Camille Rodriguez: Playing for history and future of Philippine women's football

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine women's national football team member Camille Rodriguez is not just playing for history as she takes part in the country's FIFA Women's World Cup bid.

Rather, she also competes for the women and girls coming after her — the aspiring Filipina athletes of tomorrow.

A staunch advocate for women empowerment in sports, PWNFT forward shares her story with Philstar.com about fighting for the next generation of female athletes.

Paying it forward

For fans of the former Ateneo women's football standout, it is unsurprising when you see Rodriguez' passion on the pitch whenever she plays.

Camille Rodriguez CR7????????????
@camrod_ @PilipinasWNFT #LabanFilipinas #WAC2022
???? / AFC pic.twitter.com/u6RIckzhvJ

— Pinay Futbol (@PinayFutbol) January 29, 2022

Unbeknown some, she also channels her fervor into being a model for the next batch of female athletes.

Her vigor in shaping herself to be an inspiration for others, Rodriguez says, comes from her own experience of drawing strength from those who came before her.

"I think it was brought about by something that I've developed mainly because I've seen myself grow and I've seen myself be inspired by wonderful female athletes around me. From the likes of Marielle Benitez, Tasha Alquiros, Sam Nierras, they were like my ates growing up, and many more. As I aged and explored my love for women's football internationally as well. I've developed certain idols and I got inspired by them," Rodriguez told Philstar.com in an interview.

"And I think it's me being inspired by these other people and recognizing that I also have an impact on the local football community, and hopefully beyond, has really helped me develop that passion and really always pushes me to keep going," she added.

Coming from one of Philippine football's most influential teams at the moment, Rodriguez hopes to churn out even more remarkable Filipina athletes.

'Being intentional' in empowering women

But of course, playing her role as an athlete in inspiring the next generation of Filipina athletes is not enough.

The environment wherein female athletes operate should also improve, be it in terms of financial support, media attention, among others.

For how we as a society can move toward a more equitable situation for Filipina athletes, Rodriguez offered sound advice.

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How it started How it's going pic.twitter.com/mD99NPYUfa

— Philippine WNT ? (@PilipinasWNFT) October 10, 2020

"A lot would have to do with being intentional about it. I mean, I think we're at a point wherein we are shifting towards being more open. Nasa 21st century na tayo and we believe that there's equality here," Rodriguez said.

"It's really just the local community and every single one being intentional with how we support both the male and female athletes," she added.

The PWNFT forward also pointed to the role of media in promoting women, and invited sports journalists to be more pointed in sharing the love in coverage for both male and female athletes.

"It's a challenge to the media outlets. How do you be more equal with how you cover sports with male and female athletes?" Rodriguez said.

"Because female athletes have been performing not just recenlty... We've been perfomring all throughout and I think what's important is that we become intentional with just sharing the space. You know It's due time that female athletes have a more equal space here in the sports world," she added.

Apart form being intentional, Rodriguez also cited that giving female athletes the opportunity to share their success with the community through coverage and connection will also play a key role in balancing the playing field.

"We can be more connected. I think when people have a more emotional connection to the team and to the girls, it owuld inspire more change and hopefully, I'd say we're in the right path wherein us, the players, we know our impact and we try to do our best, we try to succeed. And also at the same time, groups now are slowly covering us and sharing this journey with is," Rodriguez said.

"I think we both need hand-in-hand to take it a step further because the potential really is endless," she added.

Working together with stakeholders

Of course, one can not forget about stakeholders when it comes to the world of sports.

From backers, supporters, to outright financiers of a sports team, athletes do really have to work together with certain groups of people to be able to achieve what they want to do.

#PWNT members @innapalacios, @camrod_, @chandlerblue_, @livmcd23, @_halimoriah, Sara & Anicka Castañeda led by PFF president Mariano Araneta paid a visit to the @psc_gov earlier today and were hosted by Chairman William Ramirez. Always grateful for the support! ????

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— Philippine WNT ? (@PilipinasWNFT) February 14, 2022

And for the PWNFT, whose supporters are slowly rising in number ahead of the 2023 World Cup, challenges are raised to those at the top to listen to the athletes and play a crucial role in their success.

"Now that it's women's month and there are a lot of events featuring 'herstories', remarkable women in their own field of professions, I thought to myself, why not make women's month every month? Why not feature stories in every month? Why limit it to just one month? Why only highlight women stories in just one month when you cao do it year round? I think that's where stakeholders can come in, in terms of listening to our stories," Rodriguez said.

"[And for us] to find that common ground. Because we're all on the same team. We're all [members of the] Philippine team, we just play different roles in it... It's going to be a win-win when both of us work together," she continued.

Giving the stakeholders credit, some have already expressed their support for Rodriguez and the team.

And the PWNFT veteran can only hope both sides will be able to sustain a great partnership.

"Brands have been reaching out to see where we could collaborate. And I think it's a challenge also to the team and to the federation to be ready for it, to be more proactive about it. Because ang laking opportunity and while we ride this wave of change, we need to be more prepared, more proactive in terms of how do we not only win, but [also] succeed," she said.

'Keep taking the step'

At the end of the day, Rodriguez believes that the ultimate goal of her and the team's playing is to pass it on to the next generation.

Although things may be difficult, Rodriguez offered some enlightenment to any aspiring female football player who looked up to her.

A big congratulations to one of our alumni, Camille Rodriguez, for her achievements in the 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup! ??

We're celebrating your well-deserved victory, Cam! ???? @camrod_ pic.twitter.com/lcsjxv1Que

— AWFT (@TheAWFT) February 6, 2022

"Remember that everything adds up. Lahat ng ginagawa natin, may mapupuntahan. That's one of the thoughts or beliefs that I held on to throughout for the past two years," Rodriguez said.

"Be clear on where you want to go and although the steps going there may be unclear sometimes, the road is not as clear as you'd want to, just keep taking the step. Every step is still a step towards where you want to go. So it adds up," she added.

Rodriguez, and the rest of the PWNFT, continue their quest of rewriting Philippine football history and inspiring the next generation when the 31st Southeast Asian Games unfurl at Hanoi in May.

The SEA Games will be the first of three competitions set before the 2023 FIFA World Cup in Australia and New Zealand next year.