OFF THE BEATEN PATH
Today, this space pauses to honor a man instantly recognizable for calling countless basketball buzzer-beaters, yet his enduring legacy lies in his unwavering advocacy for Filipino athletes. Surely, he did not just matter-of-factly narrate the ticking seconds on the shot clock. Manolo “Chino” Trinidad was a visionary who reimagined Philippine sports, championing accountability and inclusivity. His commentary, taken with those of analysts that carry on his advocacies, impels both the public and the policymakers to needed directions.
The gap between the Philippines' potential for sporting greatness and the harsh realities on the ground is undeniable, a truth that Chino never shied away from acknowledging. For a country that is evidently not lacking in talent, documented underfunding, lack of world-class facilities and governance structures often plagued by inefficiency can easily imperil promising careers.
In a brief interview late last year, he made a strong case for the creation of a Department of Sports with references to the Department of Youth and Sports Development established as early as 1974. The proposal was premised on the need for functional integration and the supposed end goal, as with any other government office – accountability.
Chino’s principled decision to establish his own platform was a bold departure from the traditional view of sports as mere entertainment. It was a complete wager in an industry fixated on ratings that sell. Similarly, we in general have to contend with our preoccupation with hero-making, conveniently ignoring the struggles of grassroots athletes. He elevated the discourse, aligning it more closely with Olympic ideals and sports’ noble purpose enshrined under Section 19, Article XIV of our Constitution. To date, Chino is winning and we have every opportunity to own our narrative by realizing how sports development contributes to nation-building. If we know better than romanticizing perseverance with no clear statements of the problems like financial or structural setbacks, we are likely to see more of resident Filipinos representing the Philippines.
It is interesting to recall how the visionary in him called for the elevation of cockfighting as a national sport, capitalizing on its historical and cultural value. Convinced as he was that it is "beyond gambling," I wish I heard more of his thoughts on the old saying that there are more honest people in the cockpit than in the church. This notion, perhaps stemming from the nature of the stakes involved in the sport and the attendant sense of honor among the participants can lead to more productive and relevant discussions. Readers who may want to explore the ritual character of elections are invited to learn from scholar Filomeno Aguilar, Jr.’s article entitled “Betting on Democracy: Electoral Ritual in the Philippine Presidential Campaign.”
Chino certainly knew how to honor the greats when he organized an exhibit called “Pagpupugay: 100 Taon ng Philippine Sports.” It was no lip service because his contributions to the sports scene preceded him. When passion burns using the concentrated power of will, the first gold that is refined is character. The second, elusive as it can be, just comes as a bonus. The unifying force of sports is derived from the shared values it forges. Just as the construct we call law provides a framework for a just society, sports establishes the ground rules for fair competition and mutual respect. Define your national pride now. "D" there must stand for Dangal ng Atleta that redounds to Dangal ng Bayan.
When we lost Chino last week, we lost not only a passionate Filipino striving to make this a better world. We also lost a son, a father, a husband, and for me, a once-in-a-lifetime friend, who I would regularly ask for advice from, knowing he would tell me what I needed to hear. I would usually invite Chino to ride a bicycle, which was actually an excuse to eat a good breakfast and talk about not only sports, but something else he was passionate about: how to make the Philippines better, not for us, but for our loved ones. Chino loved his family. That was evident during our talks while cycling, and the meal after. We’d talk about his wife Babs, and their kids and how we have to keep on striving to make things better for people who we love. The passion to not settle for what is, but strive for something that should be.
Paalam Chino. You will be missed.
(Atty. Gregorio “Goyo” Larrazabal is a former Comelec commissioner. He is a pioneer of automated elections being a member of the Commission that successfully modernized Philippine elections in 2010. He remains deeply involved in public service as an election lawyer. Email: [email protected])