Discover how Filipinos love basketball through this article and how the game greatly influenced the entire country. Read this article today.
The Philippines is known to be the home of the happiest people. Also, it is the home of the biggest basketball fans in the world. In fact, if you would travel the entirety of the Philippines, you would see basketball courts anywhere. You wouldn't even believe how everything can be associated with basketball from trees made as basketball rings to basketball players playing amidst the flood.
Check the video below to see what I am talking about.
Why do Filipinos Love Basketball So Much?
Filipinos love to be entertained. They like getting on the edge of their seats watching an action-packed game. However, where is this love for the game really coming from?
History and All
This obsession, as other call it, comes from the deepest historical and cultural reasons. Philippines has been colonized the Americans and basketball is of their influence which left a mark to the entire country. This game has been introduced as part of the education system under the Physical Education subject in school. Apparently, the Filipinos loved it and gave rise to a new religion in the Philippines.
This has brought the organization of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). There is also a great influenced when the National Basketball Association was shown in the television where every Filipino household can watch. Believe me, NBA championship games in the Philippines can be likened to Manny Pacquiao’s boxing fight which makes all the streets in the country look like ghost towns because everyone is in their houses watching the fight.
Basketball has also become the gateway for most aspiring students to earn a scholarship in high school or college and maybe even land a spot in professional basketball. Everyone knows how most Filipinos struggle when it comes to finances for education. It is a sad reality. However, hopes have been rekindled as young basketball players find hope to earn a college degree by becoming a varsity player. So, it is only safe to say that basketball is not just about entertainment, it has also become a way to achieve one’s dreams.
Filipinos Love the Idea of Oneness
No matter how divided the Philippines is with its over seven thousand (7,000) islands, Filipinos still love the idea of oneness. They love to be a part of something and this is something that the game can offer freely. Although you can say that there is no such thing as “oneness” as Ginebra and San Miguel fans can never be united but is there really a division when everybody is enjoying the game?
This is the reason why even local government units and starting business establishments would always resort to having a basketball competition to promote their activities such as town fiesta or foundation day because they know that there will always be someone who will come and watch the activity.
Lessons You Can Get From Basketball
Helps in Adolescence Stage
Just like in any other countries, when a boy reaches a certain age, there are privileges that he can get from his parents like having extra hours playing outside. Basketball is a way for adolescent boys to meet new playmates and where they can start building relationship with other playmates.
This is where they explore and is starting to feel the belongingness which will greatly affect their future interaction with the community. This is also a way for them to get away from prohibited drugs and teenage pregnancy issues
Empowers Women
Nowadays, a lot of us already witness how women are making progress in their rally in proving themselves that they are also capable of doing what men can do. Women of today already involve themselves even in physical games such as basketball.
To me, it is much more of a protest and letting other people know that they are also capable of knowing and playing the game. In fact, Women National Basketball Association (WNBA) has already been producing women talents who play better than those NBA men players.
My Conclusion
Filipinos are happy people but more than the fun that they get from playing or watching basketball, they love the idea that they sit on the edge of their seats and scream together with the rest of the spectators. They feel like they are united as they cheer their favorite teams and players. It allows them to get away from issues of poverty and boredom.
It allows them to feel like they belong here amidst the fact that there is a vast gap when it comes to their social status. All in all, basketball is the reason why such gap is being resolved. It allows everyone to dream that maybe one day, there will no longer have a gap to fill just like how a prominent guy and a talented basketball player from the province becomes basketball buddies.
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