HAD it not been for her son's upcoming trip for football competitions abroad, doting mom Bai Ali Divina Siang Lim would have already been in Brazil as an spectator of the 2014 Fifa World Cup.
Lim's youngest son, Jasper Rex, will join the Makati Football Club team that will represent Philippines to the Barcelona Cup then in Gothia Cup on July 13 to July 19 and in Dana Cup in Hjorring, Denmark on July 21 to 27.
Lim, who celebrated her birthday yesterday, said she would instead make it up in the 2018 Fifa World Cup.
The certified football fan, mother to three football players with first two sons Jonathan Ryan and Joshua Royce, did watch football games in the 2012 London Olympics where she donned colorful costumes as she cheered for her favorite country treams, with wigs to match them.
"Lahi jud pag sa dako nga stadum ka mutan-aw. Grabe kaayo ang feeling. Naka-wig pako. Namalit ko ug costume sa London. Nag USA costume ko tong finals na sa women laban ang USA ug Japan. Pa-picture pud mi. Lingaw man kaayo. Enjoy man kay maski dili mo magkaila, magkaila nalang mo tanan because of football (It was a different feeling watching football in a huge stadium. I wore wig and costumes, too. I wore a USA costume during the women's finals between USA and Japan. We took pictures and we really had a great time. We enjoyed a lot since it seems we already know each other through football)," Lim said in a phone interview with Sun.Star Davao.
She recalled during the 2010 Fifa World Cup, "We were so lucky if even we were not in South Africa, we were in Spain at that time - the country of the Campiones del Mundo. I was in the sports bar watching the finals with all the Spaniards. Sobrang saya doon. After the match, we celebrated in the bar, we were like Spaniards! We also celebrated in the streets. Everyone did not sleep."
With the ongoing World Cup, the Lim family watch games together especially during weekends but her and husband Jimmy's sons have to sleep early on weeknights.
"We've been having sleepless nights. One of my favorite game was that one between Netherlands and Spain. Robie Van Persie scored twice with a diving header. He was the flying Dutch!," Lim said.
It is interesting to note that Lim was best goalkeeper of the Ateneo de Davao University Soccer Mom Football Festival 2012 where her Team Blue also emerged champion.
Lim is also an accomplished businesswoman with her Astrochairs Party Shop and franchises of Dexter's Pizza.