San Miguel Beermen (April 26, 2019)

San Miguel Beermen

For the 5^th consecutive years, SMB have always competed for the finals of the All Filipino Conference in the local Philippine Basketball Association.  They have already won it four times straight and this year, they are gunning for their 5^th all Filipino title.

The anchor of course, is the once in a generation player in the person of their center position.  The ever dominant player, Junemar Fajardo.  Winning the MVP for the fourth time, the fellow is still not done in writing and re-writing PBA history.

Added to the mix is a cast of superlative players who are by themselves are also great players and you have in the mix, right before your very eyes, one of the greatest basketball team assembled (locally, that is). 

Aside from the first five players, you also have a second five players, who would definitely play a first five position in another team – but since SMB is packed with talented players, a second five playing position will just have to suffice.  The team is laden with so many talents that winning championships is just simply a normal thing for them.  The reinforced conference where there is an import is 80% dependent on the quality of import hired, but the local players remain and play a pivotal role when the import is having an off night.

Regardless of the opponent for the championship, SMB will certainly dominate and I even predict boldly, would win their 5^th consecutive all Filipino title.  On the opposite side of the spectrum, ROS and Magnolia are still contesting the right to fight SMB for the crown.  And it really doesn’t matter; both teams are inferior to SMB in terms of talent and destiny.

It will not be a sweep, SMB will lose a game or two in the finals, but make no mistake, SMB will win the all Filipino cup.  That is a certainty, as certain as the sun rising in the east and setting on the west.  It will be a conference dominated by SMB.

The coach is underrated, but he is a winner.  SMB was already a powerhouse long before the entry of its coach, Leo Austria.  But Mr. Austria transformed SMB from a contender into a champion.  And surprisingly, he is just what the team needed.

At any rate, SMB will dominate the all Filipino cup for a very long time, as long as the team in infused with new blood, and with the anchor of great players still playing to their form, I will have a long year ahead of me as a winner. 

Psychology has a relative concept for this.  It is called BIRG-ing (or basking in reflected glory) and admittedly, I am in such a state.  The opposite of this concept is CORF-ing (or cutting off reflected failure).  There is nothing wrong with BIRG-ing, in fact, I am just enjoying the time where my chosen team is victorious. Because truth be told, life is a series of ups and downs, and in basketball, such is also true.  SMB cannot sustain this championship run for a long time and I am just enjoying the moment.

April 26, 2019

PRRD and China (April 25, 2019)

PRRD and China

China have been at the receiving end of history and while America is still the dominant power, China is an emerging power.  History will teach us that whenever there is a face-off between the dominant power versus the emerging power, the dominant power will always prevail but only at a certain level - over time, as more conflict and confrontation arises, the dominant power loses its edge and the emerging power eventually assumes the leadership position.

America is still the dominant and the only true superpower left in the planet, bus such a position is not forever.  Sooner or later, China will take over and that would be the end of that political equation. 

As of this date, China is starting to challenge and flex its muscle.  Testing the resolve of the dominant power whether it would yield its hold on contested geopolitical footholds or grudgingly let go and face the inevitable.

Somewhere in the middle of this geopolitical Olympics is the Philippines.  Traditionally, the Philippines is an ally of America but in its last presidential elections, the country elected an unusual president in the person of Rodrigo R. Duterte.  What makes his election unusual is that PRDD is currently pivoting his foreign affairs policies from a pro-US stance to a pro-China stance.

While the country was always accused of being a lapdog or a client state of USA, now the same country is changing its master.  From a US western direction, to an eastern China stance. 

China is on the threshold of replacing USA as a dominant power and the struggle is currently afoot.  Realistically, it would still be around 2050 before China could really claim its billing, but challenges are now being faced head on.

While the presidential victory of PRRD was no surprise, his pivot towards China was totally unexpected and was never politically predicted.  The ramifications of his win is still being digested and the political results are still in the process of re-shaping RP-US relations as well as RP-China relations.

PRRD is the oldest elected Philippine president and the most vocal one, in terms of juvenile delinquency.  His tirades and cussing were once directed at the US president, the Pope, the UN Secretary General or anyone who is considered to be a western player.

At the opposing end, PRRD is all praises for China.  Though the previous administration won a historic legal victory against China, PRRD is suspending or watering down the legal victory by dancing to the tune of Chinese beat.

To this date, he is currently in China, in a state visit, soliciting funds and loans to make up for the loans that he rejected from the west since they carry a string that is politically and philosophically against his dictatorial tendencies.

The common regret now of the electors is that they voted for someone who is morally and philosophically unqualified to run the country from the presidential office.  They elected someone who takes a short-cut in curing criminality, poverty, and judicial cases.

Someone who instead of filing cases will just simply resort to extra judicial killings, someone who would borrow the future – to ease the current hardship and someone who bullies people rather than command and earn their respect.   

Such is the irony of PRRD and China.

April 25, 2019

Endgame (April 24, 2019)

Endgame

For some, it is the beginning that matters, while for others, it is the current status or middle part that counts while for the shrewd, it is always about the ending (or for the purpose of this writing, the endgame).  This article is about this writer’s musing about the epilogue.  The prologue might be interesting; it explains the origin of what and whom.  The epilogue however shows the summation of all events leading to such and such.

The film of the year or the most anticipated film of the year starts its screening today, April 24, 2019.  Ironically, the story centers on a juvenile plotline of people with extraordinary powers against villains with exceptional powers as well.  Biblically, it is a classic tale of good versus evil and normally, after an initial failure and downfall – the good always trumps over evil.

The same is true for this latest Avengers installment aptly entitled “Endgame”.  While it is a mini tradition now in my family to watch this film on its opening day, for the first time this day, I skipped work in the morning to view the film first thing in the morning (around 8 AM at SM Fairview) so as to finally settle the nagging issue in my mind; about what happens after the first part/installment of the film titled “Infinity War”.

And true to form, the film does not disappoint, issues were settled and plotlines were closed.  I was just looking at the entire SM Cinemas in the entire archipelago and not surprisingly, all of them will show nothing but the latest Avengers installment.  That is a nationwide showing for only one film, not counting the other smaller movie houses in the country.

Sociologically, the significance of this is that people are again going to the movies, this proves the theory that the practice of movie watching is still alive and that if there is a quality film about and around, people would line up – spend hard earned money, just to see and enjoy them.  People are again with one another, going in line, braving the summer heat, just to be together with someone who is important to them personally and watch movies.  People are again spending time with one another to bond and to enjoy each other’s company.  People again are relating and are renewing their relationship and ironically; this film is making it all happen.  The good and the just will always win in the end.

Economically, good and great movies still deliver blockbuster revenues which in turn illuminate and inspire moviegoers.  The producers will make a killing, in terms of revenues and this in turn will give them more courage to create films that is inherently good and not just commercially viable.  Short of being heroic, the creators, the doers, the people who made this particular film possible deserves a pat on the shoulder.  A pat for a job well done and timely done as well.

Psychologically, people still long for the ideal men.  Men who are inherently good; men who are able to do extraordinary things; to right a wrong; to defend the weak and to be godlike in the dispensation of justice. 

No life is certain (April 23, 2019)

No life is certain

Yesterday, a mediocre earthquake shook Metro Manila, it was measured are around 5.7 in terms of intensity and locality and 6.1 from the Richter scale in terms of magnitude.

The epicenter was in Zambales and the result was a supermarket collapse in Porac, Pampanga, resulting in 8 deaths (at least) and a score of injuries.  Classes were suspended, government offices in Metro Manila were also suspended pending the necessary clearances from the government to move on with life and their respective operations.

Personally, I was on the road when the earthquake happened and I did not notice it.  What I noticed was the reaction of the masses to the event.  Clearly, the government is not ready for such an eventuality and all preparation were for naught when an actual earthquake transpired.

With the benefit of hindsight, just imagine if a higher magnitude happens and the epicenter is in the Metro Manila.  For certain, the death toll would be higher, the injuries would be higher, and the damages to property and infrastructure would be more massive.  The lack of preparation would be more evident. 

Economically, this would translate to more hardships for the poor and an exploitation opportunity for the craven.  The economy would fluctuate and the poor would carry and endure the burden of such an act of god.  Even the term an act of god is a misnomer since why would we attribute a normal phenomenon to god?  Because an earthquake is a natural phenomenon, as of 6:00 AM, this very morning, 608 aftershocks were already recorded and counting and there would still be more movement since daily, the world literally spins on its axis.

Psychologically, the death resulting from this recent earthquake reminds us that no life is certain.  Rich or poor, high or low, we are all subject to the whims of tide.  Just as every tide kissing the shore is unique, just as every grain of sand is unique, every life and its resulting outcome are not certain.  One could plot and scheme his way in life but life would naturally take its course well beyond the planning and scheming expended.

Death is certain, life is not.  Hard work and its parallel expenditure are tangible but the result is still intangible, it is still not a certainty whether the result would be according to one’s desire and design. In general, life is a disappointment and acceptance (or its level of acceptance) determines the level of happiness one extracts from life.

And speaking of extraction, philosophically, the age old wisdom of time being fleeting is never truer.  At any given time, life could be gone.  Everyone wishes to die on their own terms, but the reality is that only few are accorded from such a request.  Our time ticks whether we spend it wisely or waste it stupidly.  They say that youth is wasted on the young, and that the old are perpetually jealous of the young because of the energy and time that the young possesses.  The irony here is that the old were once young and they too; wasted their youth.

And so, the cycle of jealousy begins and never ceases.  Ironically, yesterday was also declared of the official Earth Day for the year.  The jest is that Earth once again proves that it dances to the beat of its own tune.

Comparatively, the death toll extracted by this recent earthquake pales in comparison to the death toll extracted from Sri Lanka by some still unnamed terrorist group.  The death toll was 290 and the number of hurt is around 500 and still counting.

April 23, 2019