From up high, Dr. James Naismith would surely be smiling and be so proud to witness how far basketball has evolved in his native land.
Born in Almonte, Ontario, Canada on November 6, 1861, Naismith invented basketball in 1891, a year after moving from McGill University in Montreal, Quebec to the YMCA International Training School in Springfield, Massachusetts, where he also served as a physical education instructor.
Out of two peach buckets and a soccer ball, Naismith crafted a school indoor activity that would while the winter blues away, among bored and cold students. Naismith, that time, had only 13 game rules.
Today, basketball has become a multi-billion dollar business that dreamy but skilled hardcourt enthusiasts simply call the hoops and aspire big time to professionally play, amid a hefty set of dos and don’ts to adhere to.
If he were alive today, I am sure he would have acknowledged the improvements made on his invention of a century and a score plus eight years ago. Not quite Jurassic yet, eh!
Naismith also would have been very glad and keenly expecting, like Raptors fans and supporters across Canada, to see the Toronto Raptors clinch a National Basketball Association (NBA) title, after recently defeating the Milwaukee Bucks 4-2 in the playoff semi-finals and bagging the 2019 NBA Eastern Conference championship trophy.
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The hard and equally tough task of bringing the rock back to its Canadian roots has begun.
Living on is that long and arduous quest, whatever result there must have been on Thursday (May 30) when the Raptors played their first playoff finals four-of-seven series. It takes four wins to secure the NBA title, anyways.
After 24 years as a professional franchise, the Toronto Raptors continue their first-ever NBA finals bid against the more-favored five-time NBA champion Golden State Warriors (1955-1956, 1974-1975, 2014-2015, 2016-2018).
I am sure that the spirit of basketball inventor Canadian James Naismith would be one with his spirited compatriots when they occupy the “Jurassic Park” from coast to coast to coast, in Canadian homes and across the true North, strong and free.
He would love to hear the roar of “WeDINOrth” and the cheery “Let’s go, Raptors!” reverberating nationwide, game after game after game.
Naismith believed in a game he created. We believe in the same game that coach Nick Nurse and his persistent and sturdy team have pushed a level higher to achieve a lofty goal.
We believe in basketball. We believe in the Toronto Raptors.
Together, let us cross the bridge, close all the gates, and go for gold.
There is no turning back!
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Simply said, I love the Raptors.
Plainly spoken, I am no worrier.
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Mang Karding: Anong koponan ang napupusuan mo?
Tata Isko: Siyempre, Toronto Raptors!
Mang Karding: Dapat lang. Pero kanino ka pupusta?
Tata Isko: Ang kulit! Siyempre, sa mananalo!
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In life, there are no losers; only big-time survivors who dare take a step up one at a time.
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Biruan sa barberya, after winners in the recent May 13 Philippine elections were proclaimed:
Ka Mokong: Pare, nabisita mo na ba ang bago mong opisina at ang luklukan mo sa malaking bulwagan?
Ba Bitoy: Eeoooowwww! Ang daming ipis sa loob!
Ka Mokong: Ipis lang pala, nandidiri ka na?
Ba Bitoy: Yung ipis, tolerable. Eh, yung pinapatungan nilang buwaya?
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Before newly-elected Philippine senators, congressmen and local officials take their oaths and assume office on June 30, here’s to a blessed and meaningful celebration of the 121st anniversary of Philippine Independence Day on June 12.
Of course, Filipinos do not have to mind and to bother with the 193 new government appointees who took their oaths of office before President Rodrigo Duterte in Malacanang Palace on May 27.
Just the same, Happy Freedom Day on June 12.
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Napag-uusapan lang sa pansitan.
Ingkong Tasyo: Brod, mukhang masaya na sa Pilipinas. Ano’ng prognosis mo?
Impong Bosyo: Prognosis? Ano ‘yun, makakain?
Ingkong Tasyo: Ay, ambot! Prognosis is defined either as a forecast of the likely course of a disease or ailment or a forecast of the likely outcome of a situation.
Impong Bosyo: Alin sa nabanggit, ‘yung una o ‘yung pangalawa?
Ingkong Tasyo: Saba diha, itikom ang dila! Para sa iyo, any of the two will do.
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Pssst, kabayan! When the federal government of Canada and the city of Toronto separately designated the month of June as Filipino Heritage Month, the community had everything to be proud of and rejoice for.
Growing and oozing with vibrancy in an adoptive Canadian landscape, the members of the Filipino-Canadian community should be in the forefront of showing our friends and neighbors – and make them truly feel — the rich social traditions and cultural heritage of our birthplace and origin, the Pearl of the Orient Seas – the Philippines.
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Like in years past, the community will once more come to life as various groups and organizations host cultural shows and festivals, food fairs and other activities that tend to showcase the rich social and cultural heritage and history of the Philippines.
These events also honor the Filipino pioneers and all compatriots who made a difference in Canada.
By the way, the 2016 Canadian Census shows 851,410 people of Filipino descent living in Canada, most of them in urbanized areas.
Filipino pride will certainly take center stage this June during the raising of the Philippine tri-colors in various venues in Toronto, in Ontario and in parts of Canada where Filipinos have settled and have acquired their Canadian residency and citizenship.
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Indeed, it is also very comforting, heartening and inspiring to note that more and more young community members, many of them born in Canada, have embraced cultural pride.
I doff my hat to them — they that respect their parents and elders who lovingly shaped them into being good citizens; the same parents who sacrificed brain and brawn to help build a paradise for their children.
They look back, acknowledge and revere the rich customs and traditions, arts and language, and heritage of their family’s historical roots; keep their heads high when they proclaim their cultural identity before all and sundry; and are fearless to share it too because they have lived the ideals of that identity.
Through the years, youth participation and involvement in expressive cultural forms (art, theatre, song, music and dance) have been evident.
Most big Filipino events – and there is a lot to attend and appreciate this June all over Toronto and Canada — continue to highlight the individual and group talents of the youth — in Filipino art, songs, music and dances.
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The community, without doubt, is a treasure trove of cultural pride.
May I then join the community in saluting every kababayan sa Canada for his and her persistence, resilience, resoluteness and productive efforts to make those in the homeland feel and know that we have gone on cherishing and living by the norms and values we have imbibed as Filipinos.
After all, “ang hindi marunong lumingon sa pinanggalingan ay hindi makararating sa kanyang paroroonan.” #####
