Know your Azkals: Hail to the Chief(fy)!

In a country where international acclaim usually precedes national notoriety, the Azkals have emerged to be the poster boys of Philippine sports. Their amazing run at last year’s Suzuki cup, beating Southeast Asian powerhouses Singapore and then defending champions Vietnam, re-ignited the Filipino love affair with football. The overflowing of support and instant heightened exposure immediately translated to instant demand. Bannered by half Filipinos, the Azkals have come to attract sports enthusiasts and throngs of screaming fangirls alike. At the team’s AFC Challenge Cup qualifying round match held in Bacolod, thousands of football fans, new and old, gathered to experience a true rarity: an international football match in the Philippines. More fans tuned in to prime-time television to watch the game, expecting the usual Fil-foreigners to dominate the game. And in true Azkals dramatic fashion, we were all introduced instead to Emelio “Chieffy" Caligdong, the Ilonggo left-winger from the Philippine Air Force. Caligdong’s goal was a thing of beauty. Coming off the left wing, he received the pass with his chest, bounced it off his left foot back towards his right to avoid a defender, and shot it towards the goal in between the legs of the Mongolian goalie. Goooaaal! With that goal at the 42nd minute, the Philippines finally broke into the scoring column, calming nerves, assuring the faithful and delighting millions along the way. Since then, Caligdong has gathered a fair share of fans. He sat down with GMA News Online to discuss his roots, his dreams, and his new-found fame. Chieffy hails from the proud football town of Barotac Nuevo in Iloilo, where eight other members of the Azkals are from. He recalled that he started at the age of seven, and in the fourth grade, he had started to compete in the Palarong Pambansa and other regional tournaments. It was in 1997 when Caligdong had his first taste of international play. Then in second year high school, he became part of the Under 21 team that represented the Philippines at the Bolkiah Cup. In 2000, he started is pursuit of becoming part of the senior Philippine team as part of the training pool for that year’s Tiger Cup. In 2002, he graduated from the University of San Agustin with a degree in Commerce (Management) and enlisted into the Philippine Air Force. It was in 2004 that Caligdong finally became a part of the senior team. His first goal came via a 1-3 loss to Thailand. In that year’s Tiger Cup, he also scored two goals against Timor-Leste. Almost seven years later, Chieffy, along with Team Azkals veterans Aly Borromeo, Anton del Rosario, Roel Gener, and Ian Araneta, are now reaping the fruits of their loyalty and commitment to the team. “Pinaghirapan talaga namin ito since 2004. Nag-umpisa kami sa wala. Dati, football player ka lang. Walang nakakapansin sa iyo. Ngayon masaya kasi may reward. Kahit saan ka pumunta, proud lahat," recalls Caligdong.

Emelio "Chieffy" Caligdong, the pride of Western Visayas, the football capital of the Philippines. Photo by Richard Pacana

The journey that they took was indeed a memorable experience. Chieffy adds, “Sobrang layo ng difference sa funding. Ang PFF (Philippine Football Federation) dati, walang allowance. Swerte naabutan namin si (team manager) Dan Palami." But along with the outpouring of support comes an unfamiliar feeling of pressure to perform and make the Filipinos happy. “Kaya kumuha ng foreign coach. Dahil may experience, marami (kaming) natututunan," he shares. Caligdong also welcomes the influx of Fil-foreign players. “Kami, nakikisama. Ang pinoy naman madaling umintindi. Ang management, di rin kumukuha ng mga makakasama sa team." Chieffy continues to say that the future of the team does not rely on Fil-foreigners alone. He singles out Christopher CamCam, a 6’2 16-year-old student from PAREF Southridge school as one of the most promising players in the team. With the subject shifting to the future, Chieffy mellowed down to talk about his own plans. He admits that he sees himself playing three to four more years with the team. After, he plans to concentrate on being a mentor to the younger players in various divisions. When asked about his reaction to more kids wanting to learn the sport, he confessed, “Nakakataba ng puso. Madali lang matutunan ang football. May makukuha ka. Di lang ang pagiging sikat. Nade-develop din ang sportsmanship." Caligdong also shared that he is in on his way towards establishing a football center in Marikina. He is also continuing his annual football festival in his hometown of Barotac Nuevo, where he continues to share what he has learned with the Azkals. And his message to the future Chieffies of the Philippines? “Don’t give up playing football. Kung ano yung pinaghihirapan mo, magkakaresulta. Teamwork at practice lang ng husto." -- OMG, GMA News