Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—Maxine Esteban knows that being part of the national team extends beyond sports.
The national fencing athlete used her platform to raise P339,000, and gathered 50 pieces of COVID-19 Uratex pillows and 92 bottles of alcohol a week after she and her sisters launched “A Small Thing Goes a Long Way” campaign on April 10.
“At first I wanted to make my break productive. I really thought of how I can do my part as a Filipino citizen and as a national athlete to help out our frontliners,” said the 19-year-old Atenean, who won bronze in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.
“I feel like the youth has to actively participate and take part in helping the government find ways to reach out to the medical frontliners and the affected communities.”
Esteban said she was overwhelmed with the support she received and that she was inspired when Hidilyn Diaz, who won silver in the weightlifting competitions in the 2016 Rio Olympics, also launched her own fundraising drive.
The UAAP Season 81 Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player has UST Hospital, UERM Memorial Hospital, National Children’s Hospital, and affected communities in San Juan as her campaign’s beneficiaries.
“I was really surprised because I saw Ate Hidilyn raise funds also that is why I started one as well,” said Esteban. “I think she reached almost P100,000 so I was surprised when I saw my friends donating a lot and some people I don’t even know.”