By Krizza Gabrielle Tabora and Aine Peralta

For years, Far Eastern University (FEU) female student-athletes have showcased excellence across various sports leagues, whether in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) or on the national stage. However, despite the surge of accomplishments, these athletes continue to face their greatest obstacle: being a woman in sports.

Women have long broken records in sports, and FEU’s women athletes are no strangers to making their mark in green-and-gold history.

Yet beyond the podium finishes and individual accolades, these athletes carry the invisible weight of gendered stereotypes and the constant pressure to justify their place — realities that FEU Advocate centers this Women’s Month through the stories of three gold-winning Lady Tamaraws who navigate a system that continues to question their worth.

Playing twice as hard

In a system where visibility often dictates institutional value, the Lady Tamaraws frequently find themselves negotiating for space, support, and recognition that is not always equally given.

For Season 88 Golden Boot winner and four-peat women’s football champion Judie Arevalo, support for the women’s football team (WFT) is not always guaranteed, with the squad often needing to prove its worth just to sustain funding and recognition for their program.

“Maybe as a woman, madalas kaming [WFT] humaharap sa pressure na we need to proveang aming galing at halaga sa sports kasi compared to men’s leagues, mas nabibigyan sila ng pondo or attention (Maybe as a woman, we often face the pressure of needing to prove our skill and value because compared to men’s leagues, they are given more funding or attention),” she shared.

This reality extends beyond the football pitch and onto the track, where Season 88 women’s athletics champion and Rookie of the Year (ROY) Jecel Vivas navigates the often unspoken mental and emotional toll of being a female trackster.

“Isa sa mga hamon bilang babae sa track and field ay ang kakulangan ng sapat na suporta at minsan hindi pantay na pagtingin kompara sa ibang atleta. May mga pagkakataon din na hindi napag-uusapan ang mental at emosyonal na pressure na dinadala namin (One of the challenges of being a woman in track and field is the lack of sufficient support and at times, unequal treatment compared to other athletes. There are also moments that the mental and emotional pressure we carry aren’t talked about often),” Vivas added.

The anchor in the storm

When expectations of the crowd begin to weigh more heavily than training itself, the Lady Tamaraws return to what remains constant: their beginnings.

This grounded perspective is what keeps ROY Vivas in stride, as her identity as a probinsiyana serves as the foundation of her discipline and mindset on the UAAP stage.

“Lagi kong pinapaalala sa sarili ko kung saan ako nagsimula… Ang pagiging probinsiyana ko ang nagbibigay sa akin ng lakas at disiplina, lalo na kapag pagod na pagod na ako, ang iniisip ko ay ang pamilya ko at ang mga taong sumusuporta sa akin. Sila ang nagsisilbing ‘anchor’ ko na nagbibigay ng lakas para ituloy at tapusin ang laban (I always remind myself where I started — being from the province gives me the strength and discipline to finish the fight, especially when I am exhausted and thinking of my family and the people who support me who serve as my anchor to keep going),” she expressed.

That same internal compass guides FEU Lady Jins co-captain Ashley Rose Reniedo, where she looks back to her ‘whys’ to navigate the demands of being both a student-athlete and a national team member. For her, the weight of being a green-and-gold athlete is not a burden but a source of power.

“I stay grounded by always reminding myself why I started and what my goals are. Especially during hard times and tough training sessions, I ask myself: What do I want? What is my purpose?” Reniedo shared.

Passion beyond perception 

Despite the growing visibility of women’s sports in the Philippines, gendered perceptions persist, forcing our Morayta-based female athletes to constantly redefine what strength looks like.

From Reniedo's perspective, women athletes are steadily proving their capabilities through passion, discipline, and competitiveness, even as their strength is often measured against different expectations set by traditional stereotypes. 

“Women today are proving that we can be just as passionate, dedicated, and competitive. Our strength may not always look the same as men’s, but our mindset, discipline, and determination can match, if not exceed what is expected,” she stated.

In the case of Vivas, however, the conversation shifts toward the deeper challenges of recognition and understanding of the sacrifices made behind closed doors.

“Bilang babae sa sports, may mga hamon tulad ng pagdududa ng ibang tao sa kakayahan namin at kakulangan sa exposure. Minsan hindi rin nauunawaan ng iba ang sakripisyo at hirap na pinagdadaanan namin. Umaasa ako na sa hinaharap ay mas kikilalanin ang talento ng kababaihan at mabibigyan ng pantay na oportunidad at respeto sa larangan ng sports (As a woman in sports, there are challenges such as other people doubting our capabilities and the lack of exposure. Sometimes, other people don’t understand the sacrifices and challenges we go through. I hope that in the future, the talent of women will be more recognized and will be given equal opportunity and respect in the field of sports),” the Lady Trackster shared.

For Arevalo, the message extends to empowerment and persistence amid these limitations.

“Sa kapuwa kong kababaihan ay huwag nilang hayaang limitahan sila ng ibang tao para sa kanilang pangarap at stay hardworking and patuloy sa pag-prove na kung kaya ng lalaki, kaya rin nating mga babae (To my fellow women, do not let others limit your dreams; stay hardworking and continue to prove that if men can do it, so can we),” she added.

Despite the systemic challenges, these FEU athletes continue to push forward, fueled by the hope that the narrative surrounding women in sports will shift toward genuine equality, whether in funding or in society’s perception of them.

Through their resilience and achievements, they are paving the way for future generations of women in sports to be seen and valued for their talent and hard work, not their gender.

These Lady Tamaraws’ journeys are a testament to their dedication to rewriting the script and what excellence means — to be able to thrive despite these invisible hurdles. In every goal scored, every race run, and every victory earned, they reinforce the message that strength, passion, and skill are not bound by being a woman.

(Photo by Ma. Louela Luna/FEU Advocate; Photos courtesy of the UAAP Media Team and Ashley Rose Reniedo)