Francis Ceccarelli, going back to the beginning with the Philippines
Ceccarelli is open about his adoption journey, which saw him move 10,000km (6,200 miles) across the world as a child. It was not long after arriving in Tuscany that he began skiing, and the Italian-Filipino quickly fell in love with the activity.
His mother, former professional skier Lisa Seghiwas influential on his athletic trajectory. Described as “a master skier” by her son, she was also one of the biggest advocates for Ceccarelli to represent the Philippines, a process which took more than three years, before he obtained his Filipino passport and citizenship in May 2023.
“My mum was very happy, we both were,” he said. “She taught me everything that I know about the art of skiing. Family is very important, especially when you are alone and don’t have a family. I could continue skiing for as long as possible until I got tired.
“I really wanted to get the passport to have the pride of participating at the Olympic Games. It is an honour and a big deal to compete for my country of origin. I am happy because I can continue to do the sport that I enjoy, and even bring the Philippines to an important international level.”
For Ceccarelli, sporting the golden sun flag goes beyond his Olympic aspirations. It is a chance for him to connect with his birth country, one which has given him strong backing through the Philippine Olympic Committee.
That does not impact his Italian identity, as the 22-year-old continues to hold strong ties to a country where he grew up. Nonetheless, he acknowledges how much harder it would have been to reach the same level in the Azzurri squad.
“Competing for Italy is, unfortunately, difficult because in Italy the level is very high and we know that there are many athletes,” Ceccarelli explained. “The Philippines really makes you feel important. I can tell you that I am free and happy. It has always been in my heart, even if I haven’t really visited it extensively.”
The Quezon City native added: “I already wanted to go to the Philippines, even before the COVID-19 pandemic. Since I was adopted, I have been able to see the whole world and discover the Philippines. It was really beautiful – I haven’t visited the coast yet, but maybe that can be the next destination when I go back.”
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