Can you take us back to the beginning — how did your journey with football start, and what drew you to the sport?
My earliest memories of football are of driving past the local fields on the way to Sunday Mass with my family. The fields were always packed, and I would sit up to peek out of the window with fascination, watching as footballs flew through the air and paleteros sold shaved ice and other street snacks after games.
Eventually, I asked my mom to sign me up for the local club, and we joined the community of people we used to pass by every weekend. From there, my love for the game only grew. I would play every day—after school with my teammates and during recess breaks with the boys, when all we needed were two trees as goalposts and an old, peeling ball to fuel our competitiveness.
What was the moment you truly felt football wasn’t just a sport for you, but part of your identity?
I don’t think there’s any one moment I can pinpoint, but rather a collection of moments that started when I was around seven years old—right when I transitioned from playing football recreationally to competitively. At some point, I found myself turning down more invitations to hang out at a friend’s house or attend a classmate’s birthday party, all in favor of practice or a weekend tournament.
Football gradually became more of a priority, until “I can’t, I have soccer” became a natural response for me. Looking back, I realize those were the earliest sacrifices I made for the sport. But even though I wished I could see my friends more outside of school, I never really felt like I was missing out—because football brought me so much joy.
Have you ever felt underestimated as a Filipina footballer, and how did you push through those moments?
Anywhere I’ve played, I’ve noticed that football is a space where you have to earn respect, no matter who you are. Each time I join a new team—or even just casual pickup games—it’s a fresh opportunity for me to prove myself and show what I can do. In those situations, I focus on doing something positive every time I touch the ball, taking it one moment at a time.
But when the ball isn’t coming your way—especially in co-ed games—the best thing to do is win it yourself and make something happen from there. As a Filipina footballer, I’ve learned that you often have to take the opportunity rather than wait for it to be handed to you.
What role does your Filipino heritage play in how you approach the game — on and off the pitch?
Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, I’ve been exposed to so much cultural diversity. I’m always proud when people from other backgrounds describe Filipinos they know as hardworking and humble, and I try my best to embody those traits as a Filipina footballer.
When I think of Filipino athletes—both past and present—the first word that comes to mind is puso, or "heart" in Tagalog. Seeing that natural drive in Filipino athletes to compete with heart, grit, and passion inspires me to approach the game in the same way, especially when I’m wearing the Philippine flag on my jersey.
How do you handle self-doubt, especially in high-pressure situations or after a tough loss?
Truthfully, confidence has always been one of my biggest struggles as an athlete, and figuring out how to manage it is still a work in progress for me. Even after 17 years of playing football, I still experience moments of imposter syndrome and self-doubt.
In those times, I try to remind myself of everyone who’s supported me along my journey—those who’ve believed in me and my abilities when I couldn’t believe in myself. I use that external support to spark internal confidence when it feels hard to find it on my own.
Do you feel a responsibility to inspire young girls in the Philippines? How do you carry that weight?
Yes, I do carry that responsibility with me—especially because one of my biggest motivations for continuing to play is to inspire younger footballers. When I play, I’m playing for something beyond myself, and having that purpose in the back of my mind adds an extra layer of pressure.
But I’ve learned that pressure is a privilege. I’m still learning how to balance that mindset in a way that pushes me to keep improving while also giving myself the grace to recognize how far I’ve come in the process.
If you could change one thing about how women’s football is treated in Southeast Asia, what would it be and why?
One thing that would really help women’s football in Southeast Asia is increased coverage—whether through mainstream media or social media—similar to the work being done by platforms like The Pitch Invaders. Putting the spotlight on the female footballers of Southeast Asia and sharing their stories helps generate interest and shows people that women’s football is worth investing time, money, and attention into.
Visibility matters. It’s a lot easier to encourage young Asian girls to take up football when they (and their families) can see where the sport can take them—not just on the pitch, but in life.
What part of your journey are you most proud of—that no one really sees or talks about?
When I was younger, I remember playing with some classmates after school when a teacher jokingly said he didn’t think any of us had the potential to go far in sports. He laughed it off, but those words stuck with me. And that was just the first of many moments in my life where I could’ve easily given up after facing resistance or rejection.
In my career so far, there have been a lot of “near-misses” that not many people know about—moments where I came close to achieving my biggest football dreams, but things didn’t quite align. In eighth grade, I had the chance to join the Philippine youth national team but had to stay behind for graduation. In high school, I watched my teammates sign Letters of Intent while I graduated without committing to any NCAA program. In college, I had to turn down what could’ve been my first senior national team call-up to keep my spot in my nursing program.
But in all of those moments—big and small—what I’m most proud of is that I kept going, even when people or circumstances told me “no.” Even when the outcome wasn’t guaranteed, I had enough faith to believe that God was simply saying, “Not yet.” Looking back now, I realize that maybe I wasn’t ready then, but that everything really did happen in its perfect timing.
If I had taken that one teacher’s words to heart, I never would’ve gotten to experience the beautiful lessons, opportunities, and relationships that football has brought into my life. And for that, I’ll always be grateful.
If football were taken away from you tomorrow, who would Alex Carpio be?
If football were taken away from me tomorrow, I’d be fortunate enough to have an alternative path doing something I’m just as passionate about—helping others as a nurse. I’m still relatively early in my football career, but already, this sport has given me some of my highest highs and lowest lows. Through all of it, football has revealed so much to me—about myself and about life.
Lessons like the importance of preparation, discipline, and teamwork are things I’ll carry with me, no matter where my future leads. And when the time comes for me to finally hang up my boots, I’ll find strength in knowing that it was my faith and resilience in the face of hardship that gave me such a meaningful and memorable journey.
Before we wrap up—do you have a message for the people who’ve supported you throughout your journey: your family, fans, teammates, and even the young girls who look up to you?
First and foremost, I want to say thank you. As I’ve shared before, whenever I struggle with self-confidence, I draw strength from thinking of all the people who’ve supported me along the way. No matter how small their words or actions may have seemed to them, they’ve meant the world to me. I am where I am today because of every person who believed in me, took a chance on me, and encouraged me to keep going—especially my mom, who continues to believe in me even in moments when I struggle to believe in myself.
To the young girls watching: if you really want something, don’t let anyone stop you from going after it. Chase it with patience and determination. Growing up, my mom always said, “You never know if you don’t try.” When I was applying to universities, nearly every admissions representative told me, “No one does athletics and nursing together—you have to choose.” But there’s always a first time for everything. Even if no one’s done it before—who says you can’t be the first?
Six-year-old me could never have dreamed of the things I’ve experienced through this beautiful game. I hope and pray that more young girls are encouraged and supported in their dreams just as I’ve been blessed to be in mine.