Reina Bonta

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Reina Bonta

| image =

| fullname = Reina Gabriela Villafañe Bonta

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|4|17|mf=yes}}

| birth_place = New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.

| height = 1.72 m

| position = Center-back

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 = Bishop O'Dowd High School

| youthyears2 =

| youthclubs2 = De Anza Force

| collegeyears1 = 2017–2021

| college1 = Yale Bulldogs

| collegecaps1 = 57

| collegegoals1 = 2

| years1 = 2022–2023

| clubs1 = San Francisco Nighthawks

| caps1 = 0

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2023–2024

| clubs2 = Santos

| caps2 = 16

| goals2 = 0

| nationalyears1 = 2022–

| nationalteam1 = Philippines

| nationalcaps1 = 14

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| club-update = 21:15, 19 December 2024 (UTC)

| nationalteam-update = 14:00, 13 November 2023 (UTC)

}}

Reina Gabriela Villafañe Bonta (born April 17, 1999) is a professional footballer and filmmaker who plays as a center-back. Born in the United States, she represents the Philippines at international level.{{Cite web|url=https://asianjournal.com/magazines/mdwk-magazine/lahi-reina-bonta-talks-about-how-the-multi-generational-fil-am-experience-inspired-directorial-debut/|title='Lahi': Reina Bonta Talks About How The Multi-Generational Fil-Am Experience Inspired Directorial Debut|date=September 29, 2022 |publisher=asianjournal.com}}

Early life

Bonta was born in New Haven, Connecticut and raised in Alameda, California to a Filipino American father originally from Quezon City and a mother of Puerto Rican descent from New York. Her paternal grandfather was born in the United States, her paternal grandmother in the Philippines and her maternal grandparents in Puerto Rico.{{Cite web|url=https://www.socceramerica.com/publications/article/96193/californian-reina-bonta-on-playing-for-brazils-sa.html|title=Californian Reina Bonta on playing for Brazil's Santos FC and the Philippines: 'Experiencing something very special'|date=May 23, 2023}}

Career

=College career=

Like her dad, Bonta played collegiate soccer at Yale University.{{cite web|url=https://yalebulldogs.com/sports/womens-soccer/roster/reina-bonta/16350|title=Reina Bonta - 2021 - Women's Soccer - Yale University|website=yalebulldogs.com|accessdate=4 November 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.goodnewspilipinas.com/filipinas-footballer-reina-bontas-debut-film-screens-in-hawaii-intl-film-fest/|title=Filipinas footballer Reina Bonta's debut film screens in Hawai'i Int'l Film Fest|date=October 4, 2022 |publisher=goodnewspilipinas.com}}

=Club career=

==Santos==

On March 1, 2023, it was announced that Bonta joined Campeonato Brasileiro de Futebol Feminino club Santos.{{cite web|url=https://www.santosfc.com.br/sereias-da-vila-acertam-mais-um-reforco-internacional-para-a-temporada-2023/|title=Sereias da Vila acertam mais um reforço internacional para a temporada 2023|trans-title=Sereias da Vila have another international addition for the 2023 season|publisher=Santos FC|language=pt-BR|date=March 1, 2023|accessdate=March 3, 2023}}

International career

Bonta is eligible to represent either United States (where she was born), Philippines (where her father was born) or Puerto Rico (where her maternal grandparents were born) at the international level.

=Philippines=

In September 2022, Bonta received a call-up from the Philippines for a friendly against New Zealand.{{cite news|last1=del Carmen|first1=Lorenzo|url=https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/chandler-mcdaniel-returns-as-four-newcomers-join-filipinas-for-nzl-friendly/249273|title=Chandler McDaniel returns as four newcomers join Filipinas for NZL friendly|publisher=Tiebreaker Times|date=4 September 2022|accessdate=4 November 2022}} The match ended in a 2–1 defeat for the Philippines, Bonta remained on the bench for the entirety of the match.{{cite web|url=https://fbref.com/en/matches/879e7299/New-Zealand-Philippines-September-7-2022-Friendlies-W|title=New Zealand vs. Philippines Match Report – Wednesday September 7, 2022|website=fbref.com|accessdate=4 November 2022}}{{cite news|last1=Terrado|first1=Jonas|url=https://sports.inquirer.net/476268/stajcic-not-satisfied-with-just-moral-victories|title=Stajcic not satisfied with just moral victories|publisher=Inquirer|date=8 September 2022|accessdate=4 November 2022}} A month later, she was once again called-up for a training camp in Costa Rica.{{cite news|last1=del Carmen|first1=Lorenzo|url=https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/filipinas-retain-core-for-costa-rica-friendlies/251310|title=Filipinas retain core for Costa Rica friendlies|publisher=Tiebreaker Times|date=2 October 2022|accessdate=4 November 2022}}{{cite news|last1=Rosal|first1=Dale|url=https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/467031/costa-rica-training-camp-on-for-filipinas|title=Costa Rica training camp on for Filipinas|publisher=Cebu Daily News via Inquirer|date=3 October 2022|accessdate=4 November 2022}}{{cite news|last1=Morales|first1=Luisa|url=https://www.philstar.com/sports/2022/10/07/2214980/filipinas-looking-forward-costa-rica-challenge-world-cup-build-up|title=Filipinas looking forward to Costa Rica 'challenge' in World Cup build-up|publisher=PhilStar Global|date=7 October 2022|accessdate=4 November 2022}} She made her debut for the Philippines in a 1–1 draw against Costa Rica, coming in as a substitute replacing Jessika Cowart on the 85th minute of the match.{{cite web|url=https://fbref.com/en/matches/6bb1ecf2/Costa-Rica-Philippines-October-7-2022-Friendlies-W|title=Costa Rica vs. Philippines Match Report – Friday October 7, 2022|website=fbref.com|accessdate=4 November 2022}}

Bonta continued to represent the Philippines at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.{{Cite web |last=Torrez |first=James |date=2023-07-19 |title=Daughter of California AG, lawmaker represents Philippines in FIFA Women's World Cup |url=https://www.ktvu.com/news/daughter-of-california-attorney-general-to-represent-philippines-in-fifa-womens-world-cup |access-date=2023-07-27 |website=KTVU FOX 2 |language=en-US}}

Personal life

Bonta belongs to a family of politicians. Her father Rob, currently serves as the attorney general of California while her mother Mia currently serves as a member of the California State Assembly. She also has a relationship with fellow footballer Brena, with the duo marrying in January 2025.

Bonta's short film, Lahi, premiered at the 2022 Hawai'i International Film Festival.{{Cite web |last=Mendoza |first=Jim |date=2022-11-01 |title=Hawaii-based short film that got accolades on film festival circuit makes its HIFF debut |url=https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2022/11/01/after-getting-accolades-film-festival-circuit-powerful-hawaii-film-is-debuting-islands/ |access-date=2023-07-27 |website=Hawai'i News Now |language=en}}