WASHINGTON - In celebration of Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month this May, senior captain Lizzie de Guzman of American University lacrosse is sharing her experience playing for the Philippines this past December, and sharing about her background and Filipino culture. She was selected to join the Philippines Lacrosse Association Sixes Team, and competed in the World Lacrosse Sixes Tournament in Hong Kong before visiting the Philippines as well.

For those of us that don’t know you very well, tell us about yourself: where you are from? What is your current major and why did you decide to attend AU?

I'm from Baltimore, Md., and my major is Communication Studies with a minor in Psychology. This semester I took classes towards a master’s degree in Strategic Communication here at AU. I decided to attend AU because of the team culture, strong academics, fun city, and proximity to home. My older brother and older sister went far for college, so I wanted to be somewhere closer but still different than home.

At what age were you introduced to lacrosse and how did your culture and upbringing either support or challenge your participation in the sport?

I started playing lacrosse at the age of 5, as did most people in my area. Baltimore is a lacrosse powerhouse, so exposure to the sport starts very early. What was different for me was that none of my family members played the sport, and my parents really did not know anything about it. In a way, it was exciting because it was a brand new, exciting thing to my family, but it was also difficult as I started to compete more competitively because I did not have family members to look up to or guide me through the tough culture of lacrosse in Baltimore.

Explain the opportunity to play in the Philippines and how did it come about? Also, share what a typical day in this program was like.

My assistant coach at AU, Ang, is involved with the Italian National team, and she found out that the Philippines was starting a women’s team, so she sent me the information and told me to apply. I had never really thought or considered any involvement with international lacrosse, because lacrosse does not really exist in the Philippines. In October, I found out I was 1 of 12 girls selected from a larger pool of applicants to be playing in Hong Kong in December. We had one zoom call before the tournament, then we all met the day before our first game. During the tournament, we would wake up, have team breakfast, go over scout of the teams we were playing, then do any other prep for the day. We would then walk over to the fields and possibly cheer on the men's team if they were playing before us, then walk to our field and get ready for our games. We played two games a day, then we would find food nearby and sightsee in Hong Kong or just rest for the rest of the day. We spent a lot of time together as a team, bonding and enjoying each other’s company. When we went to the Philippines, we were in Manila. We held clinics for locals and taught them basic lacrosse skills. We then would scrimmage each other and scrimmage the men's team for fun and to show the sport at a faster pace. We would have team dinners and explore the area together.

How important was it and what did it mean to you to be representing your culture and the national team for the country of your parents and ancestors?

Representing Philippines Lacrosse was so special. Growing up in a predominantly white area, playing a predominantly white sport, rarely do I encounter other athletes who look like me, or share similar experiences as me. Without this opportunity, I would not be able to meet people who resonate with my experiences, and create long-lasting connections. Additionally, I was able to visit family I have not seen in years, and what was most special was that I was able to do so with my dad who grew up there. Connecting my lacrosse life / culture with my heritage is something I never could have imagined I would have the opportunity to do, and it is something I will now never take for granted. Wearing the Philippines across my chest is such an honor, and being able to grow the sport I love there is so grounding and meaningful.

What are some differences that you noticed in the culture of lacrosse in the Philippines in comparison to the culture of lacrosse in the United States? Did/do these differences make you feel more or less included in each of the teams?

There is not really a lacrosse culture in the Philippines, Right now, the nationals on our team play for Manila Lacrosse Club, which is the biggest program in the Philippines. They hold clinics and practices, welcoming all who are interested in learning more about the sport. The culture of lacrosse in the U.S., especially in Baltimore, is competitive and cutthroat. Once I entered high school and decided I wanted to play at a higher level, I knew lacrosse would be my ticket into a strong academic institution. Playing Division I lacrosse is far from rare where I am from, but it is not until I got to this level that I realized the opportunities that come with the privilege of playing at this level, including the Philippines team. My high school was in the most competitive high school league in the country. I would say growing up I sometimes felt less included because everyone else around me had older siblings, cousins, parents, etc., who had played at higher levels and been through the recruiting process. This was not a part of my culture, and if I did not live in such a powerhouse area, I don’t think I would be where I am now. I think in terms of the Philippines team, I felt very included because most of us grew up in the States with similar experiences, and share the common goal of expanding the sport to more people that look like us.

What are some struggles (whether financial, physical, environmental) that you witnessed that the athletes in the Philippines encounter in comparison to lacrosse athletes in the US?

Financially, lacrosse is an expensive sport in terms of equipment and travel. Athletes in the Philippines rely on donations from the States of sticks and other gear. Additionally, with a lack of lacrosse culture, it is hard to have a grasp on the real pace of the sport and there are not many other teams to compete against. That is why it is important for us to continue to travel there, share our knowledge and passion, and grow the game.

There aren't many minorities that play lacrosse. What do you think are the reasons, and how can we encourage them to participate in the sport?

As mentioned previously, lacrosse is a predominantly white, wealthy sport. Equipment is expensive, as well as fees for teams and travel. If you want to compete at the highest level, you must have a quality stick, and be able to play club (which is very expensive), and travel to recruiting tournaments. All of this adds up very quickly. Therefore, minorities and people of lower socio-economic status have difficulty participating because of how inaccessible the sport can be. In order to diversify the sport, we must create equal opportunity from a young age. This includes making equipment and training accessible, and finding funding elsewhere for programs and clubs. Coaches must look deeper into athletic potential and not just the athletes who are paying thousands to travel all the way to their camps. When I was in high school, I volunteered with Harlem lacrosse in Baltimore, which is a school-based non-profit organization involved in both academic support and lacrosse instruction in the cities of New York, Baltimore, Boston, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles. For me, lacrosse and my parents have provided me the opportunity to play at a competitive high school and club, earn a scholarship to play at a Division I program, and play at an international level. If we make the sport more accessible and equitable, more young people will be exposed to opportunities that can completely change the trajectories of their lives.

What was the most favorite part of your trip?

The most favorite part of my trip was probably visiting the Philippines. Not only growing the sport there, but going there for the first time as an adult (the last time I was 5), with my dad, I was able to connect with my family and my heritage which was so special. Growing up in the States, it is easy to put my culture aside, and continue to assimilate to what I am surrounded by. So, going back to the Philippines, especially with student-athletes like me, it reminded me how special my heritage is and how amazing the opportunity is for an intersection between two integral parts of my life.

The Filipino culture has amazing dishes and delicacies. What is your favorite dish from your culture and why? Did you get to eat it while you were in the Philippines?

My favorite dish from the Philippines is arroz caldo. It is a seasoned rice soup with chicken, and is the ultimate comfort food. My dad makes it a lot at home, so it was cool to be able to have it in the Philippines.

Like most cultures, the Filipino culture also has many traditions that have been passed down from generation to generation. What is your personal favorite tradition that your family still practices?

Although not necessarily unique to Filipino culture, still it places a huge emphasis on family or “Pamilya,” in tagalog. Family is everything, and nothing matters more. Growing up, attending events for family and extended family such as birthday parties, baptisms, graduations, holidays, etc., were non-negotiable. Even if some family members cannot stay for long, there will be gatherings where some are only there for a short amount of time just to pay respects to the rest of the family. My dad is 1 of 6, with him and 4 of his siblings and their families living in the States. My grandparents would travel from the Philippines to the states each summer and spend 2 weeks with each of their children and their families all around the country. Additionally,  creating a family out of the community that you are surrounded by is very big. For example, my dad is constantly going to reunions in both the states and the Philippines with his old classmates and friends that he grew up with. Cultivating long-lasting relationships with people you care about is very important.

What is something that you would want everyone to know (who isn't Filipino) about your culture and why?

Karaoke is huge in Filipino culture. Going out to sing Karaoke with friends and family or simply doing it at home is a common past time for entertainment and competition. When I was younger I was gifted a little karaoke machine and would sit in front of it with my siblings and sing for hours. I think it's funny because now, my teammates always laugh at me for constantly having a song in my head that I'm singing, but it is also a big part of my culture.