'Laban Filipinas': Robredo congratulates PH women's football team for clinching World Cup spot
Vice President Leni Robredo on Monday, Jan. 31, congratulated the Philippines’ women’s football team as it punches its way to a historic appearance at the FIFA Women’s World Cup (WWC), the first Philippine team to do so.

The Malditas won in penalty over Chinese Taipei in the quarterfinals of the AFC Asian Women’s Cup at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Pune, India. It marked the first time a Philippine team made it to any FIFA World Cup tournament.
“In behalf of the Office of the Vice President, in behalf of our family, congratulations. We are so looking forward to watching you habang kayo ay naglalaro sa (while you are playing for the) World Cup,” she said in a video message.
“Talagang andiyan kami, magchi-cheer sa inyo. Kayang kaya natin ito. Abante babae. Laban Filipinas (We will be there to cheer you on. We can do this. Move forward, woman. Fight, Filipinas),” she continued.
READ: PH women's football team earns FIFA World Cup berth with dramatic win over Taiwan
The Vice President took pride in the team’s win, and thanked them for the honor they brought to the country.
“Napakalaking karangalan ang dinala ninyo para sa ating bansa at tuloy-tuloy talaga ang (You brought great honor to our country and the) momentum ng mga Pilipino lalo na ang mga kababaihan, hindi lang sa (of Filipinos is continuous especially the women, not only in) sports pero sa ibang larangan pa (but in other fields),” she added.
Japan, South Korea, and China also clinched a World Cup berth.
The Malditas will face South Korea in the semifinals on Thursday, Feb. 3.