A day after the Philippines’ women’s volleyball team was knocked out of the 2023 Cambodia SEA Games semifinals, a group of Filipinas was seen serving and spiking in the heart of Kuala Lumpur.
“Perhaps the focus was not there. Also, our team lacked speed. They could receive, spike … but the speed was not like Thailand’s,” said Lymhar Benihagan, one of the ones doing the serving and spiking, on her home team’s performance.
The 39-year-old’s association with volleyball started in school. Originally from Cebu City, she came to Malaysia in 2007, singing in several bands, such as Hyperdrive, Hyperzone, and One Asia, at several hotels nationwide.
In 2017, she quit singing, settled down with a Malaysian, and is today, the mother of a 19-month old boy.
Lymhar says volleyball keeps her going.
“I started playing volleyball when I was seven. It is part of my life. My first love is volleyball, but I’m also a badminton addict. Playing sports makes me feel alive and happy,” Lymhar said, when met at the one-day volleyball league at Menara Boustead, along Jalan Raja Chulan, in the city, on Sunday.
“I also get to connect with my fellow Filipinas.”
The one-day volleyball league saw the participation of five teams, largely comprising Filipinas working in Malaysia. There was also a handful of locals who joined in the fun.
After basketball, volleyball is widely played in the Philippines. The keen interest and quick rise of the sport decades ago resulted in the Philippines’ women’s volleyball team winning the gold medal in the 1977, 1979, 1981, 1985, 1987 and 1993 editions of the SEA Games.
However, the women’s team has been struggling to make an impact in the region since, with Thailand dominating the scene.
Nevertheless, the sport continues to attract a lot of interest back home, evident in the huge number of viewers and followers of the national leagues, such as the Premier Volleyball League and the V-League.
“We start playing the sport from young. We play on sand, rough surfaces, courts. Nothing stops us from playing the sport,” added Lymhar.
“It’s inexpensive, unlike badminton, where most of us back home can’t afford the rental of courts, and purchasing shuttlecocks. With volleyball, all you need is a ball and two bamboo sticks to place the net. That’s it.
“I’m very blessed and happy that I have a supportive husband (R. Asoka). He encourages me to play,” Lymhar added.
Jesell Panilo Zulueta, a 39-year-old domestic helper in Kuala Lumpur, said such sporting events helped strengthen the bond among the Filipino community in a foreign country.
Just like Lymhar, Jesell has been in Malaysia for over a decade – 15 to be exact.
“This is the fourth family I’m working for now,” said Jesell.
“They have been really supportive of my weekend activities, which include badminton, too. There’s a large number of us who play sports regularly, almost every weekend,” she added.
Jesell too, started playing volleyball at a very young age – since her days in San Manuel Tarlac Elementary School.
But she only started playing actively in Kuala Lumpur in 2015.
“Sports is the best way to refresh your mind. I run, play badminton … on my off days, I choose to be active in sports.
“We come from different parts of the Philippines. In Malaysia, we are foreigners. So, it’s at places like these that we meet our fellow Filipinos, where we connect.
“It’s the best time to share our experiences in Malaysia, advising the newbies about life in Kuala Lumpur.”
Jesell described her long stay in Kuala Lumpur as “easy and convenient.” Her three siblings – two brothers and a sister – are also working in Kuala Lumpur.
Jesell added that many within the community take it upon themselves to organise such events.
“We have new Filipinos coming over to Malaysia to work. I encourage them to at least join others from the community to get active and enjoy the life here. This (sports) is the best thing to do outside work,” she added.
Jesell is thankful of her supportive employers and hopes they will watch her play, some day.
“Perhaps they are busy, I mean weekends are usually family days. But I do hope they will see my game one day,” she added.
The Philippines’ women’s volleyball team lost to Indonesia, yet again, in the SEA Games bronze medal match on May 14, but as far as Lymhar, Jesell, and their friends are concerned, volleyball will continue to play an important role in their lives – to network, create a support group, and to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
