September 1, 2025 | 12:00am
We are able to be taught from historical past, however we are able to additionally deceive ourselves once we selectively take proof from the previous to justify what we now have already decided to do.
– Margaret MacMillan
Do Filipinos have a way of historical past? In a transition age caused by the pandemic’s sudden abrogation of all exercise, we appear to have a heightened anxiousness about our nationwide sports activities groups. Although there are nonetheless just a few having fun with a honeymoon interval, just like the sensational Carlos Yulo and Hidilyn Diaz, as an entire, even the outstanding Alex Eala has not been spared. It’s one failure, you’re excommunicated.
Just lately, the throng of on-line bashers have raised their heads to assault Gilas Pilipinas, boxers, and others. On one hand, it’s comprehensible that individuals seek for heroes amidst the outrageous politicking, elevated crime and conspicuous corruption that overwhelm our headlines. Individuals need a win – even vicarious ones – so badly, that they hurl their frustrations even at athletes who don’t have anything to do with society at massive.
Are we contaminated with “what have you ever finished for me currently”? Is it a query of most up-to-date accomplishments, not progress and even earlier accomplishments? Did the COVID-19 pandemic erase our collective reminiscence? Did we take into account pre-2019 a distinct period, like BC to AD? Generally it feels prefer it.
We have to reeducate followers about our lengthy historical past of excellence and success in sports activities. With out generalizing, youthful individuals now not know names like Caloy Loyzaga, Ambrosio Padilla, Felicisimo Ampon, Arianne Cerdeña and plenty of, many others. Perhaps it’s as a result of they don’t learn the newspaper anymore. Perhaps it’s as a result of the explosion of media has fractured our widespread experiences as a society. Lower than a century in the past, individuals have been sitting round fires discussing their commonalities. Tv grew to become a marker of our youth, and we discuss what we watched the evening earlier than. Regularly, our communal experiences have been damaged up into totally different paths.
However let’s not deal with our groups and athletes like our possessions. This author recollects a narrative of Invoice Russell, who famously despised giving autographs. One impolite followers mentioned he was obligated to signal issues, as a result of “we made you.” Russ angrily replied that they grew to become followers due to the fruits of all his exhausting work and accomplishments. That’s the reason we admire athletes. We relate to them, due to their ascent from nothingness. We’ve got no stake, no contribution to their success. Let’s respect that.