Mon Jul 10 2023

FC Barcelona had a Messi before there was even a Messi. In this episode, Megan tells the story of Paulino Alcantara, a Spanish-Filipino footballer born in 1896 and a forefather of Barça football. We learn about the reach and impact of women's football in the Philippines from women's national team media member Venice Furio. And, Dr. Patricio Abinales, professor at the University of Hawaii–Manoa's School for Pacific and Asian Studies, provides an engaging history lesson into America's regime over the Philippines, its impact on sport in the nation, and how private sectors influenced the government's decision to expand citizenship, ultimately laying the groundwork for Filipino heritage players to join the national teams.