MANILA, Philippines — Football is for rich people. Football is for Fil-foreigners. And whatever else anyone may say, the Philippines is still a basketball country.

It's easy enough for new fans and longtime detractors of football in the country to think these things with the seemingly endless stream of Filipino-foreigners putting on their spiked shoes, and playing for the Philippine National  Football Team. It's easy to conclude that the “full” Filipinos among the team are not only a minority, but exist only to support the team's cadre of hunky Fil-foreigners.

 Of course, cousins and top scorers Emelio “Chieffy” Caligdong and Ian Bayona Araneta will only be happy to prove these detractors wrong.

More than anything, Chieffy and Ian's upbringing and experience underscore how football is a perfect fit for the country's sportsinclined young Filipinos.

Between the two of them, they have contributed almost two dozen international goals to the Philippine National Football Team's scorecard, participating in such successful outings such as the team's routing of Mongolia at the AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers at our own Panaad Stadium in Iloilo, where the country emerged with a 2-0 win, thanks to 28-year-old Chieffy performing a tricky “nutmeg” goal in between Mongolian goalkeeper Ganbayar Tseveensuren's legs.

Chieffy also made the two goals that put the team over that of Timor-Leste in the 2004 Tiger Cup, the country's first ever victory in the ASEAN Football Championship.

Much more recently, it was also Chieffy who opened the floodgates during the team's recent demolishing of Sri Lanka, during the second leg of the first round World Cup qualifying match held at the Rizal Memorial Stadium. His goal 18 minutes into the game would be the first in what would turn out to be a massacre, as teammates Phil Younghusband and Angel Aldeguer Guirado would cement the team's win with three more goals further on into the game.

More than just a win, it was a historic moment for the team — this is the first time that the Philippine National Football Team has ever made it past the first round of the World Cup qualifiers.

Ian is no slouch either. In the course of his decade-long tenure with the team, the 29-year-old has contributed 13 points to the country's football campaign, including a crucial goal against Bangladesh during the AFC Challenge Cup
group stage games held in Myanmar. That goal, along with the succeeding two made by Guirado, was also history-making: It ensured the country's position in the Challenge Cup semi-finals, the first time the country has ever done so.

Before that, Ian was the top scorer for the team in the Long Ten Cup international football tournament, scoring four goals in that four-nation tournament.

Yet, these skills weren't honed in swanky subdivisions or in football camps in foreign countries either. Chieffy and Ian are homegrown talents in the truest sense of the word, learning football in the third-class municipality of Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo, whose population, as of the 2000 census, stands at only 45,804 people.

Even if it isn't swimming in resources — Ian recalls practicing in the middle of newly-harvested fields when he was growing up — Barotac Nuevo has produced most of the team's Filipino players. Aside from Chieffy and Ian, players Joebel Bermejo, Joven Bedic, Ricardo Becite III, and Ruben Doctora also hail from the municipality, prompting local football fans and connoisseurs to label it the ''Football Capital of the Country.''

Getting into the National Team entailed a lot of hard work. The cousins not only play for the Philippine Air Force Football Club, but also played for the country even as teenagers. Chieffy played as part of the country's U-23 (under 23) team in the 2005 Southeast Asian Games, while Ian played for the country's U-16, U-19, and U-21 squads. With all that they've done in service to the team, it's understandable if they feel miffed at the seemingly disproportionate amount of media coverage that the team's Filipino-foreign players receive. However, both Chieffy and Ian prove themselves to be bigger than that.

“It's a team sport. Kung ano man 'yung atensiyon na nakukuha ng teammates namin ay sa team na rin 'yun,” says Ian.

Chieffy agrees. “Hindi ito para sa sarili namin kundi kung paano naming masu-sustain at mapapanatili ang hilig sa football ng Pilipinas.”

While the two may seem like opposites off the pitch — Chieffy often has the serious disposition expected of a team co-captain; Ian always has a ready smile on his face — they share the same dream of elevating the play and appreciation of football here in the country. If it means taking in more Filipino football players from all over the world, then so be it.

“Mas maganda nga kasi 'yung level ng football ay tumataas na sa Pilipinas. Ibig sabihin, nasa iyo na lang ang pagpupursige,” says Ian. “Hangga't hindi ka nagpapabaya sa training, siguradong hindi ka maliligaw ng landas.”

And it's not like they haven't been reaping rewards off the pitch as well. Just recently, Chieffy and Ian, along with fellow team members Roel Gener, Yannick Tuason, and Paolo Pascual, were named as brand ambassadors of Suzuki Philippines.

In this quick fire 60 Minutes interview, the cousins from Barotac Nuevo share the preparations the team is undertaking for their upcoming clash with Kuwait, the effect that their newfound popularity has had on the team's morale and drive, and what their recent string of successes has meant for them and their hometown.

Whatever happens to their World Cup campaign, these homegrown heroes are already living their dream. (Ronald S. Lim)

STUDENTS AND CAMPUSES BULLETIN  (SCB): How does it feel to be one of the top scorers for today's most popular sports team?

EMELIO 'CHIEFFY' CALIGDONG (ECC): I've been playing football since I was seven. I grew up in Barotac Nuevo (Iloilo). Nagsimula akong mag-train para sa National Team in 1997, and I've been with the team for almost 10 years. Sobrang saya. Kung baga, ito na 'yung pinaghirapan namin, kami nila Roel Gener at ni Ian Araneta. Ngayon meron nang susunod sa amin tulad nila Paolo Pascual at Yannick Tuason. Happy kami at sila ang magiging future ng team. SCB: Football seems to be very wellreceived in Barotac Nuevo. Hanggang ngayon ba ganoon pa rin ang reception ng mga tao?

IAN BAYONA ARANETA (IBA): ‘Yung basketball, sa amin hindi pinapansin. Halimbawa, football field at yung basketball court magkatabi sa plaza. Dati sa fiesta, pinagsasabay ‘yung game ng basketball at football. Walang nanonood sa basketball, kaya ngayon hindi na siya sinasabay sa liga ng football, hiniwalay na siya para magkaroon ng balance din. Sa Barotac kasi hindi pumapayag na football lang ang sinusuportahan, ‘yung sports program
bina-balance. Pero number one ang football, nagiging holiday pa nga ‘pag may malaking laro.

ECC: Mas sobra pa ngayon kaysa dati. Marami kami from the team na taga Barotac Nuevo. Sa Iloilo, sa Barotac Nuevo ang pinakamaraming nanggaling na football player. Dati, eight players kami sa national team from Barotac
Nuevo. Dati pa ‘yan, ganun na talaga ang football sa Barotac, hindi nagbago kundi humigit pa.

SCB: What is in the island of Visayas that football has always been the most popular sport there, more than basketball?

ECC: Maraming tournament sa Visayas, football talaga ang may tournament, walang basketball.

IBA: Namulat na lang kami na ‘yun na ang nilalaro ng mga nakakatanda sa amin, kahit ‘yung mga tatay namin, kahit ‘yung lolo ng tatay namin. Nasa dugo na rin naming siguro, kapag pinanganak ka sa Barotac, imposibleng hindi ka marunong maglaro ng football kahit nakapaa lang ‘yan. Alam mo ‘yung palayan? Kapag harvest na, di ba natutuyo ‘yan? Marami nang naglalaro ng football dun, nagtatayo lang ng kahoy para sa goal, dun na naglalaro ang mga bata.

SCB: Naglalaro kayo dati nang nakapaa lang?

ECC: May tournament kami na nakapaa lang. Masaya at saka lalo na nandito kami ni Ian, kung baga lalong ganado na ‘yung hometown namin na kung ano ‘yung kaya nilang ibigay sa future players.

IBA: Kung gaano kagrabe ‘yung dati, dumoble na ngayon ang football sa Barotac, nagkaroon ng maraming liga.

SCB: May difference ba ang Visayan football fan from a Manila football fan?

IBA: Siguro ‘yung mga Visayan fan ang nakakaintindi ng football, die-hard fan talaga sila. Alam nila ang rules. Merong iba na fan na fan lang kasi sikat ngayon, hindi alam ang rules, hindi alam ang nangyayari sa football.

Ready for Kuwait

SCB: How are you preparing for your next game against Kuwait?

ECC: Pupunta kami ng Bahrain, at ang purpose namin doon ay para masanay kami. Ang maipapangako lang namin ay mahihirapan sila sa team.

SCB: Aside from going to Bahrain, are there other specific things you do to acclimatize yourselves for the Kuwait game?

ECC: Hindi naman kailangan ‘yung ganung bagay kasi ang pinaka importante ‘yung fitness, ‘yung endurance kasi ‘yung level ng Kuwait mas mataas sa atin. Hard work ang kailangan. We also watch videos of previous games like sa Suzuki Cup and Challenge Cup para kumuha ng possible adjustments for the next game.

SCB: For the first time in a long while, the Philippine National Team is going to the match as underdogs...

IBA: Mas lalo kaming ginaganahan ‘yun kasi ina-underestimate kami. Kasi kung anuman ‘yung ginagawa mo sa training, ‘yung ang gagawin mo sa laro. Kung dati ang tingin lang nila sa amin tinatambakan lang, pakita natin sa kanila na ang football ngayon sa Pilipinas ay iba na. Ito ‘yung team na lumalaban.

SCB: May mga advantages na marami  kayong sponsors pero may disadvantages na mas maraming nakatingin sa inyo. Mas mahirap bang mag training ngayon kasi maraming distraction?

IBA: Ang importante lang alam mo kung ano ang priority mo, alam mo kung saan ang focus mo. At alam namin kung ano ang gagawin namin para maiangat pa ang football dito. At priority namin ang football.

SCB: What are the sacrifices that you go through for the game, in terms of the training?

IBA: Twice a day kami, 9 in the morning for body strength and endurance; and then 4 p.m. for footworks. Kahit hindi ganun kainit, makakatulong na rin siya sa game sa Kuwait.

ECC: ‘Yun ang football. Hindi tayo puwede na palagi na lang sa home crowd. Hindi tayo puwedeng mamili ng tama lang na lamig o tama lang na init. Kasama 'yan sa preparation, kasama na ‘yan sa pinaghahandaan namin. Minsan
ang training namin ay umaabot na ng 11 p.m. to adjust pagdating sa Kuwait. Every morning we train for endurance, maraming big adjustments sa fitness namin. Doon pa kami kulang. In the afternoon, more on balls kami, shooting, dribbling.

SCB: How big of a factor in winning are the support and the attention that are being showered on the team?

IBA: Nagpapasalamat kaming limang hometown heroes. Lahat naman ng indibiduwal ay may problema, lahat kami at may dinaanan na sakripisyo, pero depende na iyon sa pagdala. Basta una ang football.

ECC: Hindi naman namin target na mapasikat ang sarili namin. Ang goal lang namin ay maiangat ang football at makilala ito sa Pilipinas. Hindi biro na makalaban ang isang powerhouse na tulad ng Kuwait. Ano lang naman 'yung
football dito dati? Ngayong nandito na, we will try our best na ipakita na nandito na ang football sa Pilipinas.

Fans, fans, fans!

SCB: Nagulat ba kayo sa dami ng tao sa Rizal Stadium during your game with Sri Lanka?

ECC: Oo sobrang gulat! Dati ‘yung sponsor pa ang nagbabayad. O, manood kayo ng football, meron P100 kayo makukuha and free cola. Iba na ngayon. Sobrang saya!

SCB: Anong pakiramdam na ang focus ng media ay nasa ibang players instead of the whole team? Who are your football idols?

IBA: Katulad ng sinabi ni Yannick (Tuason), it's a team sport. Kung ano man 'yung atensiyon na nakukuha ng teammates namin ay sa team na rin 'yun. Idols ko si (Lionel) Messi, si Cristiano Ronaldo. Tatay ko!

ECC: Si Messi. Kung puwede ko lang gayahin 'yung mga tricks niya sa field, gagayahin ko, pero marami pang kulang. Wala namang pumapansin sa football noon. Iba na ngayon. Kumbaga, mula sa pinakita namin sa Suzuki Cup,
eto na kami ngayon. Hindi ito para sa sarili namin kundi kung paano namin masu-sustain at mapanatili ang hilig sa football ng Pilipinas.

SCB: Ano ‘yung pinaka memorable na laro ninyo?

ECC: Halos naman lahat. Iba ‘yung goal sa local, iba ‘yung goal sa international. Masaya, kung ano ‘yung pinaghirapan mo, babalik sa’yo.

IBA: Siyempre ‘yung hindi ko malilimutan ‘yung sa Timor Leste dahil dun nagsimula ‘yung pagsikat ng Azkals. At saka hind importante ang goal basta importante naglalaro kami as a team, hindi kami naglalaro as individuals. ‘Yung iniisip namin lagi, kung ano ‘yung success ng isa, success ng team.

SCB: Anong masasagot mo sa isang bata sa probinsiya na idol kayo, pero nag-iisip na paglaki nila, puro mga kababayan lang natin mula sa ibang bansa ang pupuno sa team.

ECC: Ang maibibigay ko lang na tip ay huwag nilang ikumpara 'yung sarili nila sa iba. Ipakita kung anong meron sila. Lahat tayo ay may chance, hindi lang ang mga taga-Barotac. Magpatuloy ka lang mag-sakripisyo dahil darating din ang para sa iyo. Hindi ko kinokonsider na mayroong panahon na panay Filforeigner lang sa team. Sa amin ni Ian at ni Gener, ipapakita namin na malaki ang maitutulong namin sa team palagi. Sinasabi nila na kami 'yung pinakamaliit sa team, pero malaking bagay kami sa team.

IBA: Kahit naman sabihin mong Fil-Am, dugong Pinoy pa rin. Wala naman 'yun. Mas maganda nga kasi 'yung level ng football ay tumataas na sa Pilipinas. Ibig sabihin, nasa iyo na lang ang pagpupursige. Hangga't hindi ka nagpapabaya sa training, siguradong hindi ka maliligaw ng landas. SCB: Who inspires you during a game?

IBA: Inspired akong maglaro dahil ang dami nang pumapansin ng football dito sa Pilipinas. Sa totoo lang, ang inspirasyon namin ay 'yung mga batang nanonood at kayo.

Football now in a different league

SCB: We learned that whereas before, the government would tell your team to just play at ''huwag papatambak'', today it is different. How did you fight frustration and demoralization in the past?

ECC: Masakit ‘yung ganung bagay, hindi siya magandang motivation sa isang player. May mga players na hindi 100 percent ang binubuhos. Kasi parang walang insurance kung ano mangyari sa amin kasi nung nasa service kami
sa Air Force, Army, and Navy, meron kaming insurance sa mga ganung bagay like injury. Pero kami nina Ian at Gener, sabi namin ‘wag nang mag give-up, someday darating ‘yung araw na ‘yun sa atin.

SCB: Why are you in football in the first place?

ECC: Iniisip namin, kung nag-umpisa kami sa wala, ang goal namin is makatulong sa mga susunod sa amin. Hindi habang buhay andito kami sa Azkals eh so ang plano talaga namin is sino ‘yung susunod na magsusustain sa team.

SCB: Did you ever think in the past that you and football would reach the status that you are enjoying right now?

ECC: Ian and I are batchmates in the national team, at lagi naming sinasabi na‘wag mag give-up, darating at darating ang panahon na maganda ang magiging resulta. Hindi namin iniisip noon na ganito ang mangyayari. Iniisip lang namin noon na baguhin ang football, ‘yun lang.

IBA: Mahal namin ang football at hindi namin iniisip kung saan ito patutungo basta inisip namin na baguhin ang tingin sa football.

ECC: At ‘yung mindset ng mga kabataan. ‘Yun ang iniisip namin na tularan kami, hindi man kami magiging kilala sila naman ‘yung susunod.

SCB: Anong masasabi niyo sa mga bata all over the country na nangangarap na maging parte ngayon ng Philippine National Football Team?

ECC: Masaya kami. Ngayon ay nakikilala na ang football sa Pilipinas. Ngayon nakikita nila ang potential ng mga players na galing sa Pilipinas. Siyempre, masaya. Hindi rin lang sa amin ang credit. Sana tuloy-tuloy na. Nagpapasalamat kami sa lahat ng sumusuporta sa team, lalo na sa Team Suzuki at sa laking tiwala na ibinigay nila, lalo na sa U-23 (Under-23) last May. Masaya na nakikita nila na dito tayo bagay.

SCB: What do you advise budding football players?

ECC: Sana kung ano ‘yung nakikita nila sa team, ‘wag sila mag give-up kasi lahat naman may chance. Keep on practicing, keep on doing hard work. Kung ano ‘yung kaya nila ipakita nila para mapansin din sila, hindi lang kami dito.

IBA: Enjoy playing football, playing sports.