NETIZENS have called out senators for allegedly politicizing the basketball game between the Philippines and China in last Saturday’s FIBA World Cup action at the Araneta Coliseum.
During the game, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and Senators Juan Edgardo Angara, Christopher Go, Ronald dela Rosa, Joel Villanueva, and Pia Cayetano were spotted wearing T-shirts printed with the words “WEST PH SEA” and the Philippine flag. Gilas Pilipinas won 96-75.
“I’m all for protesting and asserting our rights in the West Philippine Sea. However, I don’t think that sports is the right venue. Those are Chinese athletes, not the Chinese Communist Party. As government officials, you are expected to act with utmost diplomacy and professionalism on international venues, especially sports,” a netizen said.
The netizen said it would be better if the senators just brought the matter of the WPS issue to the United Nations General Assembly rather than “wear that shirt with pride and assert what is rightfully ours.”
Another netizen said the senators wearing those shirts are “all for show.”
Another netizen said the senators brought shame to the country, while another said the senators were “silent” on the WPS issue during the time of President Duterte.
“Our actions set precedents that could shape how China or any other country may treat us during their hosted events in the future. And it’s highly probable that such occasions will arise,” a netizen said.
Zubiri, in a message to the media, said last Saturday’s ball game “was the most important game of all” because the Philippines “showed the bully in the North that we shall not be allowed to be bullied in our own home and that we rallied together as a nation to pray and cheer for our Gilas team.”
He said the T-shirt sent a strong message that the WPS is part of Philippine territory.
“China came out with a map with its 10-dash line claim. So, wearing that T-shirt is a statement that the West Philippine Sea is ours,” he added.
Sen. Francis Tolentino said everyone has the right to freedom of expression and it is was his colleagues’ “way of showing unity.”
Tolentino, in an interview over Teleradyo Serbisyo 630, said it was not the first time the country’s colors were seen since many wore the colors on the opening day of the FIBA World Cup 2023 at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan.
Tolentino said he saw nothing wrong in the statement written on the shirts.
Go said he wore the shirt to show unity and support for the Philippine team.
“We just want to show unity and our support to our national team and to Filipinos by wearing that T-shirt. West Philippine Sea is ours, and that win is also ours!” Go said.
He said the Philippine team’s victory over China is “equally important” since it boosted the morale of the Filipinos amid the recent escalation of tension in the WPS.
Dela Rosa said they wore the shirt “to awaken the patriotic spirit of our Gilas Pilipinas” so the team could be motivated to exert all their “remaining talents, skills, and teamwork” on their way to victory over China.
Villanueva said the Gilas Pilipinas “fought well,” like each player knows the story behind Ayungin Shoal, Recto Bank, and Pag-asa Island.
“And just like in the Arbitral Ruling, we had a commanding victory against China. Mabuhay ang Pilipinas,” Villanueva said.
