In the past few weeks, I largely
skimmed through the email exchanges among the people (you know who you are) who
put together the coffee table book, Five:
A Tribute to Excellence, that is a story on Ateneo’s five-peat. As soon as
I was done, I dived back into my other jobs.
It really is difficult trying to
juggle five jobs; hence, I have no life.
Last night we had dinner at the
Pacific Plaza home of Arben Santos to discuss the book launch this Friday at
the Ayala Museum. I had a lot on my mind yesterday – the report that Ton Gatmaitan
and I are preparing for our client at Gatorade/Pepsi, the numerous shoots I
have to oversee for some video work, the pieces I have to finish for FHM
Philippines and nba.com, and well my son (who is dealing with the trauma of
watching his grandfather literally pass away in his arms). Then I was thinking
of my longtime boss who recently passed away, Meckoy Quiogue (at Studio 23 and
GroupM). I mean, how do you process all of that?
I walked into Tito Arben’s home and
immediately put everything in the back of my mind. It was then when I first saw
the hard cover coffee table book of Five. I slowly went through all the pages
after which I gave him a huge hug. I felt the tears well in my eyes (and to
think I held back during the Mass my company sponsored for Boss Meckoy).
To be very honest, I wish I wrote the
book better. It is not as detailed as The
18th Banner that I penned about the Blue Eagles’ Season 71
championship season. That one was written as the season went by and contained
many anecdotes about that year. This one was written seven months after it
happened and memories tend to wane. There were things I wanted to write about
but couldn’t due to time or other reasons.
Caught between work and the book, I
struggled. There were days when I felt it and days when I didn’t. I have
mentioned that to Tito Arben and the rest of the crew working on the book.
Well, it’s like playing a basketball game where things do not go according to
plan. You just have to catch up and do your best.
There were problems regarding time
constraints and the availability of people to interview. Not to mention my
juggling all my work. I also had to gloss over some stuff.
But seeing the book last night. I felt
really happy and was beaming all the way from BGC going home. I couldn’t sleep
right away as I leafed through the pages.
Imagine this. Back in my school days I
would listen to my dad, my uncles, and older cousins talk about the Blue
Eagles, NCAA basketball, and a little later, UAAP basketball (in between
politics and family matters).
I would watch the games held at the
old Loyola Center (now the Blue Eagle Gym) while waiting for the driver to pick
me up. I couldn’t afford to get inside so I would peek through the grated gates
where I didn’t see much. The biggest thrill back then for me was having Steve
Watson give me a high five after a win. Steve was and still is one of my
favorite Blue Eagles.
I am a child of both the First Dark
Age (the second came in the 1990s) and the first title years in the UAAP (they
are my batchmates). I would watch and never miss a game (including the
juniors). I would ready everything that was written about them back then and
there wasn’t much.
Now, it’s really amazing that I work
with people I only watched, read, and saw from afar. To be working with a
legendary coach like Ato Badolato in the National Basketball Training Center
(with two other people who I immensely admire in Eric Altamirano and Alex
Compton) is one. I love listening to his stories and can do so all day.
Sometimes, I can’t believe I am in the same press room as guys like the
Philippine Star’s Nelson Beltran, Tempo’s Tito Talao, columnists Eddie Alinea,
Tessa Jazmines, Quinito Henson, and Bill Velasco to name but a few. I can’t believe
that I’m covering MMA abroad with Anthony Suntay who has become a very good
friend and confidant. To be given access to athletes and teams from not only
Ateneo but to NU, UE, Alaska, San Sebastian, Letran, Perpetual Help, JRU,
Adamson, Gilas, the Azkals and a whole lot more… there isn’t a day when I do
not thank the Man Above for all of this.
Even after doing this professionally
since 2006, I still have to pinch myself and rub my eyes to see if all this is
really happening.
My eldest son was recently named in
Ateneo as one of its most promising writers and that is something I am
extremely proud of. It looks like he is following my route – advertising,
writing, and teaching (he won’t be going through the marketing route that I
also love to do). Oh, teaching. I wish I was this semester but I am not. It
really is heartwarming to hear students ask what day and time I am teaching
only I am not this sem. I hope that maybe in the second sem.
I have deviated… the book. So I gave a
copy to my eldest son and my dad. I wrote a dedication for my parents and
thanked them for sending me to Ateneo. To be able to send my kids there as well
is probably one of my best achievements. That’s an offshoot of my only goal in
life – to provide for my children by helping them get a good education and to
nurture them for the next stage in life. If I make money or receive something
else on my way then I am grateful. But my children are my life. That’s why I
work five jobs to provide for them.
To see the book Five on my son’s book shelf as well as on my dad’s bedside table
(he has not put the book down yet) is good enough for me.
When my batch (Jun Reyes, Jay Gayoso,
Joseph Canlas, Alex Araneta, Jet Nieto, and Robbie Tanjuatco) moved up to the
seniors division along with Len Mumar (from LSGH), I knew we were going to win
a championship or two (or even three). That became a reality when Eric Reyes,
Danny Francisco, and Olsen Racela moved up as well.
When Joe Lipa became head coach, for
me, it was like winning a championship. We came close but the seeds he along
with others sowed would bear fruit.
When Norman Black became head coach, I
got that feeling again. More so when Greg Slaughter (who I had become very good
friends with during our time in Smart Gilas) transferred from Cebu.
Then there was Kiefer. I have been
friends with the Ravenas even before Bong and Mozzy got married. Imagine that.
I was friends with Bong back when he was with UE (we even became neighbors).
Tomorrow, Thursday, we record and
upload the very first episode of Blue Eagle 40. It’s a weekly video show on
ateneo.edu that will also be posted on YouTube, Vimeo and wherever on all
things Ateneo sports.
Bo Perasol will be the very first
guest on the show that is patterned after those late night US talk shows. Then
we’ll have the Ateneo Women’s Volleyball Team.
I’ll also show the book Five.
If you told me 25 years ago that I’d
be doing this I would have never believed you. But reality, imperfections
aside, is good. And I am and will always be grateful.
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