When life gives you lemon...

Why I’m Not Proud of Pacquiao, Charice, and the Azkals

by Carla Baful

Hindi ako proud kay Pacquiao. Not because he does not impress me. Hindi ganon. In fact, he’s presently my favorite athlete. My second all-time favorite next to Michael Jordan. I so admire him that I consider him a genius. His kinetic intelligence is unbelievable, siguro ang equivalent non sa mathematical intelligence ay IQ ko. Charos! Ay IQ ni Kittina Mejia at the least. I believe he’s the greatest professional boxer so far, even better than Ali na according to my lola ay “ikot lang nang ikot sa ring.”

I admire Pacquiao. Super. But I can’t claim pride over his great achievements. Not even if we’re both Filipinos.

When parents witness their kids go up the stage to receive their diplomas or medals, they have all the right to be proud of them. Pinaghirapan nilang pag-aralin yung mga batang yun eh. Inalagaan, pinagplantsa ng uniform, pinaghanda ng baon, pinag-drive to school, binantayan nung first day of classes, nangutang at nagtrabaho para makabayad ng tuition, at kung anu-ano pa. They’ve been part of the journeys of the kids towards their milestones, so the achievement also belongs to the parents. But with Pacquiao… what have I, a Filipino citizen, done for him when he was just a struggling athlete, trying to make ends meet for his family?

The question also goes with the cases of many other Filipino celebrities who have amazed the world with their talents. Proud that Charice is making her way to Hollywood? Though it’s the Americans Ellen Degeneres and Oprah Winfrey who paved way for her? Of Pacquiao ‘cause he’s become the world’s greatest boxer even if it’s the American Freddie Roach who co-created the genius in him and Bob Arum who made him a billionaire? Apl.de.Ap who only had a shot to stardom because an American adopted him from the ricefields of Pampanga? “Pinoy” American Idol finalists who, in the first place, are Americans, kaya nga American Idol eh. Arnel Pineda na sumikat lang naman nung nasama sa American band na The Journey. The Azkals (though mahal ko sila) among whom many were plucked out from different other countries where the players spent much of their lives and are now trained by a German coach? I’m not questioning how much of a Filipino these icons are. I’m questioning how much the Filipinos have contributed to their success.

Of course hindi naman random angst lang tong drama ko. I’ve just watched Dyan Castillejo’s documentary on some Philippine athletes kasi particularly on the Philippine Dragonboat Team. These athletes have set world records both in men’s and women’s divisions na but when time came for them to compete in the Asian tournament, hinarang sila ng Philippine sports officials kasi bakit daw masyadong mabilis yung time nila sa pag-rorow, subtly implying na baka nag-s-steriods yung mga atleta. Josko, ilang world titles na pinanalunan ng mga yan, kukwenstyunin mo pa kung bakit sila magaling? Edi sana ni-drug test na lang nila. Hindi yung hinarang nila ang participation sa Asian tournament. Ultimo international regulation officials kinukwestyon ang Philippine sports officials kung bakit naman ganon. Bakit nga ba? I don’t know. But my playful imagination has pictured a threatened country bribing our officials not to send the Dragonboat Team, who would probably win the tournament. But that’s just one of the many possibilities.

Sayang. Very promising pa naman daw ang Philippine team sabi ng organizers. For more, tinanggal na ang Phil. Dragonboat Team sa listahan ng mga national teams kaya wala na silang natatanggap na financial support from our great government. Buti na lang dahil sa media exposure, nakakakalap na sila ng donations. Then yung accommodation nila sa tournament na sasalihan nila sa USA, yung organizers na mismo ang sasagot. Pulubi much. Nakakasama ng loob kasi yung corruption sa atin, hindi lang sa pera nagtatapos. Ultimo culture and sports natin nacocorrupt dahil sa personal motives ng mga kapwa natin Pinoy.

Naalala ko yung napanood ko kung pano dati ang training ni Lydia de Vega. From pang-urban poor na pagkain to lumang lumang sapatos. But then again she managed to bring us honor. And now nasaan na siya. Nasa Singapore, coach ng Singapore Track and Field Team. Had I been simple-minded, I would think she has betrayed us. But I see that it’s the other way around. After all the honor she’s given the country, ni hindi man lang natin sinecure ang future nya to the point na kinailangan pa nyang mag-OFW ngayon. Or expat if you prefer that term.

Si Onyok Velasco who, if not for harapang pandaraya ng Bulgaria na hinayaan lang ng Phil. representatives, could have won an Olympic gold medal for our country, nasaan na ngayon? Paminsan-minsang rumaraket as komedyante, bilang sidekick na pwedeng batuk-batukan. I love comedians, pero yung performers talaga like Eugene Domingo, and not some character born out of slapstick humor. Jusko, yung mga silver medalist sa ibang bansa, vinevenerate ng mga kababayan nila. Si Onyok, ano na ngayon? Nadaya na nga sya sa Olympics, nadaya pa sya ng government natin bilang yung mga pinangakong benefits sa kanya, wala pang half yung totoong nyang natanggap.

Nasaan ba kasi tayo before and after their moments of glory? The way na nandyan ang mga magulang before and after their kids’ graduation? Nasaan tayo, as a nation, nung some jologs na bagito pa lang si Pacquiao? Nung natalo sa singing contest sa ABS-CBN si Charice? Nung nagkakariton pa lang si Arnel Pineda? Nung pinapaampon sa Amerikano si Apl.de.ap? Nung kumukuha na ng ticket pa-Singapore si Lydia de Vega para doon maghanap-buhay? Nung binabatuk-batukan na sa TV si Onyok Velasco? Shempre wala. Hindi naman moments of glory yon eh. What’s in it for us.

Look, I’m not taking away our right to feel good for them. They’re our kababayans after all. I’m not taking away our chance to find symbols of inspirations admists the disheartening news flooding us everyday. We need them. We need icons to boost our nationalism, no matter how temporarily or superficially. Pero hindi ko lang masikmura yung pagclaim natin ng pride for the success which we had no part in. Please don’t tell me that it’s the Filipino experience that made them struggle so hard and made them what they are right now. F*ck that. Ilang Pacquiao sana ang naproduce natin kung di na nila kelangang isipin kung ano ipapampaduktor nila pag nabaldado sila dahil wala silang insurance. Ilang world-class athletes sana ang naproduce natin kung pwede lang silang magfocus sa training at hindi sa kakainin nila kinabukasan. And considering na “musical nation” tayo, ilang world-renowned performers pa kaya ang naiproduce natin, kung maayos lang ang pagpropromote ng Philippine culture? Phil.Pop wouldn’t sound bad, would it?

Sana yumaman ako, para I can directly help Filipino talents who have the potential to bring us real pride and honor. But as of now, I just can’t claim to be “proud to be a Filipino because of *insert name of sikat na Pinoy*” dahil wala naman akong naging contribution sa feats nila. Nakakaalibadbad lang yung thousands, if not millions, of Pinoys na grabe lang makisawsaw sa glory ng “individuals who just happen to be Filipinos” just because pareho sila ng motherland. What’s worse is that it’s not just a one-time phenomenon. It’s become our habit. I’m afraid that soon, it’ll be part of what makes up the Filipino character. Kung yan lang din naman ang essence ng pagiging Pinoy… then God. I don’t know what will be left for us to be proud of.

Ask me anything http://formspring.me/hotchiqqa