#FromTheArchives: Mula PBA star nauwi sa pagiging taxi driver?

 
Does the name Willie Miller ring any bell?

He's only one of the veteran stars of the PBA.

He's a two-time PBA most valuable player, three-time PBA Mythical First Team, 11-time PBA All-Star recipient and has many other awards under his belt.

But after 13 years in the PBA, he has become a free agent, meaning he is not currently signed with any team. The 37-year-old now plays for a minor league in Marikina.

"Hindi nabigyan ng chance na makapirma," he explains his situation.

"Nakapagpundar naman ako. Nakapag-invest naman. Unang una siyempre yung bahay, mahirap naman yung wala akong matitirhan pagkatapos ko maglaro," he says.

He admits that being a free agent has had an impact on his finances.

Miller is married and has three young children. He was able to purchase a few units of taxis, and he's thinking of driving them himself as an alternative career and to augment his finances.

"Wala akong pakialam sa inyo," he laughs. "Taxi ko ‘yun, di ba? At hindi nakakahiya ‘yun, basta marangal ‘yung trabaho mo."

Miller says he's not a stranger to such work.

"Nung bata ako, nagtitinda ako ng tinapay, nag-alok ako ng diyaryo. Walang nakakahiya dun."

He also remains optimistic. "Malay mo, nagta-taxi ako, baka sa susunod, ako na may ari lahat ng taxi company. Sana!"