‘Puso in Paris’ is a heartwarming docu-series that follows the journey of Filipino Olympians along their preparations for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, and delves into stories of their dreams, struggles, and determination to bring victory home.

Words Sophia Pangandian
September 4, 2024

The 2024 Paris Olympic Games, or even olympics, in general, seems to have caught more attention in the Filipino eye, most especially after the country has procured a total of four medals. 

Behind the endless cheers and expressions of thrill from a multitude of Filipinos, there exists diverse journeys and stories that the Filipino Olympians have surmounted, and the mini-documentary series ‘Puso in Paris’ has created an avenue to highlight these experiences. 

It exposes its viewers to the conditions that Filipino athletes encounter as they prepare to represent the Philippines on the global stage, including the root of their journeys, and the sentiments they carry about themselves, their triumphs, as well as the obstacles they inevitably face.

‘Puso in Paris’ is a four-part series divided by sport and its respective Filipino athletes, starting with Filipino gymnast Carlos Yulo, including Filipino boxers Eumir Marcial, Nesthy Petecio, Aira Villegas, Carlo Paalam, and Hergie Bacyadan, and Filipino weightlifters John Ceniza, Vanessa Sarno, and Elreen Ando. The fourth and final episode features Filipino pole vaulter Ernest John “EJ” Obiena. 

With the production executed only about a month before the Olympics, each episode followed the different countries that the athletes were training in. 

Obiena was situated in San Diego, California, the weightlifters and Yulo in Manila, and the boxers in Bangkok, Thailand.

During a special screening at Shangri-La Plaza last August 30, 2024, Clev Mayuga, the director of the mini-documentary series shares that essentially, ‘Puso in Paris’ aims to communicate that Filipino athletes already belong to the world stage. 

Mayuga recollects a question that was raised to her: “Bakit mas may pake mga tao sa olympics ngayon?” In response, she says that it is because the story of the olympians is not detached to those of the common Filipino. “The narratives and experiences of the Filipino olympians mirror Filipino grit and struggle, but most of all, excellence and heart on the stage,” she adds.

Each episode, according to Mayuga, is also representative of messages that certainly resonate with Filipinos. Yulo’s episode is indicative of how Filipinos face their struggles, yet remain in choosing to stand up and keep their heads held high. The boxers, on the other hand, amplifies the dream in procuring better lives for Filipinos and their families.

The weightlifters zero in on the story of the now–the experiences that shape the journey of Filipinos along their goals. Lastly, Obiena’s episode portrays the reality and challenges involved in Filipinos going to foreign land, away from their loved ones, just to get a shot at their dreams. 

Hope also lies at the heart of the mini-documentary series. Mayuga also shares that she hopes for younger Filipinos to take the step towards achieving their dreams, and that the “pake” or care for Filipino athletes and olympians does not end here. 

‘Puso in Paris’ is in collaboration with Smart Communications, Inc., and is available for viewing and streaming at the Smart LiveStream App, Smart Sports & Puso Pilipinas social media pages, and https://smrt.ph/smartlivestream.