Marielle Benitez

Benitez was born on 2 October 1981 in Quezon City, Philippines. She first took up various sports in her childhood such as tennis, gymnastics, martial arts, basketball, swimming, volleyball, and underwater hockey.{{cite web|last1=Gineprini|first1=Nicholas|title=L'Intervista: Marielle Benitez sullo sviluppo del calcio femminile nelle Filippine|trans-title=Interview: Marielle Benitez on the development of women's football in the Philippines|url=http://www.tuttocalcioestero.it/2016/03/30/lintervista-marielle-benitez-sullo-sviluppo-del-calcio-femminile-nelle-filippine/126416|website=Tuttocalcio Estero.it|access-date=17 December 2016|language=Italian, English|date=30 March 2016}} She started playing football when she was on her first year in high school. She first took up the sport at PAREF Woodrose. By her third year, De La Salle coach, Hans Smit took notice of Benitez.{{cite web|title=Marielle Benitez and her golden goal in life|url=http://thelasallian.com/2012/02/28/marielle-benitez-and-her-golden-goal-in-life/|website=The LaSallian|access-date=17 December 2016|date=28 February 2012}} Graduating from PAREF Woodrose in 1998,{{cite web|first1=Nat|last1=Roque|first2=Gabbee|last2=Pinga|first3=Daniella|last3=Lorenzo|title=Celebrating Linggo ng Wika|url=http://www.parefwoodrose.edu.ph/celebrating-linggo-ng-wika/|website=PAREF Woodrose School for Girls|access-date=17 December 2016|quote=It was also interesting to note that one of the Bayanihan members, Marielle Benitez, is a Woodrose alumna from batch 1998 and a former team captain of the national women’s football team.}} she decided to attend the De La Salle University. She later attained two degrees – in Psychology and Marketing Management.

Benitez played at the University Athletic Association of the Philippines for the De La Salle Lady Booters. She scored the winning kick for her squad in the final of UAAP Season 61 beating defending champion, the UST. On her junior year in college, she switched playing position from defender to midfielder and started to lead her squad.

She was awarded various accolades at the inter-college sports tournament such as UAAP Athlete of the Year in 2004, UAAP Most Valuable Players trice, and UAAP Best Striker/Top Scorer twice.

Benitez played for SQS United FC. By 2016, Benitez is playing for Green Archers United F.C. and participated in the inaugural season of the PFF Women's League.{{cite news|last1=Guerrero|first1=Bob|title=PFF Women's League leads the charge for Pinay football|url=http://www.rappler.com/sports/by-sport/football/155635-pff-women-leading-charge-pinay-football|access-date=17 December 2016|work=Rappler|date=15 December 2016}}

Benitez played for the Philippine women's national football team. She made four match appearances for the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifiers.{{cite web|title=Marielle BENITEZ|url=https://www.fifa.com/fifa-tournaments/players-coaches/people=200536/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221004253/http://www.fifa.com/fifa-tournaments/players-coaches/people=200536/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 21, 2016|website=FIFA|access-date=17 December 2016}} She has made at least 54 appearances for the national team and scored at least 5 goals.

By June 2016, Benitez is already working with the Philippine U-14 girls team as an assistant coach to Joyce Landangan.{{cite news|last1=Tamayo|first1=Brian|title=For Benitez, early exposure is vital in cultivating Philippine women's football|url=http://tiebreakertimes.com/tbt/for-benitez-early-exposure-is-vital-in-cultivating-philippine-womens-football/58310|access-date=17 December 2016|work=Tiebreaker Times|date=11 June 2016}}

By 2012, Benitez was already appointed as the Sports Development and Physical Education Director of the Philippine Women's University. She also works as a television host, sports analyst and football ambassador for Balls Channel. She also co-presented Road To Rio, a series about the preparation for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.{{citation needed|date=August 2023}} She would also work for One Sports.{{cite news |last1=Sacamos |first1=Karlo |title=Former skipper Marielle Benitez reflects on how far Filipinas have come |url=https://www.spin.ph/football/fifa/marielle-benitez-filipinas-2023-fifa-women-s-world-cup-a794-20230801-lfrm |access-date=5 August 2023 |work=Sports Interactive Network Philippines |date=2 August 2023 |language=en}}

Benitez is as dancer for the Bayanihan Folk Arts Foundation, the national folk dance company of the Philippines. She is the executive director of the group since 2022. Her mother held the same position until the matriarch's death.{{cite news |title=She dances in her mother's shoes |url=https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/27/she-dances-in-her-mothers-shoes/ |access-date=5 August 2023 |date=27 May 2022|archive-date=28 May 2022 |archive-url=https://www.manilatimes.net/2022/06/05/the-sunday-times/arts-awake/bayanihan-board-elects-new-executive-director/1846205}}

Benitez is married to Negros businessman and long-time friend Dave Torres Javellana since 2019. She also had former Senator Helena Benitez as her aunt.{{cite news |last1=Jacinto |first1=Frannie |title=Marielle Benitez & Dave Javellana: Like in sports, true love never quits |url=https://www.philstar.com/lifestyle/sunday-life/2019/04/07/1907832/marielle-benitez-dave-javellana-sports-true-love-never-quits |access-date=5 August 2023 |work=The Philippine Star |date=7 April 2019}}

{{reflist}}

{{Philippines squad 2003 AFC Women's Championship}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Benitez, Marielle}}

Category:1981 births

Category:Living people

Category:Filipino women's footballers

Category:21st-century Filipino sportswomen

Category:Philippines women's international footballers

Category:De La Salle University alumni

Category:Footballers from Metro Manila

Category:Sportspeople from Quezon City

Category:Women's association football midfielders

Category:Filipino female dancers