TEAM Philippines’ impressive medal haul — one gold and two bronze — in the recently concluded World Darts Federation (WDF) World Cup held in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea, has prompted Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada to file a resolution seeking the Senate’s commendation of the national team’s historic feat in the international arena.
In his proposed Senate Resolution No. 148, Estrada called on the upper chamber to commend Lovely Mae “Bebeng” Orbeta for clinching the country’s first-ever gold medal in the 2025 WDF World Cup; and Alexis Toylo, Noel Malicdem, Janice Hinojales, Giselle Bulahao, Aileen Oclarit, and Orbeta for capturing two bronze medals.
“Filipino players once again proved their world-class caliber and athletic excellence on the international sports stage, bringing honor and pride to the country. This marks another milestone in Philippine sports, attesting to the inherent talents of Filipinos and our capacity to achieve greatness in prestigious international tournaments,” Estrada said.
Orbeta, a 20-year-old third-year Marketing Management student at the University of Caloocan City, delivered a historic performance in the Women’s Singles event, defeating top-ranked international players, including Paula Murphy of the USA (7–2), Irina Armstrong of Germany (6–2), and Mikuru Suzuki of Japan (4–2). Her gold medal marks a major milestone for Philippine darts, as the country rejoined the WDF after a 16-year hiatus.
In addition to Orbeta’s triumph, Toylo and Malicdem earned bronze in the Open Pairs category, while Hinojales, Bulahao, Oclarit, and Orbeta secured another bronze in the Women’s Team Event. These achievements propelled Team Philippines to a sixth-place overall finish among 47 participating nations.
“Their victory is a testament to the world-class talent, discipline, and fortitude of Filipino athletes. They have brought pride and honor to the nation and reaffirmed our capacity to excel on the global stage,” Estrada said.
The Senate’s recognition underscores the importance of supporting emerging sports and empowering young athletes to pursue excellence.
The WDF World Cup, now on its 24th edition, is a biennial tournament that gathers elite players from around the world to compete in singles, pairs, and team events. The 2025 edition featured 392 players from 47 countries vying for international honors.
After 16 years of absence, the Philippines’ return to the WDF marked an impressive comeback on the global stage.