L.A. Tenorio is a role model for every Filipino national athlete

                                                     (Photo from LA Tenorio's Facebook page.)

Watching live on AKTV earlier the Smart-Gilas II-PHL Basketball Team play its final and for-the-championship game (round-robin format) versus the US Team in the 34^th William Jones Cup, the commentators repeatedly announced that L.A. Tenorio has been waiting to be “called to service” to represent the country in an international competition.

And he did more than serve, delivering the championship—along with his teammates—for the Philippines via a thrilling come-from-behind victory.

Along the way he showed an attitude and mindset worthy of emulation of every Filipino athlete who aspires to finally bring home the Holy Grail of Philippine sports, which is our country’s first Olympic gold medal (hopefully to be won finally in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, and not further.)

A video record of the entire game or at least its fourth quarter (embedded here) should be required viewing for every national athlete under the payroll of the Philippine Sports Commission, across all sports—especially among the newest and youngest recruits. With a sports psychologist to lecture on mental toughness post viewing.

To illustrate Tenorio’s heroic role in our country’s recent sporting conquest, the following are quotes from the Philippine Star article Smart Gilas II cops Jones Cup crown by Nelson Beltran:

…it was its smallest player, 5-8 L.A. Tenorio, who delivered the killer blows that gave the Filipinos the scary win before cheering Filipino fans in the capital city. […] 

...Tenorio stood tall, making the biggest plays, the biggest shots and even the biggest rebound as the Philippines nailed its fourth Jones Cup championship. […]

Tenorio collected 20 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter mostly on a two-man game with Marcus Douthit.

The Alaska Milk playmaker personally rallied Gilas from a seven-point deficit and himself clinched the victory as he knocked in the go-ahead basket with 20 seconds left then collared the rebound as Mychal Kearse flubbed a jumper 12 seconds later. […]

’No. 5 (Tenorio) was the big difference. I think we did a good job on him in the first half but he started getting into the groove in the second half. He penetrated too much, creating plays and hitting shots himself,’ (US coach Travis) McAvene said of Tenorio. 

That he possesses exceptional athletic skills is a given, as every Filipino elite athlete does. But, having the principle and personal conviction of fighting for the country’s glory, along with the mental fortitude to fight and overcome the most formidable challenges, sets Tenorio apart and exalts him among the best of the Filipino race—across all professions.

The Atenean is way up there with Manny Pacquiao.


And a Happy National Heroes' Day to all Pinoys!

Third World Rising (Vol. 1, No. 1)

Back in 1991, I was one of 10 representatives of the National Capital Region in the editorial cartooning competition of that year's National Secondary Schools Press Conference held in Tacloban, Leyte. After more than two decades, here's my first and struggling attempt to resuscitate whatever's left of the cartoonist in me -- by starting a comic strip series of quick sketches and thoughts on whatever takes my fancy from the country where Manny Pacquiao threatens to run for president: ours.  (And yes, this series is entitled "Third World Rising," on a positive note...really.)

Here's my take on the "peculiar way" our president consistently begins his SONAs:

And because the image's rather small (I'll find a way to fix this), the ff. is the fictional dialogue:

PNoy: Eh yung dating pangulo nga...pinapatay yung tagapagtatag ng KKK!

Aide (whispering): Boss, huwag mo na sumbatan si ex-Pres. Aguinaldo, si GMA na lang...

PNoy (whispers back): Pampahaba lang sana ng intro...

Aide: Sige na nga...

Music, Video and Lyrics II: Fortunate Son

By Creedence Clearwater Revival

Some folks are born made to wave the flag
Ooh, they're red, white and blue
And when the band plays "Hail to the chief"
Ooh, they point the cannon at you, Lord
It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no senator's son, son
It ain't me, it ain't me; I ain't no fortunate one, no

Yeah!
Some folks are born silver spoon in hand
Lord, don't they help themselves, oh
But when the taxman comes to the door
Lord, the house looks like a rummage sale, yes

It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no millionaire's son, no
It ain't me, it ain't me; I ain't no fortunate one, no

Some folks inherit star spangled eyes
Ooh, they send you down to war, Lord
And when you ask them, "How much should we give?"
Ooh, they only answer More! more! more! yoh

It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no military son, son
It ain't me, it ain't me; I ain't no fortunate one, one

It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no fortunate one, no no no
It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no fortunate son, no no no


About the song (from Wikipedia):

The song was inspired by David Eisenhower, the grandson of President Dwight David Eisenhower who married Julie Nixon, the daughter of President Richard Nixon, in 1968. John Fogerty (the band's songwriter) told Rolling Stone: "Julie Nixon was hanging around with David Eisenhower, and you just had the feeling that none of these people were going to be involved with the war. In 1968, the majority of the country thought morale was great among the troops, and like eighty percent of them were in favor of the war. But to some of us who were watching closely, we just knew we were headed for trouble." 

This song was popular during the Vietnam War and is included in several Vietnam films and video games. It is from the perspective of a man who is being drafted who is not "fortunate" enough to be the son of a Senator or millionaire. [...]

Rolling Stone ranked the song #99 on their list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time."

       

Music, Video and Lyrics I: Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa

ni Andres Bonifacio

Aling pag-ibig pa ang hihigit kaya sa pagka-dalisay at pagka-dakila gaya ng pag-ibig sa tinubuang lupa? Alin pag-ibig pa? Wala na nga, wala.

Ulit-ulitin mang basahin ng isip at isa-isahing talastasing pilit ang salita’t buhay na limbag at titik ng isang katauhan ito’y namamasid.

Banal na pag-ibig pag ikaw ang nukal sa tapat na puso ng sino’t alinman, imbit taong gubat, maralita’t mangmang nagiging dakila at iginagalang.

Pagpuring lubos ang nagiging hangad sa bayan ng taong may dangal na ingat, umawit, tumula, kumatha’t sumulat, kalakhan din nila’y isinisiwalat. Walang mahalagang hindi inihandog ng pusong mahal sa Bayang nagkupkop, dugo, yaman, dunong, tiisa’t pagod, buhay ma’y abuting magkalagot-lagot.

Bakit? Ano itong sakdal nang laki na hinahandugan ng buong pag kasi na sa lalong mahal kapangyayari at ginugugulan ng buhay na iwi.

Ay! Ito’y ang Inang Bayang tinubuan, siya’y ina’t tangi na kinamulatan ng kawili-wiling liwanag ng araw na nagbibigay init sa lunong katawan.

Sa kanya’y utang ang unang pagtanggol ng simoy ng hanging nagbigay lunas, sa inis na puso na sisinghap-singhap, sa balong malalim ng siphayo’t hirap. Kalakip din nito’y pag-ibig sa Bayan ang lahat ng lalong sa gunita’y mahal mula sa masaya’t gasong kasanggulan. hanggang sa katawan ay mapasa-libingan.

Ang na nga kapanahon ng aliw, ang inaasahang araw na darating ng pagka-timawa ng mga alipin, liban pa ba sa bayan tatanghalin?

At ang balang kahoy at ang balang sanga na parang niya’t gubat na kaaya-aya sukat ang makita’t sasa-ala-ala ang ina’t ang giliw lampas sa saya.

Tubig niyang malinaw sa anak’y bulog bukal sa batisang nagkalat sa bundok malambot na huni ng matuling agos na nakaa-aliw sa pusong may lungkot. Sa kaba ng abang mawalay sa Bayan! gunita ma’y laging sakbibi ng lumbay walang ala-ala’t inaasam-asam kundi ang makita’ng lupang tinubuan.

Pati na’ng magdusa’t sampung kamatayan waring masarap kung dahil sa Bayan at lalong maghirap, O! himalang bagay, lalong pag-irog pa ang sa kanya’y alay.

Kung ang bayang ito’y nasa panganib at siya ay dapat na ipagtangkilik ang anak, asawa, magulang, kapatid isang tawag niya’y tatalikdang pilit.

Datapwa kung bayan ng ka-Tagalogan ay nilalapastangan at niyuyurakan katwiran, puri niya’t kamahalan ng sama ng lilong ibang bayan.

Di gaano kaya ang paghinagpis ng pusong Tagalog sa puring nalait at aling kaluoban na lalong tahimik ang di pupukawin sa paghihimagsik?

Saan magbubuhat ang paghihinay sa paghihiganti’t gumugol ng buhay kung wala ring ibang kasasadlakan kundi ang lugami sa ka-alipinan?

Kung ang pagka-baon niya’t pagka-busabos sa lusak ng daya’t tunay na pag-ayop supil ng pang-hampas tanikalang gapos at luha na lamang ang pinaa-agos

Sa kanyang anyo’y sino ang tutunghay na di-aakayin sa gawang magdamdam pusong naglilipak sa pagka-sukaban na hindi gumagalang dugo at buhay.

Mangyari kayang ito’y masulyap ng mga Tagalog at hindi lumingap sa naghihingalong Inang nasa yapak ng kasuklam-suklam na Castilang hamak.

Nasaan ang dangal ng mga Tagalog, nasaan ang dugong dapat na ibuhos? bayan ay inaapi, bakit di kumikilos? at natitilihang ito’y mapanuod.

Hayo na nga kayo, kayong ngang buhay sa pag-asang lubos na kaginhawahan at walang tinamo kundi kapaitan, kaya nga’t ibigin ang naaabang bayan.

Kayong antayan na sa kapapasakit ng dakilang hangad sa batis ng dibdib muling pabalungit tunay na pag-ibig kusang ibulalas sa bayang piniit.

Kayong nalagasan ng bunga’t bulaklak kahoy niyaring buhay na nilant sukat ng bala-balakit makapal na hirap muling manariwa’t sa baya’y lumiyag.

Kayong mga pusong kusang (pugal) ng dagat at bagsik ng ganid na asal, ngayon magbangon’t baya’y itanghal agawin sa kuko ng mga sukaban.

Kayong mga dukhang walang tanging (lasap) kundi ang mabuhay sa dalita’t hirap, ampunin ang bayan kung nasa ay lunas sapagkat ang ginhawa niya ay sa lahat.

Ipaghandog-handog ang buong pag-ibig hanggang sa mga dugo’y ubusang itigis kung sa pagtatanggol, buhay ay (mailit) ito’y kapalaran at tunay na langit.

Milo doesn’t lose, as long as he’s having fun

(Photo: Milo Ezekiel—now seven years old—sculpts a rose from modelling clay and offers it to his Mom.)

I feel guilty for letting my adult, competition-oriented attitude kill the joy my six-year-old son felt, after engaging in friendly rounds of sparring with his new-found friends. (Sorry to the Department of Social Welfare and Development, but I believe that the children’s lack of punching power, further softened by boxing gloves, made those sessions rather harmless. If I’m wrong and legally liable, then do what you have to do.)

One night, I took my eldest child Milo Ezekiel to the martial arts gym that I co-own. While I trained for my coming fight, my little boy played all over the place: he tumbled on the wrestling mat, threw the medicine ball as far as he could, wore the oversized boxing gloves and hit the bags, and ran around like crazy (honestly, he’s a little weird like me).

Soon, around six children climbed up the gym. Coming off the stairs and right before stepping on the mat, each of them joined their palms together, chest-level, and bowed down before Kru Art Pantinople, our muay thai instructor.  Kru Art then told me he trains those kids for free in boxing—both the Western and Thai kind.

Except for the girl who must be eight years old, all the others, three boys and two girls (as I remember) were smaller than Milo. And, all of them including Milo ended up chasing each other playing tag.

Later, two boys clambered up the boxing ring and wore gloves, and were soon striking at each other while the eldest girl acted the referee. Milo, wanting to join the fun, stepped inside the ring and joyfully volunteered to fight next.

The children happily obliged, and helped put the gloves and protective head gear on Milo and his sparring partner. The equipment were all adult-sized, and therefore over-sized for the kids.

My son is quite tall, and has always been one of the tallest in school. And, for his age, he’s on the lean and muscular side. The definition in his shoulders and back are noticeable, compared to other children his age.

Unfortunately for him, his statistical advantages in height, length and weight didn’t matter to his opponent who was a head shorter, during their friendly sparring.

The smaller one, though still awkward in boxing movements, showed the training he has undergone under Kru Art: he kept his sight on Milo and threw accurate punches. My untrained Milo, on the other hand, flailed with his head turned away to his left side—showing his childish and instinctive way of avoiding getting hit in the face.

He fought another and much smaller boy, and it was the same story on the ring.

On the bus along the way home, Milo (still) excitedly remarked, “Daddy, it was fun boxing at the gym!” My honest response was, “Yes, but the children there know how to box.”

Milo’s joyful expression changed into puzzlement, and the smile of satisfaction left his face. With a hint of disappointment at the “mild” disappointment I myself felt (which he apparently discerned), he answered “But, I also know how to box.”

Then I (stupid me) rubbed it on some more and our conversation continued:

“Well, you fell down a couple of times.”

“But, my playmate fell down, too—twice,” he replied then, in a serious tone and facial expression. I wanted to reason out some more, and tell him that those were slips while his were legit knockdowns, but wisely refrained.

Right after breakfast the next morning, for some unkind reason I brought it up again, and told little Milo that, “We’ll both learn how to box, okay?” To which Milo grumbled and dismissed my offer, “No, I’ll just learn on my own,” and left the dining table with a frown.

Next time, I’ll remember that little children just want to play and have fun with one another, unlike us grownups who are too conscious of competitiveness and putting one over the other—in sports and other matters in life.

P.S.,

My apologies to my mother and sister—Milo’s very protective grandmother and aunt, respectively—for putting their wonderful baby through all that. Anyway, I’m sure that those children’s strikes were more pushes than punches, and Milo only ended up leaving from a little rough fun, for his age…right?

Anyway, I’d be wiser with four-year-old Mikael Fedor. (Yup, named after the legendary MMA fighter.)

Milo Ezekiel kneeling at front, wearing a Batman shirt; Mikael Fedor stands behind him, carrying a ball. (Standing from left are S.P.R.A.W.L.-MMA's coach Christian Virtudazo and popular TV and movie actor JM De Guzman.)

Kru Art Pantinople, aside from being a former top-ranked muay thai fighter and certified instructor in the Philippines, also holds a BJJ blue belt from Yuki Nakai, founder of Japan's Paraestra (Shinya Aoki's former team).

This blog is sponsored by Limitado

and S.P.R.A.W.L.-MMA

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