By ADRIAN STEWART CO
The Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod has approved a resolution commending and congratulating Buglas Filipinas, an all-Negrense girls’ football team, for winning the silver medal in the Under-15 girls category of the 33rd Kanga Cup 2025 International Junior Soccer Tournament held in Canberra, Australia last month.
The resolution, authored by Councilor Wilson Gamboa Jr., highlighted how thousands of spectators dubbed Buglas Filipinas as “small but terrific” for going head-to-head against some of the world’s undefeated teams in the prestigious tournament, considered the largest international youth football competition in the Southern Hemisphere.
Gamboa lauded the players for their outstanding performance despite the freezing cold weather, citing each member of the team — Renee Gavriel, Animathea Lomugdang, Claudia Elise Montinola, Ysabel Anara Yasay, Shanel Dominique Molequin, Yannah Marie Amar, Nathalie Rhaine Andres, Hushlee Lhannia De Larrazabal, Angel Nicole Segovia, and Marinel Gonzales.
He noted that the Kanga Cup, Australia’s premier football festival, attracts thousands of young athletes annually and holds a special place in the hearts of football families worldwide.
“For Buglas Filipinas to compete in such a prestigious international tournament is a great feat in itself and to bring home a silver medal not only brings tremendous pride to Bacolod City and Negros Occidental but to the entire country,” Gamboa said.
The resolution also underscored the city government’s duty under the 1987 Philippine Constitution to promote health and well-being, as well as the mandate of the 1991 Local Government Code for local government units to support sports and physical activities for the welfare of their constituents.
“The triumph of Buglas Filipinas serves as a monumental reminder of discipline, determination, dedication, and teamwork for all Filipino youths to emulate. It is not the glitter of the silver medal that matters, but the values formation of sportsmanship, proving that even a local team like Buglas Filipinas can shine in the international arena,” he said./ASC, WDJ