By Aine Peralta and Krizza Gabrielle Tabora

Beyond the glitz of makeup and 45-second live hits, Juliana ‘Juri’ Marasigan is redefining the role of a correspondent — proving that being Far Eastern University (FEU)’s Season 88 courtside reporter (CSR) is less about the University Athletic Association of the Philippines spotlight, but more about the heavy, invisible work of being the human bridge between the bench and the bleachers.

Now firmly established as the voice of Morayta, Juri is shifting the spotlight this Women’s Month to reveal the reality behind courtside reporting, positioning herself as a steady listener and storyteller who carries the voices that often get lost amid the roar of the arena.

More than just a report

Drawn to the role by a love for sports and storytelling, Juri found that the job is frequently misunderstood — reduced to something purely aesthetic rather than a position that demands presence, awareness, and emotional investment. For her, the real work begins when the camera’s view ends.

Despite the surrounding judgment of the role of a CSR, the job goes beyond showing up; it is also about being the voice behind the untold stories of the green-and-gold athletes. 

“Most people think we’re just pretty faces on camera, that we’re only there to report — but in reality, we’re also like players. We’re not just part of the broadcast; we’re part of the teams. I try to be an empath, putting myself in the players’ shoes and translating the stories they really want to tell, beyond what people plainly see,” she said in an online interview with FEU Advocate. 

However, this connection comes with its own weight, as the Morayta-based reporter admits that the intensity of each game affects her not just on-air, but also in how she carries herself off-camera.

Amid the high-stakes environment, Juri finds her grounding in the very people she covers, whose hard work keeps her driven to push her own capabilities.

“Every game day, you show up, and you see the same faces, you see them do it all again, and you see them do well in what they do — that drives me to push myself harder. Their hard work keeps me humble, that I should always do more, that enough is never enough, that there’s more to our capabilities,” she expressed.

Taking up space

Eager to change the narrative, Marasigan continues to dismantle the ‘ornamental’ image of telling stories from the sidelines, even as she navigates the human struggle of feeling small or underestimated. 

“Despite me being here where I want to be, as humans, there will really be times where we compare ourselves to others, especially if they’re given opportunities that are not given to you too. Mapapaisip ka talaga kung ano pa kulang (it will really make you think); hence, feeling small, doubted, underestimated, but comparison is [the] thief of joy! That’s why in those moments, it teaches me that with my place in this space, I really have to make an impact,” she mentioned.

When these doubts creep in, she finds her remedy in former FEU CSRs Kylla Castillo and Mae Reyes, who constantly remind her to ‘take up space.’

“Make yourself known, make your abilities known, make your limits known. As a woman on the sidelines, it teaches me to make every game, every day, a learning opportunity to grow. If others have it, so will I,” the green-and-gold reporter said.

The ‘wonder’ in every woman

As Women’s Month puts a spotlight on female excellence, Juri wants the FEU community to shift away from the ‘superhuman’ narrative of student-athletes — a trope that often masks the exhaustion and vulnerability behind the pressure of athletic perfection.

Specifically, the Morayta-based correspondent aims to shine more light on the reality of the Lady Tamaraws and honor their humanity, dubbing them as ‘wonder women.’

"They’re not superwomen; they’re wonder women. They’re just humans, really… They have human emotions; they feel pain and joy… They have so many hats to wear — student, daughter, sister — that they will really make you wonder how they do it all. So to the FEU community, please be gentle with our female Tamaraw athletes, they’re just humans too!" she expressed.

Moreover, Marasigan recounted the physical and mental toll student-athletes face, from the mental exhaustion of constant training to managing the weight of societal expectations and personal problems.

By sharing these realities, Juri hopes that the FEU community becomes more understanding of its Tamaraw athletes, recognizing that they aren’t just point-scoring machines.

As her stint as the Tamaraws’ CSR nears its conclusion, Juri looks back at the version of herself that was once merely a spectator from the bleachers with a new sense of purpose, as she now inspires young women who share the same dreams as her from before.

"The world out there is harsh, but you are tougher. You are here for a reason, you are called for a reason, you are chosen for a reason," Marasigan said.

Through the highs and lows of Season 88, Juri Marasigan continues to bridge the gap between the green-and-gold athletes and the FEU community. Beyond the observance of Women’s Month, she serves as a steady lens that brings the true heart of every Tamaraw into focus — one story at a time.

(Photo courtesy of Maximo Dela Cruz/FEU Athletics)