Sofia Frank needs us

Sofia Frank needs our help. The country's top female figure skater is making a serious run for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. But she can't do it alone. Fortunate as she has been to have parents who've moved heaven and earth to keep their daughter competitive in an expensive sport, the stakes and costs are higher now. She travels with a coach to competitions in Europe, Asia and through North America, and that is challenging enough. When you add the daily costs of fees for three primary coaches, a harness coach, a spin coach, an off-ice trainer, ballet instructor and daily ice time, it's incredible that they've gotten this far. Granted, Team Frank gets some help from the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Skating Union, but they simply need more, much more.

- By BILL VELASCO

"The new things that I'm doing, it all adds up," Frank told The STAR and dwAN 1206 AM in an exclusive interview. "Boots and skates cost a lot; choreography lessons, dresses. I would need to go to as many international competitions to get as many points as I can to get the minimum technical elements score for the short program and the long program