The Philippines is no stranger to the Winter Olympics, having competed in six editions of the Games. Now, a new sport is aiming to add to that legacy: curling.
Curling Pilipinas, a team made up of Filipinos based in the United States, Canada, and Switzerland, made headlines last month by winning Division B at the Pan-Continental Curling Championship.
Their victory not only earned them promotion to Division A but also brought them a step closer to their Olympic dream.
“It’s very important para sa Curling Pilipinas because it keeps the Olympic dream alive,” said Curling Winter Sports Association of the Philippines president Benjo Delarmente in a GMA news interview.
Delarmente acknowledges the challenge ahead, but remains optimistic about the Philippines’ chances, even if it doesn’t make the 2026 Winter Games.
“One thing with curling, kapag nag-start ka na mag-curl, people would sometimes say anything can happen in curling. We never know,” he said. “Small steps first.”
While the Olympic goal is a major focus, Delarmente also emphasizes the importance of growing curling within the Filipino community, both in the Philippines and abroad.
“Ang dream namin talaga is to set up a curling facility in the Philippines,” he said. “Dahil ang curling nga, tingin ko is a sport that Filipinos will really love. And parang combination siya ng bowling, billiards, chess, holland, at saka darts. So mga bagay na mahilig ang mga Pilipino.”
Delarmente sees the sport as a unifying force for Filipinos in the diaspora, offering them a chance to connect with their roots.
“Alam natin sa mga diasporic communities, malakas iyung sense of Pinoy pride and similar feelings. So I think that’s another thing that we give. It also gives them parang a sense of being Filipino,” Delarmente said.