It took FIFA and FC Barcelona to create a stir the other day, Feb 25, among sports lovers in the country. FIFA bannered a story about a Filipino's amazing run into the pages of Football history with his 100th year debut as a record holder in FC Barcelona's history. PAULINO ALCANTARA, a Filipiino and an Ilonggo to boot, 100 years ago yesterday, debuted a start of a career at 15 playing for Barca against SC Cataluna and went on to stamp his presence in one of the worlds best Footballs Clubs, FC Barca with a record 357 goals in 357 games, a feat never been broken yet and a feat that earned him his own place of legend in Camp Nou's halls.
Paulino was honored in 2007 by FIFA as the best Asian Player of all time and more importantly stands as an inspiration to countless Filipinos who are now seeing a resurgence in football. For Ilonggos though, this man's name had always been enshrined in their youngsters hearts, and no doubt about it, fueled the legend that was Barotac Nuevo, a small town in Iloilo province where folks, young and old alike, breath, speak and live Football. Where names of Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant or Michael Jordan hardly creates a stir- but launches into a tirade of Football stories, and animated talks about the sports itself, the rules , lknowing it like the back of their hands with mere mention of Kruyff, Baggio, Maldini, Maradona and Pele and of course that one great Filipino who made a stamp in Footballs' history, a century ago, PAULINO ALCANTARA y RIESTRA.
Not really a tall story. Football fields instead of baskletball courts dominates even small barrios in this province- and the whole of Western Visayas really . Antique, Negros Occ, Capiz and Aklan. For these folks, football isnt just something we watch and read about in tv and magazines. WE breath it! Learning to kick balls early on rather than dribbling it ( Growing up in Antique, I can attest to this. classrooms back in Saint Anthony's College in San Jose overlooks a big football field that has boys and girls kicking balls all day long even with classes going on, resulting to some very irked teachers and a distracted class when balls regularly break classroom window glasses )
Frustrating it might be to realize that we could actually be one of the football giants in Asia today if we only continued to fuel the passion awakened in us during those years when we (believe it or not) stomped Japan in one Far East Games 15-0, when a PAULINO ALCANTARA was breaking nets in Iberian football matches, earning him the nickname EL ROMPEREDES and the fact that the country is also one of the oldest founding members of FIFA in Asia. There's hope though, for the sports has suddenly taken the centerstage most recently. It would take time, but certainly we will get there. Meanwhile, I would continue to root for our Azkals, our boys !
Also, its high time we need a PAULINO ALCANTARA stadium.
Alright done with my rantings...off to household chores and pathetic asian novelas and planning a work sked for a busy week ahead- drowning my frustrations for not getting my passport in time. Ugh.
Paulino was honored in 2007 by FIFA as the best Asian Player of all time and more importantly stands as an inspiration to countless Filipinos who are now seeing a resurgence in football. For Ilonggos though, this man's name had always been enshrined in their youngsters hearts, and no doubt about it, fueled the legend that was Barotac Nuevo, a small town in Iloilo province where folks, young and old alike, breath, speak and live Football. Where names of Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant or Michael Jordan hardly creates a stir- but launches into a tirade of Football stories, and animated talks about the sports itself, the rules , lknowing it like the back of their hands with mere mention of Kruyff, Baggio, Maldini, Maradona and Pele and of course that one great Filipino who made a stamp in Footballs' history, a century ago, PAULINO ALCANTARA y RIESTRA.
Not really a tall story. Football fields instead of baskletball courts dominates even small barrios in this province- and the whole of Western Visayas really . Antique, Negros Occ, Capiz and Aklan. For these folks, football isnt just something we watch and read about in tv and magazines. WE breath it! Learning to kick balls early on rather than dribbling it ( Growing up in Antique, I can attest to this. classrooms back in Saint Anthony's College in San Jose overlooks a big football field that has boys and girls kicking balls all day long even with classes going on, resulting to some very irked teachers and a distracted class when balls regularly break classroom window glasses )
Frustrating it might be to realize that we could actually be one of the football giants in Asia today if we only continued to fuel the passion awakened in us during those years when we (believe it or not) stomped Japan in one Far East Games 15-0, when a PAULINO ALCANTARA was breaking nets in Iberian football matches, earning him the nickname EL ROMPEREDES and the fact that the country is also one of the oldest founding members of FIFA in Asia. There's hope though, for the sports has suddenly taken the centerstage most recently. It would take time, but certainly we will get there. Meanwhile, I would continue to root for our Azkals, our boys !
Also, its high time we need a PAULINO ALCANTARA stadium.
Alright done with my rantings...off to household chores and pathetic asian novelas and planning a work sked for a busy week ahead- drowning my frustrations for not getting my passport in time. Ugh.
