2007-11-18...2:21 am
Let Ag-ap Play in the PBA
I had the chance to view ABC5’s feature of Batad: Sa Paang Palay (Benjie Garcia and Vic Acedillo Jr. , 2006)tonight and it’s a very welcome respite from the usual tv melodrama fare the family is forced to watch on weeknights. I wasn’t able to catch the very beginning of the film, and had to look for its title in the internet. Such is my admiration for it, I had to know the production details. A simple online search not only gave me that, but led me to commendable, reliable reviews as well, by Rianne Hill Soriano and Eboy Donato , to name a few.
The credible acting, beautiful scenery, apt music, its revelation of a culture largely unfamiliar, the light and simplified presentation of an otherwise complex subject matter, the uncontrived humor — all made for viewing that draws the viewer into the story of an adolescent Ag-ap, wanting to leave his village to pursue a perceived better life outside of it. If only he has a good pair of shoes. Personally, its allegory struck a cord in me, the promdi professional stuck in small city Oz.
I find it ironic that on commercial breaks, the station showed PBA adverts extolling its new and upcoming stars, who are mostly Fil-Am, judging by the accented Tagalog. I’m not a big fan of basketball, more so with PBA. I’d rather watch NBA where, for me, the real hoop action is. I have nothing against the PBA drafting “foreign” players. If they can deliver, well and good. And at least, they’re acknowledging their Philippine roots. But I’d be happier if it looks into the potentials of young Filipino men in the provinces, who dream just as high and can achieve bigger things if given the chance, the proper programs to develop them and ensure continuity. There should be, there could be, but they must be ineffective. Otherwise we won’t have to look for athletes from beyond our shores.
In saying this, I am showing partiality towards homegrown players. This, because I am thinking that imports are already better off, and have the edge of doing better in life and not just in basketball, compared to their provincial/local counterparts. I am not familiar with the backgrounds of these Fil-Ams, but having at least one foot on good old US of A is an advantage in case things don’t work out fine here in RP. The local boys only have pitiable classrooms, extended families and bogus leaders to fall back on. Correct me if I’m so wrong.
…wala lang… naisip ko lang.
14 Comments
2007-11-18 at 8:56 pm
Aw, I wanna go to Batad…. Someday soon!
So you’re the promdi professional stuck in small city? Meet the provinciana stuck in a big city!
But you know what? I’m glad and proud I’m a provinciana. It is what’s keeping me sane here. I have adapted na and I have learned to love where I am. Maski asa gud! I can always come home for a vacay!
Yeah, and I’m not sourgraping when I say life can be as good, even better, here than in more urban areas like Metro Manila, maybe Cebu. Had my share of life spent in them, and it was ok, was able to cope and keep up. For now I’m happy with where I’m at and what I’m doing. It’s all a matter of making the most of what one has. And I guess I’m just attuned more to the less harried/hurried pace of life here in Oz. There are just moments when I’d wish I’m there where the action is… at times, it can get BORING here. Ask Geda. Mora’g wa po’y gawas-gawas sa balay ang baye. Hehehe.
Baliktad ta… kami anha sa Manila (read: Manela. Wahaha) para bakasyon. Kung manobra ang kwarta.
2007-11-21 at 5:31 am
hi jun, pareho tayo. alam mo ako rin ganyan din ang tanong ko e. bakit magbabayad ng dolyares pa para sa mga import na may mga kwarta na? why not share those money sa mga magagaling na basketbolista na makikita sa buong bansa? kung prestige ang usapan, mas mabibigyan yata ng prestige ang phil sports kung ang utak nila ay tulungan ang mga pinoy na may talents at gustong pumasok sa sports kung saan ay magaling sila.
pwede na ngang tawaging national sport ang basketball dahil sa popularity nito sa bansa. andaming nag-aambisyong kabataan ang naghihintay mabigyan ng pagkakataon makapaglaro. mabuti sana kung ang mga imports ay may bagong mai-contribute sa ikauunlad ng laro. eh sa totoo lang wala akong makita, it’s not progressing. kaya nakakawalang gana.
2007-11-21 at 10:07 am
Hi, I didn’t know that you’ve started posting again. Welcome back!
My opinion is that most things are deeply ingrained with monetary considerations. It’s all business. We all go to work for money to feed our families and the PBA is there to make money, above all.
Teams are there to maximize the exposure of their brand names. The more that people think of their teams, the better it is for the brand. FilAms are tall and exciting to watch. That’s why they are drafted. Taking it to the extreme, some unscrupulous agents brought in aliens and forged papers to make them appear as pinoys. The thing is, the scheme backfired. Now, the attention that the PBA is getting is probably at an all time low. I don’t watch PBA anymore. I don’t even know what teams are still there.
AMEN!
but if it’s brand exposure they’re thinking of, wouldn’t it be wiser to draft players from the provinces? the probinsyanos are very supportive of their kabayans making it big. they can tap into that.
2007-11-22 at 8:45 pm
Hmmm… I think I HAVE to add that movie to my “to be viewed” list.
Anyway, I don’t totally agree with the notion of young people (in this case, the Ifugaos) flocking into the metropolitan cities of Manila.
We, Filipinos grew up believing in a fallacy. That is, urbanization can alleviate poverty and that it is the symbol of development. Because truth be said, development should never be tantamount to urbanization. And it does not necessarily follow that getting “in to the city” can be a measure of one’s intellectual capacity and desire for change.
The problem with most Filipinos is that they believe that the concept of metropolitanization symbolizes progress, and that rural living is POOR living. This connotes the traditional economist view of development. Sadder thing is that, even the government glorifies this thinking.
Development is not measured through industrialization. Development should be a multi-dimensional improvement on all aspects - may it be AGRICULTURAL, social, or political.
As a matter of fact, true development exists when one is able to use agricultural resources without the area morphing into an urban zone along the process.
I do not wish for Ifugaos to live forever in their ancestral domains. But rather, I would want to see the time when our fellow Filipino brothers and sisters would stop juxtaposing the idea of poverty to the “non-manila” areas. This should start within the grassroots. People outside metropolitan Luzon SHOULD not think that they are by far, the most pitiful creatures to live in the “province”.
As for me, life in the “province” is FAAAAR MORE better than living in the cities.
*re-reads the comment*
Hala, naglitanya ako. Haha! Sorry Kuya Jun.
you’re very much welcome, Bam. exchanges like this make blogging worthwhile..
agree. many of us tend to equate development with urbanization, thus the term promdi takes a negative connotation. maybe we can point to media for “glamorizing” the urban life too much, so that a lot of Dodongs and Indays just have to try their luck in Manila.
but then a lot of probinsyanos don’t see improvement in their area too, more so with opportunities for work and a better life. i’ve heard time and again other promdis lamenting that the national government seems to be focusing on Metro Manila alone, forgetting that the Philippines is an archipelago. i’d say, maybe before we even consider that idea and sulk, we should look into how and what our local governments are doing. the problem may lie therein.
2007-11-23 at 4:18 pm
wow! each point makes a point — from basketball to geo-socio-cultural and even political issues. may i comment something in addendum?
my opinion is also related to the subject, after reading the comments above. personally, i have observed regionalistic encounters from both sides of the fence: a typical urbanite (usually with limited experience of travel or just plain ignorant and ethnocentric) mocking a promdi for lacking that sense of urbanity/sophistication and then a case of an overly defensive / sensitive promdi who reacts in a way that can also promote divide. considering that i happen to be exposed to both sides of the urban and rural scene and i appreciate both (therefore i can be unbiased): i believe one important thing is for Filipinos to sustain tolerance, awareness and cultural sensitivity.
aren’t we such an idiosyncratic lot, because i don’t see it in other cultures?
i find it perplexing, that there are many of us Filipinos who remain regionalistic/ethnocentric. with the internet, texts and media, the whole country has become smaller, it’s easier for people to get to know each other. the “closeness” should make it easy to dispel wrong ideas. but often, when differences in opinion emerge, and worse gets to worst, people resort to name-calling and bashing ethnicities.
and you are so correct. we are among the few countries quite unique and diverse in culture, Filipinos must sustain tolerance, awareness and cultural sensitivity. perhaps the best defense to counter negativity (which, luckily) is also innate to us, is a good sense of humor, the ability to laugh at ourselves specifically. (alala ko na naman si Teri.
)
2007-11-25 at 5:47 pm
Hear, hear.
Lalo na dito sa Mindanao. Naku! Mindanao yung isa sa may pinakamalaking ibinabahagi sa Pilipinas, pero yung pera, kadalasan sa Luzon lang napupunta.
And to add insult to injury, branded terrorist-zone pa talaga ang Mindanao. Hahay.
Ang unfair ng buhay.
—
“it’s easier for people to get to know each other. the “closeness” should make it easy to dispel wrong ideas.”
Pero, kabaligtaran ang nagaganap. hahay, Pilipinas. Hehehe..
2007-11-26 at 10:20 am
Natuwa ako sa mga komento here! Honestly, ansama nga nang tag na terrorist zone ang Mindanao, pero naman - naman - naman! Bikolano po ang lola. Mas masama naman po ang tag na puro kami pobrisitos sa Bikol dahil iniwanan po kami parehas ang mga punyetang pulitiko, gobyerno pati na bwisit na mga bagyo tinitira din kami.
Nga pala Jun, if you’re into meme: I tagged you here: http://reynaelena.com/2007/11/26/the-twelve-months/
2007-12-02 at 9:50 pm
this is a very nice film.. i’ll watch it siguro.
PBA.. NBA.. i don’t know anything bout the game..
don’t like it.. just the boys. hehehehe
2007-12-10 at 8:47 pm
Ei kuya jun!yeah ur ryt…ika nga tangkilikin ang sariling atin….but you know naman pinoys, maghilig sa amoy “states”.
2007-12-12 at 9:02 am
hi kuya.. musta?
dalawa ang kapatid kong lalaki, kaya mejo update ako (noon) sa larong basketball.. ^_^
ngayon, la na akong alam sa basketball.. alam ko lang, nagchampion Spurs at Ginebra!.. hehehe..
2007-12-16 at 7:59 am
musta diha, agi lang ko diri, nangumusta lang, happy weekend, pls visit my 2 blogs http://www.rollynonoy.blogspot.com ug sa http://www.rollymarcial.blogspot.com
2007-12-18 at 5:32 am
I’m not really a big fan of basketball, although I’ve seen a few NBA games with my dad, live in sports arenas. Saw Michael Jordan & Chicago Bulls a few times… and I support the local Toronto Raptors (even though they mostly suck and are inconsistent).
2007-12-21 at 7:53 am
ei! Jun! Balik na! I tagged you: It’s here: http://reynaelena.com/2007/12/21/20-very-personal-questions-answered/
HAHAHA!!!
2007-12-21 at 12:15 pm
Merry christmas, doc Jun!
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