Modern-day pirates

 Photo taken from www.swaminarayan.org

Above book went for P50.00 (US$1.00) and sold like hot pandesal on the streets while over the web it sells for as high as US$26.00 plus postage (P1,500.00). These modern-days Jack Sparrows are appreciated by people whose monthly income (minimum of US$100.00/month) goes to school tuition fees, fare and daily food subsidy. Fifty pesos is a tiny slash on the budget to have a hard-bound and really good book. Piracy is becoming norm in this part of the globe, in a third-world country beggars can be choosers too. DVD movie sells for P70.00, PS2 cd for P100.00 and full-track mp3 or cd album for P35.00. Class “A” Nike running shoes even sell for about P1,700.00 – the entry of Chinese businessmen and our Muslim brothers changes all these and the business of local movie-houses magnate Bichara alongside Philippine movie industry were first to take the plunge.

Ready or not

“PBA commissioner Noli Eala said yesterday the Tokushima-bound Philippine team has improved from less than 50 percent capacity to 85 percent at the end of the recent Jones Cup in Taipei and will build up to 100 percent after the Manila Invitationals in time for the FIBA-Asia Olympic qualifiers on July 28-Aug. 5.”

We’€™re looking at bigger picture. Chasing the olympic dream. Perhaps this is what you’re going to read or heard for all basketball loving Pinoys trust in Team Pilipinas.  Our rich basketball pride is best in Asia some 50 or 60 years ago only to dwindle when we started professionalizing the game in 1975. The question is has dedication come second only to money mill? Or Asia finally past us in terms of raw talent and discipline? The recent William Jones Cup may have the answer, in Asia we’ll probably be the consistent third.  And despite Fil-Am infusion to Asia’s first pro league to beef up the game it will be a long traverse to get in shape in the international way of team competition. We’ve been admiring the NBA and look how they end up (bronze) despite having the most skilled individual players in the world. Yes, I have my hopes up and I still love this game. Boksing na lang tayo!