Filipinos and the World Cup

Jonathan de Guzman (Feyenoord) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The 2014 World Cup is being held in Brazil.  It is now in its knockout phase. When I say World Cup, I am not talking about that World Cup that the Smart Gilas will be participating this August.  That basketball World Cup is just trying to copy the blueprint of the original World Cup which is in the sport of football or soccer (for Americans).

The World Cup is held every four years and players would wish to participate in it at least once in their lives. For Filipinos, it will probably be just a fantasy.  Our country did not even qualify for the Asian Cup. 

The Philippines only started to have a decent team in 2010.  There is a spike in local interest for the sport but being practically a newbie, we are not expected to contend in major international competitions for a couple years, decades, and hopefully, not centuries.  Maybe in 2030 or 2034, we will get a shot.  How old would I be then? 

Will we ever have a team in the World Cup???

While we would not expect the Azkals to be in World Cup soon,  two players with Filipino blood  know how it feels to be in Brazil 2014.  At least, this two somehow proves that there will always be a Filipino in any big event. The two players are Jonathan de Guzman of The Netherlands and Team USA's Nick Rimando.

Jonathan de Guzman is a midfielder and he has a Filipino dad and a Jamaican mom.  De Guzman acquired Dutch citizenship in 2008. Nick Rimando is the back-up goalkeeper for the Team USA and he has a Filipino dad and a Mexican mom.

It is funny that other countries are willing to give their citizenship to excellent athletes or professionals.  In the case of the Philippines, we always complain when a mix blood or a foreigner comes to our place and take away a job of a Filipino.  It is hard for someone with no Filipino blood to become Filipino especially the high profile ones. 

I read many times how coaches complain about foreign coaches and other imports.  We forget that our best is actually playing for other flags. We see many "Filipino" Olympians winning medals for other countries. Our best doctors are working in the hospitals of other countries serving other nationalities.  So, why can't we "steal" talent from other countries.  I am sure there are too many basketball "centers" in Nigeria, football "strikers" in England, Olympic-level swimmers in Australia,  Taekwondo jins in Korea or badminton stars in Indonesia.  So, why can't we give those extra talent of other countries a chance to play in the biggest stage of their chosen sport. I am sure there is an excess of players for a country where the sport originated. 

I am not saying that our national will have to look like an International Colours of Benetton commercial but it is actually looking like one but we are not winning.  We need better talent. We need to make it easier for others to be Filipino.  I am sure there are only very few who would want to be Filipino but we should not make it too hard especially for the talented ones. Getting Andre Batche to be Filipino is like our little way of getting back at America for getting players like Rimando, Tim Lincecum, Brian Viloria, Natalie Coughlin, Tiffany Roberts, and more. 

If we want to fast track our participation in a World Cup or getting an Olympic gold then our leaders should start to think differently.  Let's send our scouts to other countries to look for players willing to play for the Philippine flag.  Many Filipinos are resilient and they would respond positively to added competition by stepping their game although more would just like to complain.  The best NBA team is a multinational mix and the Americans are not complaining that NBA's best has just a few Americans.

Time to make our fantasy a reality! Let's do to them, what they do to us!!!!

Related articles

• With or without Azkals, Filipinos thrilled for World Cup
• NBA player Blatche officially a Filipino as Aquino signs naturalization papers
• A colonial imprint
• Overlooked for awards, GK Nick Rimando seizes U.S. role, destined for World Cup spot
• Dooley eyes AFF Suzuki Cup crown for Azkals next

Arnold Clavio vs. Azkals

Wow, another vs. Azkals article.

It is quite funny that Filipinos are now being accused as being racists. There was a time when we were at the receiving end of racial slurs, jokes, and incidents. I remember that there was an uproar in the past about a cookie called Filipinos. Filipinas were even once defined as household helper by a dictionary. Times have changed indeed. Filipinos are now being accused of being RACISTS! Whoa!!!

Recently, a magazine cover by Bella Padilla was pulled out because of the use of dark-skinned models with the label stepping out of the shadows. FHM Philippines had to change the cover and the incident received a lot of media coverage.  Padilla was even interviewed by BBC. We really have come a long way.

A few days ago, while commenting about the recent Cristy Ramos vs. Azkals controversy, Arnold Clavio  said some things that ruffled the feathers ( i mean  hair) of the countless of Azkal fanatics. He said in Filipino “Hindi naman kayo Pilipino, nagpapanggap lang kayong kayumanggi, hindi kayo dito lumaki, mahirap iyun.” The said statement is now the center of a complaint by the Philippine Football Federation led by its President Mariano Araneta, Jr. A lot of fans were bashing the GMA host. There were reactions from people like Angel Locsin, as well as, Azkal Neil Etheridge.  

It goes to show that the standing of Filipinos have improved. Before, only a handful would want to be called a Filipino. People are now offended if someone said you are not Filipino. Cool! Really? The funny thing though is that only Filipinos are the ones bashing each other. It is only in the world of sports or showbiz that half-Filipinos come to the Philippines to insist that they are Filipino or at least part Filipino. Why? It could be for fame, money, and other personal benefits. 

The influx though of Fil-Ams and other mixed Filipinos have made a few Filipinos feel insecure. Not only do the Fil-foreigners look better, but they also have better training and the background that makes them excel in our country, where sports and showbiz stars are worshipped. In a way, some Filipinos lose jobs, opportunities, or scholarships because teams or schools look overseas for talent. In a way, Clavio's statement is a reflection that these newcomers were raised differently. Their jokes, their lifestyle, their taste, even their language is different. They are Filipino by law, but what is the true definition of a Filipino? Looks? Language? Culture? Do we have a true blue Filipino culture? I am sure many do not know the national anthem anymore or even its title.

What are the advantages of being a Filipino anyway? If you are a Filipino and you have a chance to acquire let's say an American citizenship, would you say no? Are we that "superior" already? I am not saying that half Filipinos are not Filipinos, I am just putting Clavio's statement into perspective. To be racist, you must feel that your race is superior than others or pure breed is better than  muggles (Asong Kalye vs. Half pitbull-half Azkal..hehe). All he was saying is that they were different. A racist would refer to Filipinos as "ugly brown monkeys".  Clavio was actually showing our inferiority complex by admitting that these men are "gwapo".  No doubt about it that a lot of Fil-foreigners look better than the typical Filipino in the eyes of the Filipinos. I do not know where this issue will go and most likely, this could become so big or even a national issue because of the media mileage that this is getting.

To end this analysis. I want to leave one question: If you are a Fil-Foreigner, would you let go of your other citizenship and just be a Filipino? Think about it before accusing any Filipino as a racist.

Links:
If I were 2nd week of March
Cristy Ramos vs. Azkals
Azkal fans denounce Clavio prefer...