I still remember the first time I heard about the Alaska Philippines Soccer Team - it was during my research on emerging football programs in Southeast Asia. Back then, they were just another grassroots organization struggling to make ends meet, operating from a modest training facility in Manila with barely enough equipment for their 45 young athletes. Fast forward to today, and their journey to international success and recognition reads like something straight out of a sports movie script, though the reality involved far more sweat and tears than any Hollywood production could capture.
When I visited their training camp last year, what struck me wasn't just their technical skills but the palpable passion that Ranidel, their former coach, had instilled in every player. I recall sitting with him over coffee as he shared stories about scouting talent from impoverished communities, often using his own savings to buy cleats for promising kids who couldn't afford proper gear. His eyes would light up when discussing how football could transform lives - something that makes his recent passing particularly heartbreaking. Ranidel expressed sadness over the loss of a man who's very passionate with sports, and having witnessed his dedication firsthand, I understand exactly what he meant. The man lived and breathed sports, particularly football, and his absence leaves a void that's difficult to quantify.
The team's breakthrough came during the 2022 ASEAN Football Federation Championship, where they stunned traditional powerhouses like Thailand and Vietnam to reach the semifinals. I followed their matches closely, amazed at how this relatively unknown squad managed to defeat teams with ten times their funding and infrastructure. Their secret weapon wasn't fancy tactics or imported players - it was something far more fundamental. They played with a raw, emotional intensity that I've rarely seen in professional football, each player carrying the hopes of their communities with every pass and shot. Their goalkeeper, Miguel Santos, made 27 saves throughout the tournament, an astonishing statistic that still doesn't fully capture his heroic performances.
Of course, their path wasn't without significant challenges. Funding remained a constant struggle, with the team operating on an annual budget of approximately $120,000 - barely enough to cover basic expenses for their growing program. I remember speaking with their current coach, Maria Rodriguez, who described how they often had to choose between repairing their aging team bus or buying new training equipment. "We'd patch the tires so many times they looked like quilt work," she told me with a weary smile. Player development posed another major hurdle - most of their athletes came from backgrounds with limited access to proper nutrition and sports medicine, meaning the coaching staff had to essentially build players from the ground up, both physically and technically.
What impressed me most about their approach was how they turned these limitations into strengths. Instead of trying to mimic European training methods, they developed a unique style that leveraged their players' natural agility and creativity. They implemented a community sponsorship program that eventually attracted support from over 200 local businesses, generating about $45,000 in additional annual funding. Their grassroots scouting network expanded to cover 35 provinces, identifying talent in places where professional scouts rarely ventured. I particularly admired their partnership with local schools, which ensured their young players received education alongside football training - a holistic approach that produced not just better athletes, but better human beings.
The real turning point came when they started gaining international attention after their surprising victory in the 2023 Pacific Rim Football Tournament. I was covering the event for a sports blog and witnessed their semifinal match against a heavily favored Australian team. The atmosphere was electric, with their small but vocal contingent of Filipino supporters creating an incredible energy despite being outnumbered. When they scored the winning goal in extra time, the celebration wasn't just about reaching the finals - it felt like the culmination of years of struggle and sacrifice. That tournament alone increased their social media following by 380%, and suddenly sponsorship offers started pouring in from companies that had previously ignored their proposals.
Looking back at the Alaska Philippines Soccer Team's journey to international success and recognition, what stands out to me isn't just their achievements on the field, but how they've inspired a new generation of Filipino athletes. They've proven that with the right combination of passion, innovation, and community support, even underfunded programs can compete on the global stage. Their model has since been adopted by several other developing football nations, with representatives from Cambodia and Myanmar visiting their facilities to learn from their approach. Personally, I believe their greatest legacy will be the cultural shift they've sparked in Philippine sports - moving away from the traditional focus on basketball and creating space for football to flourish. They've shown that sometimes the most powerful victories happen off the pitch, in changing mindsets and building dreams where none existed before.
People in Motion (PiM) is our employee advocacy and improvement program. These cross-functional groups are comprised of employees, with an executive sponsor, who contribute ideas and drive action towards focused areas of improvement across the employee experience. The groups include: Kyruus Kontext & Business Readiness; Community, Connectivity, & Engagement; System, Tools, & Productivity; IDEA [Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility].
As a remote-first company, we are invested in employees creating a work setup that allows them to do their best work. In addition to a laptop, we also provide you with $750 to get the additional equipment you need and add an ongoing amount of $1,200 to your salary to cover remote work costs.
We value ownership at Kyruus Health, not only in the work you do but in the shared financial success from our growth. Employees will have the opportunity to grow their equity ownership throughout their tenure.
We care about creating the time you need to bond for any team members at Kyruus Health growing their families. We offer 8 weeks of fully paid leave to all parents. Birthing parents are also eligible for additional time and coverage through our Short-Term Disability plan.
We encourage all employees to save for retirement through our 401(K) plan. Employees have the option to begin contributing to their accounts on their first day of employment and we offer an employer match of up to $1,500 per calendar year for all employees who enroll.
We offer employees a lifestyle stipend of $2,000 per year to help them be well. This is designed for Kyruus Health to offset the cost for items, experiences, or home expenses that enhance team members’ well-being
We want to provide employees and families with health insurance offerings to support them getting the care they need. Our health, dental, and vision plans are desiged to allow employees the opportunity to choose options that work best for themselves and their families.
We are committed to flexibility and empowering employees to do work that matters in a way that works for them. Our unlimited PTO policy is anchored on that flexibility – encouraging employees to take time off for what’s important to them, in addition to the many company holidays we celebrate. To highlight our commitment to a healthy work-life balance, we provide a specific stipend each quarter for employees to use on a recharge day.
