‘Do we, as a nation, truly deserve the accolades and respect our exceptional citizens earn, when our leaders demonstrate such a blatant disregard for integrity and public service?’
FROM the cutthroat world of international business to the electrifying arenas of professional sports, our countrymen are consistently proving that the Filipino spirit is truly world class.
Last week, a historic moment unfolded in New York City where hotel operator Hotel101 Global Pte. Ltd., a subsidiary of DoubleDragon Corp., made its debut on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange.
It was a first for a Filipino-owned company to be listed and traded in the American stock exchange.
DoubleDragon CEO Edgar “Injap” Sia II rightfully declared it a “historic moment.”
With ambitious plans to become one of the top five hotel companies globally, Hotel101 Global is showcasing Filipino entrepreneurial prowess on an unprecedented scale.
Across the sporting world, our athletes are also etching their names in history.
Young tennis sensation Alex Eala has captivated audiences by becoming the first Filipino to reach the finals of a major WTA tourney – the Lexus Eastbourne Open.
Her journey to the finals, toppling tennis titans along the way, propelled her to a career-high world ranking of No. 56.
Though Eala ultimately fell short, her achievement is a testament to her unwavering spirit and the potential of Filipino athletes to excel in sports globally. Her inspiring feat also earned her a ticket in the prestigious Wimbledon Grand Slam, ultimately skipping the grueling qualifying rounds.
And then there’s Dylan Harper, a Fil-Am who was drafted as No. 2 pick by the five-time NBA champions San Antonio Spurs. Harper is the son of Filipina Maria Pizarro Harper and NBA legend Ron Harper, who won back-to-back NBA titles with the Lakers in 2000 and 2001 following three with the Chicago Bulls.
When asked what their son brings to the game, Maria simply said, “His flat-out love for the game, his determination, hard work and humility, day in and day out.”
Maria hails from Bataan and used to play college basketball. Her father represented the Philippines in the 1968 Mexico Olympics in jai alai.
Before them, there were Manny Pacquiao, Hidilyn Diaz, Carlos Yulo, and even religious Filipinos appointed to esteemed positions in the Vatican.
Outside the court, altar, and bourse — without the global glare of adulating fans — our millions of OFWs are silently sweating it out 24/7 to keep their families and our economy afloat.
While our countrymen bring honor to the Philippines, many of our leaders seem intent on squandering the public’s trust and betraying their solemn oath to serve.
We now have a former president facing trial for crimes against humanity in The Hague, shielded by family members and supporters also embroiled in their own battles.
There’s also this deeply concerning maneuvers within the Senate, where the impeachment trial against the Vice President has been deliberately stalled, passed on to the next Congress.
The Senate president mandated to preside over the impeachment court has on multiple occasions flagrantly breached protocol, engaging in public pronouncements that undermine the sanctity of due process.
It’s akin to a Supreme Court chief justice openly discussing the merits of a case even before it’s heard —an unthinkable breach of judicial ethics.
Do we, as a nation, truly deserve the accolades and respect our exceptional citizens earn, when our leaders demonstrate such a blatant disregard for integrity and public service?
If our so-called leaders cannot even be trusted to act as impartial umpires or referees for fear of selling out the game, one wonders if the true betrayal isn’t just of an oath, but of the very Filipino spirit that makes us remarkable.
