for you personally to live through that era of believing?
30:42Wow.
30:44It's the most Filipino I felt.
30:46Honestly.
30:48I grew up in the Philippine grassroots system.
30:51So 20 years in the game.
30:53Maybe 18 during that time.
30:56But we never had a crowd like that.
30:58And usually, we played abroad.
31:00And when we play abroad,
31:02maybe the ones we play with are the OFWs,
31:05the ones in the embassy,
31:07and the parents of my teammates.
31:10At best, 20.
31:1230.
31:14But it was such a different story here in the AFF
31:16because it was played here at home during the unique time
31:20when we just qualified for the World Cup.
31:21We had the bronze medal in the SEA Games.
31:26And then we were continuing our preparation to the actual World Cup.
31:30So it was in the unique point in our journey as a team
31:33that we get to share it with our countrymen.
31:36Sweet spot.
31:38So it was such a good moment because we were not only playing at home,
31:43but I was playing in front of my friends,
31:45I was playing in front of my family,
31:47my dad who brought me here,
31:49my sisters who also play football.
31:51It was such a meaningful moment for me.
31:53And honestly, when I think about top moments of my life,
31:55it was that gold medal match.
31:58Running around the field with a flag and my teammates
32:02and everyone's just like cheering you on
32:05and you see familiar faces.
32:07And that's not something every day you could experience at home,
32:10let alone as a footballer.
32:12How was your dad after winning that gold medal?
32:15I'm just wondering.
32:17How did he take it and how proud was he of you?
32:22Very proud.
32:27I posted this on my Instagram.
32:29It's one of my pinned posts.
32:31I'm holding the flag and I'm looking to the crowd.
32:35Favorite moment because that was actually the moment
32:38when I was looking at my dad.
32:40And he was probably crying,
32:42but he had the typical soccer dad.
32:46Very stage dad,
32:48just taking photos of me
32:49and just so proud.
32:51And shout out to him because the story for AFF,
32:54actually, I hyped it up to be such a good,
32:58unique moment in our history.
33:00But our very first game, we started at
33:02How many games did we go to?
33:04Thousand? Two thousand?
33:06It wasn't even two thousand.
33:08And that was a series of what?
33:11Six, seven games, eliminations.
33:13And then the first game was like,
33:15this is it.
33:17But again, it was a weekday, so different factors.
33:19So what was cool was that the Filipino community
33:22made ways to make the games more accessible.
33:25So we had alumni groups,
33:27especially shout out to my dad.
33:29The uncles and aunts,
33:31they were buying tickets in bulk
33:33for the AFF Championships.
33:35And they were giving them to teams
33:37that weren't able to afford it.
33:39Because again, there's a price tag to watching.
33:41That's another story about accessibility, right?
33:45But the AFF Championships were really meaningful
33:49because that's the spirit of the Filipino community.
33:52They would buy tickets,
33:54and they would give them out.
33:56Slowly, game per game, the numbers increased.
33:59So from 1,000, it became 2,000, 3,000,
34:02till that semi-final match
34:05versus the defending champions, Vietnam.
34:07Never won against them.
34:09Very good football country.
34:11They are a big football superpower.
34:13They're ranked higher than us now still,
34:15even after our stint.
34:17So that's how much of a superpower they are.
34:19And they beat them, what, 4-0?
34:21In that match.
34:23And everyone was like, what?
34:25Oh my gosh, our reaction in the finals?
34:27This is legit.
34:29It's safe to say that that medal was celebrated.
34:32For sure.
34:36So you mentioned earlier,
34:38when did you start football?
34:412005?
34:43Okay, 2005.
34:45You mentioned back then,
34:47women's sports weren't that celebrated.
34:49You were one of the first male football players
34:52when you were starting out.
34:54Now, 20 years later,
34:56almost 20 years later,
34:58women's football is being celebrated
35:00here in the country.
35:02Just looking back,
35:04how do you feel about
35:06the rise of women's sports,
35:08the rise of women's football here in the country?
35:10And how do you feel now that
35:12little girls are actually aspiring to be
35:14football players one day?
35:16I'm just so grateful to be part of the rise
35:19and to have played a part in this rise.
35:21And again, in the Philippines,
35:23we just don't want a World Cup.
35:25We said, when we qualify here,
35:27no, this should be standard.
35:29And it shouldn't just be for us,
35:31the seniors, the ladies.
35:33It should be all throughout.
35:35For the youth, for the men.
35:37And it's not something,
35:39even if we are advocating for women's football,
35:41it's not just about women's.
35:43We want to share it.
35:45We want to empower other female sports
35:47because that's the best kind of celebration
35:49that's so historic like the World Cup
35:51and winning gold at home
35:53that you get to actually share it
35:55with more generations to come.
35:57That's one of my very close purposes in life
35:59and has helped me with all these roles
36:01that I am taking up.
36:03Elevate the culture of everyone.
36:05So for you, how do you advise these young athletes?
36:07Oh, we're not done yet, Kapuso.
36:09That's just part one of our conversation with Cam.
36:13Next week,
36:15it will be a meaningful discussion
36:17about Cam being a mental person.
36:19And a performance coach.
36:21Instead of proving them wrong,
36:23prove yourselves right.
36:25And some interesting stories about her new role
36:27as a sports commentator.
36:29I'm itching to ask this question.
36:31Do you have any horror stories
36:33about working with certain commentators?
36:38No game dropping, don't worry.
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37:05I am Coach Hammer, Martin Antonio.
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