Filipinas’ Reina Bonta receives warm welcome in Dumaguete homecomin g

Filipinas’ Reina Bonta during her homecoming in Dumaguete. –FILIPINAS POHOT

MANILA, Philippines—The Filipinas’ heartwarming homecomings continue–this time, for defender Reina Bonta.

Bonta, one of the Philippine national women’s football team’s youngest players at 24 years old, arrived in Dumaguete met by an ecstatic crowd on Wednesday.

As posted by the Filipinas’ official accounts on Instagram, Bonta was also hailed as Dumaguete’s “daughter” for representing the Philippines in the 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup.

“A heartwarming welcome for our Reina Bonta in Dumaguete City where she was named as an “honorary daughter” of the city a few days ago. Reina’s grandmother, Cynthia hails from Dumaguete,” the post read.

Reina was born and raised in the United States to a Filipino-American father, Rob Bonta, who is the first Filipino-American to serve as California Attorney General.

Reina told Fifa.com in July that her grandmother Cynthia stayed with her growing up and taught her about Filipino customs and values.

https://www.facebook.com/PilipinasWNFT/posts/pfbid0iJBFDcHzbJbMLGMrFKqjqSW2N1i2Yd6fNBMSCPmRZXU5NoBMvvJXegaAksBTvgKAl

“My lola is an activist as well – she fights a lot for the liberation of Filipinos, Filipino autonomy, and rights and justice for Filipinos in America. So that’s always been a big part of my life,” she said in the story.

During her visit to Dumaguete, Bonta also helped out young club teams and visiting Silliman University. She also met with Dumaguete’s officials.

Bonta was vital in the Filipinas’ run in the World Cup as a center-back who pushes the pace for the squad.

While not having played with the Philippines much well before the global competition, Bonta was included in several training camps under coach Alen Stajcic until it paid off gradually by receiving minutes for the Philippines.

The Filipinas flew home from New Zealand last week after wrapping up their Women’s World Cup campaign in the group stages.

They had several meet and greet events with the fans and supporters in Metro Manila.