Winning Still | Essays from the Philippine Sports Landscape during the Pandemic | Discovery Primea

Winning Still was written over the first 100 days of the coronavirus pandemic.
​It was a time where there we no games, no matches, no meets, no tournaments, no Olympics. It was a time when athletes stood still.

Stripped of our activities and busy-ness, our plans tossed in the deep sea, we were at our barest, leanest, purest, and finest.
The pause button for humanity was the regeneration of nature and life.
 AKIKO THOMSON - GUEVARRA

Through all these reflections, what I've found is that every time I was faced with a challenged that at first seemed insurmountable, I was able to adapt.
I think we often don't give ourselves enought credit for our ability to adapt to the various challenges in our lives.
​- ADA MILBY

I am strong and beautiful woman. The opinions of other people do not define who I am as a person. The pandemic may have put my plans on hold, but it does not change how I see myself, and how I can represent women in sports.
- HIDILYN DIAZ

I had never spent that much physically alone in one space, but it was where I spent the most of the time with God and the people He blessed my life with.
Instead of others in service of goals, my mindset became goals in service of others.
​- MEGGIE OCHOA

Talk it out! The more we communicate, the easier it will be to create possible solutions and move away from our fears. In volleyball, we communicate by saying mine, got it, or Im right behind you. But in this pandemic, the words we share are reassurances that better days will come.
​- OLIVER ALMADRO

This pandemic has made me realize a few things: it has allowed me to discover how resilient I have become through the years. It has shown me the abiility to cope with unfamiliar and difficult situations, and overcome changes and challenges in life.
- MARIELLE BENITEZ - JAVELLENA

Life may not always be the perfect stance. However, we try to make the most out of it. We equip ourselves with all the arsenal we have to achieve victories celebrated with the world.
​- RUBILEN AMIT

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I cringe abut whenever I hear the phrase bouncing back. I believe the operative term should be bouncing forward, which connotes transistioning from a state of tragedy to one of new found strength and growth.
- GERALDINE GO - BERNARDO

For life to go on, we should never give up hope. Hope that this will be over soon. Hope that we can adapt to the new normal. And hope that there is something to look forward to and come back to. 
​- PAUL SUPAN

I urge everyone to accept everything with an open heart and an open mind.
Only then can we fully embrace what life has to offer.
- REBO SAGUISAG

- GANG BADOY CAPATI 
Publisher of Winning Still

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Photographers: Joel H. Garcia & Ma-anne Roque-Garcia are professional photographer based in Manila. 
A husband & wife photography team who specialize in creative wedding, event & portraiture photography.

​​www.joelhgarciaphotography.com
IMAGES THAT SPEAK.
Behind every frame, there's a story.