Senate panel approves bill granting Ginebra player Justin Brownlee Filipino citizenship

The Senate Justice and Human Rights Committee on Monday approved the bills seeking to grant Filipino citizenship to American basketball player Justin Donta Brownlee.

The Senate panel approved the bills barely a week after a committee in the House of Representatives approved a counterpart measure for the same purpose.

Senator Ronald dela Rosa, author of one of the bills, expressed his full support for the naturalization of the two-time Best Import Awardee of the Philippine Basketball Association as a player for Ginebra San Miguel.

Senate Sports Committee Chairman Bong Go, who co-authored Dela Rosa's bill, said Brownlee will immensely help Gilas Pilipinas - the country's national basketball team - in the sixth and final window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers which is slated for February 2023.

"In granting Mr. Justin Brownlee Philippine citizenship, we will definitely bolster our country’s chances in several upcoming basketball tournaments. But beyond that, we would gain a new brother that we can proudly call 'Filipino,'" Go said.

Senator Sonny Angara, who also filed a separate bill for Brownlee's naturalization, thanked the Senate Justice and Human rights panel for acting expeditiously on the measures.

Angara, who chairs the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, the national sports association for basketball, recalled that the Senate had also cooperated in the naturalization of other foreign players who played for Gilas Pilinas such as Andray Blatche and Ange Kouame.

Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva, who also authored another bill for the same purpose, mentioned filing a bill for Brownlee's naturalization last Congress.

However, the House of Representatives did not approve its counterpart measure then.

During the hearing, the Bureau of Immigration did not express objection to the naturalization of Brownlee and confirmed that the PBA player has no derogatory records with the agency.

The Department of Justice and the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Office of the Solicitor General also said they interpose no objection to Brownlee's naturalization.

Brownlee, who was physically present during the hearing, said wearing a Philippine national team jersey would "mean tremendously a lot" as it's his way of giving love to Filipinos who showed him support in his basketball career in the country.

"Coming here in 2016 and right after that just received so much love and admiration from the fans, I can't believe it. It was overwhelming and just wearing the flag, it seems like it allows me to give back to the people, the fans, and that's something that I wanted to just try to do, whether it can be an inspiration or motivation or winning games or practicing with the team, whatever it is, out of love that I have received, I just want to give it back," Brownlee said.

At the same hearing, he was asked by Dela Rosa if Brownlee is willing to help the government in advocating against illegal drugs should he be granted Filipino citizenship.

"Once he becomes a Filipino citizen, I would just like to make a personal appeal to him since he is being looked up to by the Filipino people, especially the youth. He is being idolized by a lot of Filipino people, can I ask him to help me advocate for our anti-drug program because you will be a very good example to the Filipino youth. Please help us advocate our anti-drug program because that's very important," Dela Rosa said.

"That would become one of your moral obligations once you become a Filipino to help the Filipino youth become good Filipino citizens. You will be our role model," he added.

Brownlee, in response, said: "Opo. For sure."

Asked which Filipino characteristic made him decide to pursue his naturalization, the Ginebra import mentioned Filipinos' humility, resiliency and camaraderie.

"Really, it's just how the people get along and how everyone treats another. Just being in the US, there's a lot of hate and there's a lot of diversity and stuff like that. I just always see how people, the less fortunate, and they are just happy and they just get along and everybody knows how to treat each other," Brownlee said.

"I know it's a very busy city...Everybody is not in a great situation but making the best of every situation you are in. I took note of that and I take things like that to the heart... I tried to be a humble person and of course, sometimes, it may not be easy because you want to show what you can do and be proud of it which you should be but I try to have some humility and I think the Filipino culture, they definitely have humility and a lot of pride which I really like," he added.

During the hearing, SBP Executive Director Renauld Barrios shared that during Gilas Pilipinas training under Coach Tim Cone, Brownlee offered to play with the national team players to help them prepare for international games.

Brownlee, who has been playing for Ginebra since 2016, has helped the PBA team win five PBA championships.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News