Lupang Hinirang brings Long to tears

AUCKLAND – From the singing of the national anthem to the post-match media powwow, the tears flowed freely for Filipinas skipper Hali Long.

The longest serving mainstay with a record 76 caps, Long swore she swelled with pride representing the Philippines and fighting for flag and country in the international front.

So one can just imagine how emotional it was for the Fil-Am defender to do it at the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

“It’s an utmost honor to, one, bring the Lupang Hinirang here (World Cup), (two) bring the Philippine flag here for the first time and (three) to be able to be on the pitch to do that,” Long said, her cheeks glistening with tears.

“It’s just that definite highlight of my life.”

Videos of Long tearing up while singing the anthem from the heart minutes before kickoff was a sight to behold. She said it’s been like that for her since the 2017 SEA Games.

“Anytime Lupang Hinirang comes on, it just means so much because it’s just like you die for your countrymen,” she said.

“I mean, it’s everything. It’s the pride and honor you have to represent your country everywhere on the global stage – as an underdog, as a beauty queen, as a boxer, as a weightlifter, as a futbolera.”

When the Filipinas’ magical run was crushed by a 0-6 loss to Norway, Long, no surprises there, was the most brokenhearted.

But that didn’t take away her immense gratification for what she and her sisters in arms pulled off here.

“It was an incredible ride,” Long said. “There’s so many firsts that happened here – our first goal, our first win, our first game, our first card, our first anything, it was all a first for us and you can’t take it away from us.”