Proud to be Pinoy!

Tennis muna tayo mga kapuso. Last Sunday, February 11, I got the chance to be at the old but refurbished Dacudao Courts at the Rizal Memorial Complex to watch Fil-American Cecil Mamiit as he almost single-handedly carried the fight for the Pinoys against the Pakistanis in the Asia-Oceania Group II tie of the Davis Cup. On that sunny Sunday morning the American-born ATP campaigner turned back Aqeel Khan in straight sets and gave the Philippines a shot at returning to the world play of the Davis Cup when we play against the New Zealanders in two months time. But more than the fine play of the 181 ranked Mamiit, It is his expression of his being a Pilipino is what caught my attention. Sa kanyang victory speech sabi ni Cecil: "I am as Pilipino as adobo and kanin." Salitang banyaga man ang lumalabas sa kanyang mga bibig, the fact that he gave up a chance to play in the money-rich tournaments like the Australian Open speaks well of his intention to help bring Philippine tennis back on its feet. What can be more Filipino than that? In a postmatch interview with GMA News sinabi ni Cecil that if there's one thing he would want to teach his kapwa-pinoys i'ts striving to be the best. Sinabi ni Mamiit:"I want to show my Filipino brothers and sisters that we can strive to do great things. We just all have to go after it." Isn't it nice to know that we still have people who can give us the inspiration we all need in the midst of all the frenzy of promises (meant to be broken) from our "exposure depraved" politicians, who continue to disappoint most of us! Hope we could encounter more Cecil Mamiits in this lifetime!