Cartoon by: Yanah Heliza Lava
Published by: John David ViΓ±as
Date Published: September 10, 2024
Time Published: 3:32PM
Basketball is the cornerstone of the Filipino sport, to the point that some even mistake it as our national sport. Either through watching or actually playing the game, basketball is the all time favorite Filipino sport. However, we have been stuck with this sport for decades now. It has been more supported and loved by Filipinos, than our own. The lack of patriotism is slipping it's way without us even knowing. How are we going to expand and show what the Filipino talent is when we only focus on the said sport? It is time for us to open our mind, and redshift our focus from basketball to sports that have bigger potential.
Basketball is a big hit in the Philippines because of its historical background during American Colonialism and because it's been the Filipino past time since we've gained independence [1]. Seeing how the sport was only brought to us by the Americans, similar to other of our cultures that have been influenced by our colonizers, it's inspiring and somehow desolating as our origins and traditions are shadowed by other cultures. So now is the time to make our own history and name in sports through our own culture.
Games such as arnis and sepak takraw [2] are some of the most known, but only a few of the games that are played as an official sports in competitions. We have seen great skills and talent through these sports, which have been making its way into the infamous Palarong Pambansa. They also have raised our flag by The National Team of The World Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation (WEKAF) whom bagged a total of 37 Gold, 31 Silver, and 9 Bronze medals, outwitting the delegates from other countries like: USA, South Korea, India, United Kingdom, Portugal, Switzerland, Germany, and Brazil[3]. Though not focused on, this team still managed to bag those awards and yet, they still haven't gotten the attention, and recognition they deserves by representing the Philippines. These are the sports we should focus on more, not only to advertise our culture but also to show our hidden gems of talent in these sports.
Recently, we've witnessed our two Filipino prides, Hydilin Diaz for weight lifting in 2021 and Carlos Yulo with two gold medals for gymnastics in 2024, proudly take home gold medals in the Olympics, making every Filipino cheer with joy and delight. It is to our hearts desire to see Filipinos rise; what more if it's a whole Filipino sport being admired by everyone, not just us? A local sport being played by a Filipino makes us more proud, not only of the players but also of our cultural sport.
Yes, basketball is a big part of our history and is enjoyed by every Filipino. However, its prime time has passed, and it's time we show off the authentic Filipino talent and be proud of our own culture. We can learn to love other cultures while focusing and loving our own more. Who knows? Focusing on our local sport might be our breakthrough in the world of sports.
REFERENCES:
[1]SciSpace - Question. “How Basketball Is so Popular in the Philippines? | 4 Answers From Research Papers,” n.d. https://typeset.io/questions/how-basketball-is-so-popular-in-the-philippines-f69377af-4186-be37-b8a0-0b7f5df34f04#:~:text=Basketball%20is%20popular%20in%20the%20Philippines%20due%20to%20its%20historical,national%20pastime%20since%20gaining%20independence.&text=Basketball%20is%20popular%20in%20the%20Philippines%20due%20to%20the%20passion,most%20watched%20and%20beloved%20sport.
[2]Dumaraos, Gelyka. “Local Filipino Sports You Should Know About.” Culture Trip, September 2, 2017. https://theculturetrip.com/asia/philippines/articles/local-filipino-sports-you-should-know-about.
[3]“Competitions – Philippine Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation,” n.d.
https://pnat-pekaf.org/?cat=6.
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