Philippine House of Reps puts up exhibit for Kobe Bryant

The House of Representatives has put an exhibit to pay tribute to the late NBA legend Kobe Bryant.

Items in Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano's personal collections featured in the exhibit, as he admitted that he is a big fan of the late basketball superstar.

LOOK: An exhibit for the late NBA legend Kobe Bryant has been put up here at the House of Representatives. @gmanews pic.twitter.com/HxdC11Q7Kn

— Erwin Colcol (@erwincolcol) January 29, 2020

"We put together 24 items from my collection, all of Kobe Bryant, dito sa likod para yung gustong mag-reminisce, mag-pray, mag-discern ay makadaan dito," Cayetano told reporters in an interview.

"I think the best we can do is really to pay tribute, to pray for their families, but also have in heart yung tinuturo niya —to be the best version of ourselves," Cayetano added.

Among the items in the exhibit was a shoe that Kobe gave away to crowd when he visited the Philippines. Cayetano said he had his wife, Taguig Representative Lani Cayetano, find the shoe and negotiate for it to be displayed at the exhibit.

Among the items displayed is the shoe that Bryant gave away to the crowd when he visited the Philippines. pic.twitter.com/KbFqnHCQyC

— Erwin Colcol (@erwincolcol) January 29, 2020

Other items featured were Kobe's jerseys, figurines, posters including the one with his image painted in a tenement court in Taguig City, and Cayetano's photos when he watched the basketball legend play.

Other items featured in the exhibit are Bryant’s jerseys, posters and photos of Cayetano when he watched the NBA legend play. pic.twitter.com/ipuBYPOF98

— Erwin Colcol (@erwincolcol) January 29, 2020

Cayetano offered prayers and extended condolences to Kobe's family.

"We cannot begin to imagine kung ano ang nararamdaman nung pamilya, nung daughters niyang iba, yung asawa niya, and also of course yung pamilya nung mga kasama niya doon sa chopper," he said.

"But definitely in this generation and next generations to come, he will have such an impact and will be an inspiration to us," he added.

According to Cayetano, the exhibit will be up until Thursday, depending on the feedback of the employees at the House.

"Kino-consult pa namin yung mga empleyado kung gusto nila hanggang tomorrow. But personal naman namin yun," he said.

"Let's see how it goes today, but we won't mind doing it here or outside Congress din. Just so that we can also comfort each other sa nangyari," he added.

Kobe, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, and seven others were killed as the helicopter they were riding crashed in Calabasas, California on Sunday (US time).

He rose to prominence as an 18-year-old rookie in 1996 and played 20 years for the Los Angeles Lakers, 18 years as an all-star, and winning five NBA championships.

He also won two Olympic gold medals as a member of the US team in 2008 and 2012.

Bryant retired from professional basketball in 2016. —LBG, GMA News