Meet the first-ever Filipino bobsled team

CALGARY, ALBERTA — Meet Philippine coast guards Jeffrey Dela Cruz, Rolando “Sid” Isidro, Joseph Acosta and Jerby Deriada — members of the very first Philippine bobsled team, which has been winning not only the hearts of kababayans everywhere, but other communities as well.

The team has made Calgary their base to train for the upcoming Alberta Bobsled Association provincial championship in March, and the 2022 Winter Olympic Games.

Team founder Buddy Cunanan says he was inspired by the movie “Cool Runnings” — the first Jamaican bobsled team that participated in the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics.

It took years, but now the dream is a reality.

The team initially trained in Austria, but sought a more feasible base where English is spoken and with Filipinos around to support them — hence the move to Calgary.

Since their move, they also got great help from the Alberta Bobsled Association.

The only way they can thank the countless others who lend their support is to give it their best to make the country proud.

The Philippine bobsled team made history again by winning third place and being the first Southeast Asian Country to race at the Alberta Bobsleigh Association Provincial Championship, earning accolades and praises from sports organizers, spectators and fellow Filipinos.

With this victory and getting a lot of support from kababayans, the team is more hopeful that they will be able to compete in the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.