Why the crowd
swelled at Panaad

I guess one must admit that the preliminary buildup by radio and television must have motivated thousands to troop to the Panaad Stadium for the fabled Azkal vs. Mongolia football games.

That’s the only possible explanation for the surprising turnout of thousands who trooped to the Panaad stadium. Of course, there were many football fans who did. For them, it was a chance to see football as it should be played.

But the majority went there just for the chance to be known to have attended the game.

As a matter of fact, I was not really surprised the most of those who were there mostly the girls, did not even know a bit about football. And, it was pointed out that the same crowd was never seen in the SEA games which the UNO-R hosted. In short, only a handful of fans were there in attendance.

Perhaps, to a certain extent there was also the colonial mentality with the teenagers, mostly the girls, scrambling for the autographs of the players, mostly the foreigners or foreign-born Pinoys.

But there is no quibbling with the fact that, to a certain extent, that also signal the ascendancy of football to the level with which we worship basketball as the Filipino favorite sports. Despite our awareness that we can never attain the status of the stratospheric levels of the American and European players.

But Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri deserve a pat on the back for reminding President Benigno Aquino III to give more support to football. This is one sporting event where Pinoys can have the chance to shine in the international scene. As they did yesterday and several weeks prior.

That was a purely partisan crowd that cheered the domestic players. They never paid tribute to the goal keeper of the Mongolia team who managed to salvage the ball several times (10) which the offensive Pinoy team repeatedly tried to kick to the goal as they repeatedly carried the game forward.

But one thing I noticed, the Philippine team went on the offensive most of the time, the Mongolia defense repeatedly proved just too tough for them to pierce through.

Perhaps, there was one thing noticeable. The Pinoy booters several times committed the mistake of taking long-range shots. Even just passing the ball to a teammate across the field, they tried it. They never expected the more determined Mongolian team rushing to intercept their passes. Dribbling could have improved their performance.

They could have done a lot more damage had they opted to carry on a ball-handling offensive with the ball passed on to a teammate not far away. But instead, over-confidence must have compelled them to carry the game the way they played it.

Well, that’s just as far as I could comment on a game which more skilled players could comment on thoroughly and criticize.

But one cannot deny that despite my misgivings about the sudden enthusiasm, that was a real discovery – that Pinoys just love the game as much as basketball. Possibly more if the game were explained to them better than their rudimentary knowledge of it.

* * *

The Senate decided to push through with the hearing into the corruption of the AFP. But, as earlier pointed out by Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, the members of the Senate, regardless of whether the hearing is by the Blue Ribbon Committee or another, should always observe proper decorum.

In short, they should not grandstand by browbeating witnesses and making them lose their faces or subject them to public ridicule. Actually, Migz does not need to remind Senate members about that behavior. This is something that is required from members of the Legislature of both houses.

But, over the years, we have observed that the decorum of some lawmakers has deteriorated to the point that some of them consider themselves as prosecutors and judges at the same time.

In the first place, it must be remembered that they are there only for purposes of enacting legislation later. Not for prosecution.

* * *

Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. must be proud that people had flocked to the Panaad Stadium to view the Azkal take on Mongolia in football.

And he has a point – we must remain united so that we can move the country forward. But it was comforting for Marañon that those who had failed to get free tickets successfully managed to rush into the stadium later with the security personnel being unable to stop them.

At least, they, too, saw the final stages of the game.

* * *

Don Salvador Benedicto town in the upper Negros area truly deserve its tag as the Little Baguio of the province with the inauguration yesterday of P32.5 million in projects.

Celebrating its 21st Kali-Kalihan Harvest Festival, Board Member Nehemias de la Cruz, Mayor Lawrence Marlen de la Cruz and Councilor Nehemias de la Cruz Jr., must have been elated with Gov. Marañon presiding at the inauguration of the P10-million two-storey multi-purpose building in Igmayaaan as the skills training center for out-of-school youth.

Sen. Zubiri also donated a two classroom building. Sen. Loren Legarda is spending for the improvement and rehabilitation of the Malantan-og Falls.

Special mention must be made of Ron Biener who constructed P1 million public library in Igmaya-an and the Japan Shimizu- Rotary Club sponsoring the construction of a day-care at Spur 18.

A salute to all who contributed to the development of DSB into what may soon be a real Baguio City for Negros Occidental.*

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