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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Volleyball devider Leila Barros returns to Philippines, feels love from Filipino fans

Leila Barros returns to Philippines, feels love from Filipino fans

Published Sep 27, 2025 01:35 pm

At A Glance

  • It felt as if Leila Barros had never left the Philippines, thanks to the overwhelming warmth and hospitality she received upon her arrival on Friday, Sept. 26, just in time for the final stages of the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship.
Former Brazilian volleyball superstar-turned-Senator Leila Barros pose with loyal Filipino fans. (Mark Balmores)
Former Brazilian volleyball superstar-turned-Senator Leila Barros pose with loyal Filipino fans. (Mark Balmores)
It felt as if Leila Barros had never left the Philippines, thanks to the overwhelming warmth and hospitality she received upon her arrival on Friday, Sept. 26, just in time for the final stages of the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship.
The last time the former Brazilian volleyball superstar-turned-Senator visited the country was 21 years ago, when she competed in the 2004 FIVB World Grand Prix Women’s Volleyball tournament held at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
“I have a lot of good memories here. I always say, we can leave sports, but sports doesn’t leave us,” said Barros through an interpreter after gracing the media on Saturday, Sept. 27.
Now approaching her 54th birthday on Tuesday, Sept. 30, Barros was flooded with nostalgia as she entered the stadium, recalling the golden days of her athletic career.
“It felt natural. I remember those signs from Filipino fans saying, ‘Leila for President’. It felt as if they could see the future that someday, I would become a senator,” said Barros.
“I’m very surprised that even after so many years, I still get a lot of love from Filipino fans,” she added.
Back in the early 2000s, the Philippines experienced what was dubbed as “Leila Mania,” a time when women’s volleyball gained significant attention after the country hosted legs of the FIVB World Grand Prix in 2000 and 2004 -- a refreshing shift in a nation where basketball reigns supreme.
Reflecting on the two decades since her last visit, Barros noted the changes not only in her personal journey but also in the evolution of volleyball in both Brazil and the Philippines.
“The access to sports is not very different in the Philippines and Brazil and I can see that it’s both growing a lot. I can see that here, you’re also doing an effort to help promote sports,” said Barros.
“As a Senator, I am able to also help improve and support a lot of things through sports. When I stopped playing (volleyball), I started helping people have access to sports and it’s something that came out naturally because sports really helped me a lot in life,” she added.
Now a wife and mother, Barros has become particularly involved in initiatives focused on women and youth development.
“I always knew that as soon as I ended my career in sports, I would help give opportunities to women and young athletes to have access to sports. Not only sports create good athletes, but it also creates good citizens,” she said.
Barros also took time to meet with some of her loyal Filipino fans who were invited to the event, graciously posing for photos and signing autographs to express her gratitude for their support.
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