Perdition

The historic Wimbledon breakthrough of Alex Eala brought the country beyond her fourth round match. While she lost in three sets, Filipinos found another sport to fall in love with. The impact of the new world number 28 is beyond her performance on court. She inspires a nation about to expire.

Kathlyn Bugna won a juniors tennis title in Japan. Lesser known, nobody cares, but that’s where Eala started. No one starts on top, much less in the end, or the finish line. Then there is Scarlett Kramer, another beauty and potentially the beast on court, if she gets athletic genes of her father.

Just as Hidilyn Diaz inspired younger weightlifters. Alexsandra Diaz broke two junior world records. Rhianne Cabalida powered to multiple medals in the world youth championships. A few second-liners the government should nurture.

Champions are made, not born. But sometimes burned. The country lost Wesley So to an incentive dispute. Now the grandmaster represents another country that treats him well and fair. If this country continues to create reasons bad enough for athletes to switch nationality, it should forget about representation.

For now there is Carlos Yulo, the last man who made the entire country cry, for the right reasons. A few others outside sports did, but tears they did not deserve. EJ Obiena too. He just won two golds and jumped and breached 6.80meters twice.

And Alex Eala, who welled up the nation after she stunned the defending champion in the center court of the grandest slam. She embodies everything the country direly needs today – grace, kindness, discipline, grit, and courage. In no particular order. Beauty too, but physical appearance is not a requisite to sports excellence, much less to economic development. It does not even involve public interest, except to the hideous who call another ugly right after their expletives turn to bankruptcy.

Above all, the way Alex behaves and speaks on and off court reminds the country about decency, accountability and integrity, forgotten values of a deeply religious people. Such a huge responsibility, her spotless image sanitizes her country’s mess overseas. Why many churchgoers do not practice these virtues is easy to tell, their faith is merely ritual, never practical, least likely to salvation, most likely to eternal damnation. Without reference to the eternal flame. The poor has suffered long enough. No need to bring them to a fictitious place called hell. It is real right here on earth and now more than ever. In the form of poverty. Not because the nation is poor, but because it is plundered.