Face of Allure: Mikaela Louise Romero
MANILA, Philippines - Sports enthusiasts often say that children who play competitive sports get more out of life. There are many other benefits derived from playing sports at a young age. Take the case of 17-year-old Mikaela Louise “Milka” Romero.
“Playing soccer at an early age defined who I am today,” begins the 5-ft.-7-in.-tall Milka. “It has taught me so many values — determination, perseverance, being a team player and a good leader.” Her passion for football began at the tender age of 10. Her childhood is filled with happy memories playing the rigorous sport — from her first game where she scored her first goal to the first game where she played for the Philippine team in an international competition.
Milka, an AB Management Economics freshman at the Ateneo de Manila University, muses that she has learned to be disciplined and stay focused in order to excel in both academics and sports. The student athlete says that time management is crucial for her to balance her studies and her participation in the Ateneo football team. Before that, Milka played for the football team of her high school, Saint Pedro Poveda College, along with the Philippine Team.
The young girl surely knows how to set her priorities right — credit goes to her parents, businessmen Michael and Sheila (nee Bermudez) Romero. “Since I am the eldest, my parents have kept a close eye on me and made sure I was brought up well. I make sure that I do not break the trust between us so I have a close relationship with my mom and dad. They are not only my parents whom I respect so much; they are my best friends as well!” Milka furthers that her father taught her the importance of family especially so that she’s the eldest among four children. Her gorgeous mother, on the other hand, reminds her that the secret to a successful life is to put God at the center of her life. 
Milka says that her parents give her the freedom to find her passion and they will always support her and make sure she will have fun along the way. “I tried many different things to be able to discover my talents,” she says. “My dad would teach me all kinds of sports (Mind you, this beautiful lass can also play basketball, badminton and softball!) while my mom exposed me to different cultures and cuisines.” Milka is thankful to have had the privilege of traveling the world at a young age. In fact, the family’s many trips abroad strengthened their bond and gave them lots of memories to look back to.
The young girl also acknowledges the importance of surrounding oneself with good influences. “If I want to succeed in something, I must be determined and focused. There is no room in getting involved with the bad crowd and distractions, which will only get me nowhere,” she philosophizes.
Again, Milka credits this disciplined outlook in life to her early exposure to sports. “I am proud that I have stayed determined in my seven years of playing soccer.” She says it has allowed her to push herself beyond her expectations. Milka is proud of the countless medals she won in soccer. But she is even prouder of the innumerable lessons she’s gained from her teammates and coaches. Be it inside or outside the field, this girl indeed knows how to play her game.
