'TOL VIEWS
Senator Francis N. Tolentino
Last Tuesday, Nov. 29, I had the privilege of sponsoring Committee Report No. 13 on House Bill No. 6224 on the act granting Philippine citizenship to Justin Donta Brownlee of the Philippine Basketball League (PBA) Barangay Ginebra San Miguel team.
Pursuant to Congress’ constitutional power, it has the legislative authority under Article VI, Section 1 of the 1987 Constitution, to grant Filipino citizenship to certain foreign nationals for their significant contribution or notable service to the country and to the Filipino people.
This, Mr. Brownlee has exemplified – as an exceptional basketball player and as a role model for the Filipino youth.
Compared to other athletes who have been granted Filipino citizenship before, what sets Justin Donta Brownlee apart is the fact that he has been with the Filipinos for the last six years.
Brownlee stands at 6-foot-6 and averages 29.29 points per game, 10.57 rebounds per game, and 7.43 assists per game. To say that our applicant for naturalization today will greatly help the Philippine team, the Gilas team, in their quest for that elusive glory is undeniable.
Outside the field of basketball, Brownlee has endeared himself not just to the Filipino basketball fans, but most especially to our youth. I had the chance to ask Brownlee why he wants to be a Filipino citizen. He answered that nowhere in the world can you find such a group of people who are always happy amid hardships. He has been living in the Philippines for almost six years now, and he would ride around his scooter around Pasig City where he resides, and sometimes in Quezon City. Here, he would see Filipinos who are always happy and always smiling, regardless of their problems in life. He has felt the culture of the Filipino people beyond the love for adobo and menudo. Indeed, he has embraced our culture, as well as embodied the Filipino values of perseverance, determination, and dedication to his craft.
It is my strong belief that Brownlee will not just be a great addition to Philippine sports, specifically in basketball, but to our country as well. I believe he will also be an exceptional addition to the long list of proud Filipino citizens of our great Republic.