This appears in the Monday April 20, 2015 edition of the Business Mirror.
Of unsurpass’d heroes
by rick olivares
It was with great interest that I watched the NBA
All-Star Game of 1991. Around that time, the United States and her allies were
in the middle of a war with Iraq to forcibly evict them from Kuwait. That was a
very emotional All-Star Game as it was held in North Carolina that is home to
several military bases. Furthermore, San Antonio Spurs center David Robinson,
who was on the Naval reserve, was awaiting a call up for deployment to the
Persian Gulf. In the stands were families of American servicemen who were in
tears at the somber and moving version of “Star Spangled Banner” as performed
by noted pop/jazz pianist Bruce Hornsby and saxophonist Branford Marsalis.
And like many other American sporting events, there
was an honor guard from all their military services on hand for the
presentation of the colors.
Privately, I wondered why we never had an honor guard
much less a military presence in Philippine sporting events. Maybe there was
before. Obviously, it hasn’t happened for quite some time. It isn’t even
visible in the top sports leagues in the country – the PBA, UAAP, NCAA, UFL or
even the V-League. At least not in the last 11 years since I have been actively
covering Philippine sports.
Through the years, that remained in the back of my
mind.
As a youngster, I was fascinated by all things
military. I even considered entering the Armed Forces.
My grandfather from my mother’s side assisted the US
Army during World War II in some of its operations around Central Luzon. An
uncle of mine nearly became chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the
Philippines losing out to Arturo Enrile (he was eventually named as Ambassador
to Cambodia by the late Cory Aquino). And quite a few of my classmates entered
the PMA or even joined the US Armed Forces.
That uncle of mine in the AFP served in Vietnam and
in Mindanao but it was in Gattaran, Cagayan, where he nearly lost his life in
1986. That was the same ambush by communist guerillas that claimed the life of
veteran photojournalist Willie Vicoy.
It was that incident that prompted an aunt as well as
my father, among a few others, to put up the Alay Sa Kawal Foundation that not
only helped wounded soldiers but also the families of the deceased. ASK also
provided some form of entertainment for those in the battlefield. It was much
like the USO Shows during World War II, Korea, and Vietnam.
No, this isn’t some reaction to the debacle that is
Mamasapano. In fact, the germ of this idea took place two years ago after a
visit to the V. Luna Hospital that left me thinking of a few passages from Walt
Whitman’s “The Wound-dresser” that I first read as an impressionable youngster.
“Arous’d and
angry, I’d thought to beat the alarum, and urge relentless war,
But soon my
fingers fail’d me, my face droop’d and I resign’d myself,
To sit by
the wounded and soothe them, or silently watch the dead.”
With that in mind, I put together a proposal for a
tie up between the AFP and the PBA where the former would not only provide an
honor guard for the national anthem during the finals but also the All-Star
Game. The PBA in return would also honor the wounded or disabled soldiers
and their families with free seats during Araw ng Kagitingan (April 9) and
Bonifacio Day (November 30).
The proposal took a backseat due to governmental red
tape and my work. Recently, I found the right military contact in Colonel
Arnulfo Burgos, who used to be the spokesman for the AFP but now only does so
for the Army. We quickly hammered out some details.
Last Friday, April 17, I verbally brought this
proposal of a tie-up to PBA Commissioner Chito Salud who immediately approved
the idea. “No need for paperwork,” he enthusiastically said as he thought it
was a marvelous idea. “It’s a done deal. It is the least we can do for our men
and women in uniform.”
I called up Colonel Burgos with the good news and
began working out the tie ups that would begin as early as the current PBA
Finals – “should it reach a Game Seven” said the Commish – or as late as the
Governors’ Cup.
Salud said that the PBA could provide some seats
every Wednesday for the wounded or disabled soldiers as well as for some of
their dependents every Wednesday aside from the other two noted holidays.
As part of this proposal, we are sending formal ideas
to the PBA where maybe as part of their CSR program, they can make appearances
or even give clinics to the children of our servicemen.
During a recent conversation with Barangay Ginebra
point guard LA Tenorio who not only has been a good friend but was also my
ambassador during my time with Gatorade, I let him in on the proposed project.
Tenorio’s eyes glowed. “Sabi nila, kami sa national team nag-serve para sa
bansa. Naku, maliit lang yung serbisyo namin kumpara sa mga sundalo natin.
Napakalayo ng basketbol sa pagiging sundalo nila. Yun ang totoong buwis buhay.
Tama lang na bigyan sila ng karangalan.”
How did I feel after Commissioner Salud approved it?
Elated is a massive understatement. I am glad to be
the conduit for our league and our men in uniform. If this helps someone,
anyone, then I am a happy man.
Hopefully, it becomes not only a PBA tradition but
also one but for all local sporting events.
Hopefully, this provides more attention, awareness,
or even gives a measure of pride to our servicemen.
Hopefully, this gives back to many people in many
ways.
And here is the Commissioner’s message to the Armed
Forces of the Philippines: “Sa lahat ng ating mga miyembro ng sandatahang lakas,
ako po si Chito Salud ng PBA na malugod na inaanyayahan kayo na manood ng PBA.
Alam po namin na malakas ang inyong suporta sa liga natin.
At bilang pagtanaw ng utang na loob sa inyo hindi
lamang dahil sa suporta at dahil sa proteksyon na binibigay ninyo sa ating
bayan, at dahil sa handa kayong ialay ang inyong buhay, hayaan niyo naman na kami
ang mag-host sa inyo ngayong darating na third conference at sa mga araw na
kung saan natin ipinagdiriwang ang kagitingan at katapangan ng ating mga
bayani.”
Wow. When this does finally happen. When our
countrymen all the more recognize the sacrifices of our men and women in
uniform. When that honor guard stands at attention for the playing if the
national anthem… it’s my turn to have tears in my eyes.
It's about time the armed forces is given it's due
ReplyDelete