Fil-American athlete Sophia Yve Dignadice, the daughter of former Philippine basketball star Yves Dignadice, is now eligible to join the national girls’ basketball team after recently receiving her Philippine passport.
The 15-year-old has been on the radar of national women’s team head coach Patrick Aquino, who first noticed her at a Fil-Am National Select basketball showcase organized by Cris Gopez.
Aquino had long awaited the day when Dignadice could process her dual citizenship.
Sophia’s father, Yves Dignadice, is a former professional basketball player who spent 14 seasons in the Philippine Basketball Association, primarily with the San Miguel Beermen, winning nine championships. He was also a member of the esteemed NCC-national team under the late Ron Jacobs.
The Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles recently launched an information campaign about citizenship and birth reporting for Filipinos and Filipino-Americans in California. Sophia was one of the first to take advantage of the program.
After her parents reported her birth and she received her first Philippine passport, she became eligible to join the Philippine national girls’ basketball team, according to a post by the Philippine Consulate in Los Angeles.
The Consulate General noted that many Filipinos and Filipino-Americans are unaware that they and/or their children are entitled to Philippine citizenship.
Often, by the time they visit the Consulate to report births and secure passports, they are under significant pressure to meet various deadlines.
The Consulate hopes that Philippine citizenship and possessing a Philippine passport will open up additional opportunities for Fil-Am children in sports, education, careers, and investments, among other fields.
“Despite being just 12 years old, Sophia showed maturity beyond her years,” said Aquino about Sophia, who was a varsity member of Madrona Middle School in Torrance.