Filipina5 stalwart Dionesa Tolentin reflects on her journey as a futsal player just days before they kick off their campaign at the FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup.
History is set to unfold in a matter of days as the Philippines hosts the first-ever FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup beginning on Friday, November 21.
But for Dionesa Tolentin, it’s more than just another notch in the Philippines’ hosting belt in a year that also saw the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship being held in the country. Rather, it’s the pinnacle of a personal journey.
For Tolentin, everything comes to a head when the Philippine women’s national futsal team, affectionately dubbed the Filipina5, opens its campaign in the elite tournament at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City against World No. 14 Poland in Group A.
Taking to social media, she reflected on the journey that she’s gone through so far.
“Mula 13 years old, 17 years old, hanggang ngayon — grabe, Inday. Ambisyosang bata lang dati mula sa Manukan, Zamboanga del Norte. Hindi ko talaga in-expect na mararanasan ko ang ganitong klaseng opportunity na mairepresenta ko ang bansa,” wrote Tolentin, who also shared photos of herself in the early days of her futsal play.
According to her post, Tolentino never believed that playing futsal all those years ago would lead to where she is right now — an accomplished football player in her own right with Kaya FC and FEU, and a budding career in women’s futsal with the national team.
Having worked so hard on her craft, she couldn’t quite come into terms that it’s led to where she is right now, basking in the anticipation of making her country proud.
“Noon, futsal player lang ako sa high school na ang alam lang ay mag-enjoy sa laro. Nagbabakasakali lang ako dati na
baka balang araw, may magbibigay ng libreng gamit o pang-baon sa school, lalo na’t hindi ako nag-aabsent sa training, kahit pagalitan pa ng magulang,” said Tolentin.
“Hindi ko alam na yung simpleng dedication at pangarap ko noon ang magdadala sa akin dito ngayon.”
A source of inspiration
Still, Tolentin thus hope to create a better future for the next versions of herself. That is, she wants to be able to show the younger generation that they too can also get to where she is.
She penned that even when challenges come, even at the national team level, there is always a source of strength for her, because of pride and because of that all-important “puso” that all Filipino athletes possess in their bids.
“Gusto ko lang maging inspirasyon sa mga kabataan, lalo na sa mga taga-probinsya—na walang ‘impossible’ basta’t may pangarap ka. Mahirap man ang proseso, minsan mabagal, minsan nakakapagod, pero ang mahalaga umaabante ka
Hindi ka sumusuko,” she said.
“Gusto kong ipakita na kahit saan ka pa galing, basta may tiyaga, disiplina, at puso, may mararating ka,” she continued.
As the Filipina5 face tall tasks against more seasoned opponents, Tolentin is hopeful that playing for herself, for the community, and for her country helps them beat the odds and give the host country something to cheer about.
At the end of the day, Tolentin said that she and the Filipina5 are fighting for more than just themselves.
“Sa paparating na World Cup, dala ko ang pangarap ng maraming kabataan. I won’t be playing just for myself, but for my family, for everyone who supports me, and for those who continue to believe in me.” she wrote.
“Para din ito sa tatay ko, at kay Ma’am Maristel Verdugez na sobra ang tiwala sa akin kahit noong bata pa ako at nagsisimula pa lang sa laro. And above all, I offer this journey to God—sa Panginoon Diyos na laging gumagabay at nagbibigay ng lakas sa akin.”
Tolentin joins a ragtag team which also features Isabella Flanigan, Charisa Lemoran, Samantha Hughes, Cathrine Graversen, Shai Del Campo, Katrina Guillou, Jaclyn Sawicki, and Judy Connolly.
The Philippines play Poland first on Friday before gearing up against Morocco on Monday, November 24. They wrap up the group stage on Thursday, November 27, against Argentina.
The Filipina5 need to finish in the Top 2 of their group to move on to the knockout stage of the tournament.
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Luisa Morales is a sports writer with a special interest in promoting women’s sports.
Her coverage highlights include the UAAP, PVL, Southeast Asian Games, and the FIBA World Cup. She also follows Alex Eala, the Philippine women’s national football team, and mixed martial arts.