It’s just a game, Farolan!
I do not know what this UP official, a Board of Regents member, was thinking when he seemingly suggested to the UP community that three players from the Ateneo Blue Eagles would be hurt and not able to play in Wednesday’s UAAP Men’s Basketball championship game. UP entered the UAAP Men’s Basketball Finals after 32 years. UP Board of Regents member “Spocky” Farolan even suggested that UP fraternities should join forces to take out three Ateneo players. He goes on to say that all the fraternities of UP and Ateneo should engage in a free-for-all during halftime. Wow. I can understand UP’s pride and excitement and all, but it’s just a game, Farolan!
Even school officials from De La Salle, Ateneo’s longtime archrival do not speak like that against Ateneo’s players during any game between them. An official from a prestigious university such as UP should not speak like a lowly street thug. Is it because we are already desensitized to violence, with killings in the streets happening almost on a daily basis? We can now apply the same to a basketball game? Is it because President Duterte appointed Farolan to UP, he feels entitled to speak in the same manner? That UP can also form a “death squad” to beat Ateneo players or whoever competes against them in the finals of a basketball game? Please.
The Board of Regents of UP has acted accordingly. They distanced themselves from Farolan’s statements and actions, calling him a disgrace to UP. The board will not recommend Farolan’s reappointment to the UP Board of Regents. But since the decision lies with Duterte, he just might keep him there, or maybe he can head the “death squad” he wants to form against the NPA, joke or not.
According to Farolan, his statements on social media were meant as sarcasm, which the public may not have picked up right away. He has since deleted his post and apologized. But the irreparable damage has been done. Word on the internet travels faster than the fuse of the cheapest local firecracker. People like Farolan should be more careful about what they say. They must always conduct themselves in the highest esteem, especially coming from an institution such as the University of the Philippines. Should he be removed from the Board of Regents, then he can now watch any game, curse at the players like a junkyard dog, and perhaps even engage in fistfights to his heart’s delight, and continue to earn the ire of his alma mater.
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