Early in February 2012 UFL Cup Champions Stallion Sta. Lucia FC, a club in the 1st Division of the United Football League, posted on Twitter and Facebook about a special contest for its female fans. The contest was something where the fans (single and female of course) can win a date with their favorite football player on Valentine’s Day. This got female fans excited and had some of the male fans – well – a little put off and wondering what is up with this whole thing. Frankly – and I say this not because I am female – this was a wise move on the part of SSFC. I was recently talking to my cousin’s husband and he told me some people did a study on Philippine football and they realized that the majority of people who watch the games are female. So to me this was a great marketing ploy to help drum up even more support for the team. If you get the girls to watch the games more, they can get their boyfriends, husbands, brothers, male relatives/friends to come along too. And you know how persuasive we girls can be when we want something right?
My friends and I were joking around about this but we never took it seriously (although in hindsight as a blogger, I actually thought it would be a nice, blog-worthy event if I did get the date). I have always had a bit of a crush on Joaco Canas and joked that I would try to get the date to meet him.
The contest called for girls to take a photo of themselves watching the game last Feb 7th at Rizal Memorial (either right there in Rizal or in front of their TV). Although I was there at Rizal to catch a bit of the game, I didn’t take a photo and thought that was it, I couldn’t join the contest.
By the time the deadline came along SSFC was still posting about the contest. I decided to give it a shot. I figured a lot of girls would have asked for a date with Joaco already so I decided to pick someone else, a new guy named Jeremy Hohn. My friends and I were talking about how the defender resembled Azkal Angel Guirado with his long hair (flimsy reason but hey, that’s all I’ve got) so I ended up tweeting SSFC about it and lo and behold, I got the date.
I called this the date that almost never was because I almost didn’t go to the date. I wasn't paying attention to the details of the contest about having to give my contact information to SSFC and had actually given it at the last minute. Thankfully they were still very accommodating and just told me that they would contact me halftime on game day. Funny thing is, even on that day, I didn’t hear from them because as it turns out, they couldn't contact my phone. Lucky for me I recognized some of the other girls and I found out where to go after the game. Still, bad luck followed me like a stalker: I ended up taking C5 to get to the venue while everyone else took EDSA and I was stuck in traffic for almost 2 hours. It got me thinking: should I attribute my luck (or the lack of it) to the fact that my “date” was #13? I almost did.
When I finally got there, all the girls already got to meet with their dates. They were given flowers, had photos taken together and all that. I didn't have that opportunity because I was late. Those two cars that stalled on C5 that night better not show themselves to me ever again.The big surprise for me that evening was that the person I was talking to via email turned out to be former actress Lani Lobangco. She used her married name Lani Santos in the emails so I wasn't aware of who I was talking to exactly. I was surprised, excited and happy to meet her.
But I digress, so let us move on.
Ms. Lani brought me to Azkal Jason de Jong and told him to introduce me to my “date,” which he did – but not without ending the introduction with the question, “Ate, ang pogi ‘no?” I was a little horrified because he was pretty much saying that I was older by calling me Ate (the Tagalog word for older sister). Knowing that this guy can totally kick ass, a mental cartoon-style punch in the face was as big of a reaction as I could get. And to further cement my embarrassment, my “date” said one of the first Tagalog words he learned was “Ate.” [Insert cringe here.]
Jeremy Hohn struck me as quiet guy. He explained that he was shy, which I found cute considering what a big guy he is. I asked him random questions about him like a reporter. The blogger in me just could not resist and being that I haven't been on a "date" in ages, I really didn't know what else to say. I learned things about him like what he took up in college, where else he has played football and things like that. He struck me as a very nice, down to earth guy who really loved football. He has a thing for monkeys too. I mean, his face lit up at the topic that it almost made me want to look like a monkey, haha! With the help of my “wing man” XP (the best WM you can find this side of the known universe), who had accompanied me to the “date” we got to know Aussie Jesse Martindale as well. It was a little hard peeling off the layers of these two (figuratively girls, figuratively!) but after a while, we were all talking and sharing stories instead of having random awkward silences in between sips of beer.
I have to admit, getting to know these people off the pitch on a somewhat personal level makes me want to support them more when they play. I think that just might be the good thing that resulted from that dinner. I say dinner now because it wasn't exactly a date in the end. I can’t say that I anticipated anything more than what happened because I honestly didn't know what to expect but to say that it was a date would be a little out there. Still, it was a good evening. I had fun and, dare I say, made some new friends along the way too.
It's too bad I never got to meet Joaco Canas. Turned out that he didn't have a date. I guess I was wrong about my assumption that a lot of girls would have asked for a date with him (has anyone seen the photos he posts of himself on Instagram? Yes? I rest my case.). By the time I got to the dinner Joaco was gone. I have no regrets about who I picked to be my "date" though. I had a good time and that's what matters. I also got to meet all these great athletes, including Coach Ernie Nierras (I was a little too starstuck that I literally dropped my bag...he is the Malditas coach too after all) and that was a good way to cap my almost-birthday (because it was my birthday 3 days after).
Thank you Stallion Sta Lucia FC for the wonderful evening. It was a pleasure meeting everyone. And thank you for the Stallions jersey/kit. I really do appreciate it. If you ever need this blogger’s help with anything, let me know.
Oh and Jason De Jong? Because of that Ate comment...I will now go on a diet. So there. Haha!
Photo Source: Stallion Sta Lucia FC Facebook Page
8 comments:
I told Tita Lani of the Dawn Zulueta request. Maybe I should have pushed it more when you arrived. Hector, Jesse and Gui would surely back me up. I'll make sure it happens next time. Haha!
I had the same experience on Lani Santos' identity. She started talking to me as SSFC then through FB. But I didn't recognize her because of her DP. I just realized after Bruno accepted my request then I saw his pic with Rachel Lobangco. (Ask Tita Lani I got speechless in our first meeting.. haha)
@Drew - Hahaha I told her din pero in passing lang as a joke. :P I won't be watching games for a while because I'll be having thyroid surgery...pagbalik ko na lang ang Dawn Zulueta. ;)
I was starstruck with Ms. Lani kasi I've seen some of her work in pictures (yung paintings nya)...frustrated artist kasi ako. Lol!
Thank you for reading my entry!
Hey Clare, thank you for this wonderful article/blog about your experience with the team. What I am glad about is that, our SSFC foreign players gained new friends. I really want Jeremy to have friends other than his team mates because, true enough, despite of that tall, kick-ass player on the pitch, Jeremy is indeed a very shy, simple and soft hearted young man, from a very close-knit family whom, i am sure, he misses back in the US. Since his arrival to the Philippines few months ago, I was really impressed by how simple and soft spoken he is (not "mayabang" inspite of how good he is as a player). Atfirst, I though that perhaps the reason for meekness is that, he is adjusting to his new environment (and new team). But to this day, after spending 2-3 months with the team---he is consistent! Still the same soft spoken, kind and very shy Jeremy! So I guess that's the kind of person he really is. Lucky is the girl who will capture this young man's heart.
And to you Drew, I can not thank you enough for helping me with the whole dating thing. I couldn't have done it without you by my side. You know, what we did was not intended as a "marketing" strategy. I thought of this for the main purpose of finding new friends (if not potential partners, haha!) for our new players. I know how much they are missing home.
It is hard for anyone to be away from family. Fans cheer for them and look up to them as idols, but after each game, when all the celebrating and mingling with team mates are over, they go home to their rented apartments, feeling overwhelmed and helpless because they are alone and no one to talk to. I know somehow they deserve to have friends whom they can share their life stories with. They are as "grounded" and normal, or shall I say, as "ordinary individual" as everyone else, even if we perceive them as football heroes.
Once, I told them that the test of a true champion (we are UFL cup champions) is humility. the more they climb up to the top. the more they have to be reachable and approachable.
And gaining friends like you, Clare and Drew, become the source of our players' (and team, for that matter) greatest pleasures. Our players work very hard to keep up with the tough, competitive atmosphere in the league, to win week in and week out. But when surrounded with friends like you, even the most tedious tasks, wrong calls on games, and everything that goes with hardships and pains of football, becomes bearable.
Here' s to a new found TRUE friendship, in and out of the pitch!
Good for you, Clare! You showed them what Filipino hospitality is. :)
@Stallion Sta Lucia FC:
“…despite of that tall, kick-ass player on the pitch, Jeremy is indeed a very shy, simple and soft hearted young man, from a very close-knit family whom, i am sure, he misses back in the US. Since his arrival to the Philippines few months ago, I was really impressed by how simple and soft spoken he is (not "mayabang" in spite of how good he is as a player). I guess that's the kind of person he really is. Lucky is the girl who will capture this young man's heart. “
I was pleasantly surprised when I realized that he was shy. I didn’t expect that. I admire the fact that he is not mayabang and that he seems very grounded. One thing I didn’t mention in my blog was that when he shook my hand, it felt very warm and sincere. In my line of work I’ve shaken the hands of celebrities, politicians and whatnot and I have not felt a more sincere handshake than his. I am not kidding. From what I can tell about him so far, I agree that the girl who wins this guy's heart will really be a very lucky one. :)
“…we did was not intended as a "marketing" strategy. I thought of this for the main purpose of finding new friends (if not potential partners, haha!) for our new players.”
Thanks for clarifying that. Still from a marketing standpoint (sorry, I’m a Marketing grad, can’t help myself), it was a good move even if it was not intentional. I think your original intent was fulfilled because they did make new friends that night. As for potential partners, well I guess we’ll just have to wait and see. ;)
“… when all the celebrating and mingling with team mates are over, they go home to their rented apartments, feeling overwhelmed and helpless because they are alone and no one to talk to. I know somehow they deserve to have friends whom they can share their life stories with.”
I’ve always wondered about that part of their lives, particularly for the foreign players. Rest assured that if these guys ever need a friend (particularly for Jesse and Jeremy who were the two guys I really got to talk to that night) I am only an FB message, Tweet, SMS, phone call or Viber Message away.
“Once, I told them that the test of a true champion (we are UFL cup champions) is humility. The more they climb up to the top. The more they have to be reachable and approachable.”
I admire that you told them that. That is really good advice!
“Here’s to a new found TRUE friendship, in and out of the pitch!”
Yes, to TRUE FRIENDSHIP!!! Thank you for taking the time to read and comment on my blog! More power to Stallion Sta Lucia FC!
@Aya:
Thanks for taking the time to read this long entry! :) Glad you liked it!
@Sta Lucia FC:
I think those potential partners are working hard to keep up with the now growing fans of the team. Haha.
I have been supporting SFC since they got promoted to Div 1 in 2012. (Also the time I started being active in UFL). Knowing the players off-pitch is a big bonus. Thank you for paving the way :)
I love that advice about humility. I will also keep that in mind.
I think making it a team dinner as to a one-on-one dinner helped as thing became lighter. The conversations are more casual.
Cheers to TRUE friendship!
#MentionSomeoneYouWantToBeWithInValentines
@Drew
"I think those potential partners are working hard to keep up with the now growing fans of the team. Haha...."
--Hmnn...they (potential partners) better work double time! Competition is getting tough! Hahaha! Funny is that cooment i read from twitter saying that before, the M...Sp... gets the loudest screams from female fans--but now, its SSFC who gets the loudest, annoying wails! I am proud to say that our players are warm and friendly, very much grounded & even our celebrity players have no "star complex," so let me warn you all: "Please watch our live matches with caution: SSFC players are highly addicting!"
@Drew:
"I think those potential partners are working hard to keep up with the now growing fans of the team. Haha."
I'd like to think that "potential partners" (sino sino ba ito, haha) and growing fans don't need to compete. We all love the team and that's what matters. ;)
@SSFC:
"...they (potential partners) better work double time! Competition is getting tough!"
Hahaha! I was joking to Jer that he might forget me once girls start lining up for him! Lol!
"...our players are warm and friendly, very much grounded & even our celebrity players have no "star complex"
Based on experience, this is true and it's something that I admire about them. I hope that they never change that. :)
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