While watching today a replay of the documentary Pinoy Hoops, I couldn't help but be emotional. It brought memories of my grandmother who loved basketball to the highest level, of me as a kid watching basketball on TV and cheering for Ginebra, of the basketball rings we had at home, and of seeing my father play basketball games with his officemates.
Basketball does mean a lot to Filipinos. It is embedded in each Pinoy's daily life. Here in the Philippines, every province, every city, every baranggay has a basketball court.
Pinoy Hoops showed every aspect of what basketball means to every Pinoy. It is a documentary presented by Rafe Bartholomew, author of the best-selling book Pacific Rims, who guides viewers on a journey to the very heart of a basketball-obsessed nation to uncover why the sport has been embraced wholeheartedly by Filipinos from all walks of life.
You will see him going to the squatter areas, the toughest baranggays and interact with the tambays, sing videoke, and drink Emperador light. You will also hear him converse fluently in Tagalog with everyone. Reason for this is that he was here back in 2005 as a Fulbright scholar and wrote the book Pacific Rims. For three years, he learned the language, immersed himself in local communities, and researched on the role of basketball in Philippine society.
The documentary as what it is meant to be, shows the ugly and dirty areas of the country. It underscores our economic plight but yet it doesn't fail to present that despite of all the outwardly ugliness, the people, the Pinoys remain warm, happy, and resilient. I like the portion wherein he was in Baranggay Loyola Heights and engaged the tricycle drivers in a lively conversation. He then commented that he lived in New York for a long time but never had friends in the neighborhood. While here in the Philippines where he lived for 3 years only, he had formed a bond with the locals. That is just soooo sweet! It reminds me of what Gang Badoy of Rock Ed said that what makes us a nation is us, the people and it's not the government that defines us. Indeed!
As I said my grandmother was a big fan of basketball. Proof to this is that whenever she watches television, she always ask us to switch to any channel that has basketball. Never mind if it is an old game or she doesn't know the players. As long as it is basketball! Here's more - even when she was praying the rosary, she was watching basketball!
It was first and foremost my grandmother who made me love basketball. Because she monopolized the television especially if it was PBA season, I was forced to watch the basketball game too. I couldn't remember my grandmother's favorite team (sigh) if it was San Miguel or Alaska or Ginebra or Purefoods. But for sure my favorite team back then was Ginebra. I don't know what made me love Ginebra back then. Maybe it is the same reason as the numerous fans of Ginebra.
I don't watch basketball these days. I don't root for any team. I don't have a favorite basketball player. I know a few of them by the fact that they appear on advertisements. I've only watched a PBA game in Araneta once and I couldn't even remember what teams were playing then!
But then again, basketball is part of my life. It occupies a space in my cultural being. It is the same thing with every Pinoy here, there, and everywhere.
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