think rainbows

Since it's all over the news, I just want to say a few personal opinions about this Azkals-Cristina Ramos issue.

As we all know, it's not the first time that the Azkals have been in this kind of situation. I do not know them personally or whatever personal activities they do so I am in no place to judge the kind of personality that they have. All I know is that they play football for the Philippines even though most of them are not purely Filipino, and everything else is based on what I see and hear on the telly, and what I read when they tweet.

Thanks to all these media interviews, we now know Cristina Ramos's side of the story. How she felt disrespected with what two particular Azkals players did. I'm all about respect for women because it's something that's so important in this world, really. And I understand that what the Azkals did was really disrespectful in a way to think that she is the match commissioner, and that she's a girl. But then, can it really be considered as something as grave as sexual harassment? I would expect men's locker rooms to be in that kind of an atmosphere in that kind of situation, but I am still not sure if the things that those guys did are enough for it to be considered as such. I think sexual harassment may be a bit too much.

She's even got James Younghusband involved, the captain of the Azkals during that match, because he didn't do anything about it; and now even the whole team, because they were all laughing at it. I get the point that the Azkals have to make up for what they did, or simply be punished. After all, what they did is still wrong and higher officials can't just let this pass, because what message would it relay if that happened? And they're going against the daughter of a former President. And there would definitely be more issues to arise. (The rape issue was totally different. I personally thought that girl involved there was kinda weird.)

Anyway, she's mentioned too that she was with two other guys when they entered the locker room. I was just thinking, didn't any of those guys she was with do something to prevent this from happenning? Didn't the first guy to enter the locker room to check and see if they were ready saw that Angel was still only wearing his briefs and not called his attention and reminded him that a girl was to enter? Didn't they at least talk to the players about the way that they're behaving right then and there? Also, why didn't they call to attention the coach and the manager or the other team officials, didn't they have to be there when the inspection happens? They knew the schedule, yes, but what if some other thing came up or they weren't aware of the time? And why didn't she tell/inform the coach or the manager first about what happened before she filed any complaints or told the media about it? That part is kinda unfair for the Azkals.

These are just my thoughts. Of course I haven't been in the kind of situation Cristina Ramos was in, so I wouldn't know how it felt or how I would react. We still have yet to hear the Azkals' side too. Although just earlier Angel Guirado tweeted something about what happened. Wherever this goes, I hope it will be fair to both sides, and that this will be the last. And why does it always happen whenever the Azkals' are in the middle of important competitions? Just when they're showing good improvement. I just hope that they still do good in the AFC Challenge Cup despite of all these issues. Good thing too that they've already left before everything went out.

Good luck Azkals!

P.S.
Not being judgemental or racist or anything, but I think the attitude of Filipino men are still different than that of the foreigners. Foreigners are more open-minded, or liberated, compared to Pinoys. 

PH Azkals: 0 Golds, 0 trophies, 5 TV ads, 20%
Pinoy PH Dragonboat team (2011) : 5 Golds, 0 commercials, 90% Pinoy

A lot of people have been posting the statement above in different social networking sites after the Philippine Dragonboat team's success, and after they've aired their sentiments. I am not saying that I don't agree with that statement, but what I do not get is why do we even have to compare these two teams in such a way? Isn't representing your country more important than calculating how much Filipino blood you've got?

So the dragonboat team's more Pinoy than the Azkals, but still, they're both Filipinos in their own right, right?

We're lucky that the dragonboat team continues to bring honor to our country by winning competitions abroad even if they have a lot of issues going on and even if ngayon lang talaga sila napansin. Isn't that what the Azkals are doing as well? And what Smart Gilas Pilipinas is doing as well? Who also happens to have a number of fil-foreigners on their team, just so you know. (Kaso basketball 'yun e, and matagal-tagal na rin silang kilala.)

Consider it lucky as well that these Azkals still choose to play here for the Philippines even if they certainly could get better offers abroad.

The dragonboat team wasn't supported all the way, it's a shame. But so were the Azkals. I believe they only got their major sponsors after they've won against Vietnam and after businesses saw that their popularity's starting to go higher, good for business.

All I'm saying is, both squads have their issues, but aside from that, they still have their own success, so let's just all be happy and thankful with it. It's a huge step for Philippine sports. Yes it would have been great if all these athletes are 100% pinoy, but we've got to do with what we have. E baka 'yung iba, mamaya 100% pinoy nga pero kung away-awayin naman kasi hindi nananalo. Besides, all these athletes are happy playing for the PHilippines. They're both Philippine teams; both squads represent the country. So what difference does it really make?

Parang "Don't hate the player; hate the game." lang 'yan. Chill.

P.S.
Parang sa UAAP/NCAA lang 'yan, pagdating ng college, nagbabago ng kulay; or kahit hindi ka sa UAAP/NCAA school nag-aaral, cheer ka pa rin; or kahit sa ibang school ka nag-aaral, cheer ka pa rin sa ibang team. Kanya-kanya lang daw 'yan. =)) 


Hopefully, volleyball na ang next dito. :))

Just because gusto ko lang talaga sabihin 'yung reaction ko dito. =))

I actually didn't think that I'd let myself get drenched in the rain just to be able to watch a football match.

Well, the Azkals changed all that. =D