Once again, calling on Sen. Trillanes
Dear Sen. Trillanes,
I read about your plans to run for the Vice Presidency in next year’s national elections. In this regard, permit me please to address to you the questions below. I found out early in life that asking questions is a personal, insatiable obsession on my part. You can even call it a personal fetishism born out of my wanting always to know what’s the truth, for indeed, knowing the truth and constantly subjecting it to validation is imperative for one to enjoy the exhilarating sense of freedom. Thus:
- How many million Filipino voters are lovers of the sport of basketball?
- If we were to conduct a poll today—without a pre-launched campaign to favor one or the other—how many will vote for SBP and for BAP? I admit that at the grassroots level, where basketball lovers are still not aware of the status of SBP vis-a-vis BAP, it could be 50-50, or even BAP getting the upper hand because sad to say, with BAP being there for some 50 years, the SBP had failed miserably to make its presence felt.
- Now consider this: How many million voters can potentially be influenced by collegiate leagues in Metro Manila like the UAAP, NCAA, WNCAA, and the PSC and POC who are more informed? Does your media staff have the answer?
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- If the good Senator will persist in being president of BAP and his detractors or rivals for the VP position will conduct a campaign at the grassroots using this issue against him, how many potential voters will he lose, especially if they will attach the tag that you are “terrorists of legitimate Philippine basketball?”
- The smear campaign will further be strengthened if the BAP-supported “national” collegiate team that it will field in the forthcoming Universiade 2015 will repeat the same embarrassing performances of past teams of losing all their games with an average of over 50 points. Did the good Senator figure this out?
- It has been touted that SBP president M.V. Pangilinan was/is a presidential timber. He’s also acknowledged as the number one sports patron in the Philippines. What’s the political implication of partnering with him to bring about the much-desired PEACE in PH BASKETBALL? No matter what arguments you will put forward supporting BAP’s role in PH basketball, BAP will be perceived as an entity that’s against SBP and the interest of this sport that’s considered by millions of Filipinos as “religion and bread.”
I have some recommendations to offer the good Senator, however, I will refrain from giving them now. I feel it’s not my duty to do it unless the good senator will provide me answers to the questions I raised above.
By the way, the countdown to the FISU Universiade 2015, scheduled on July 3-14, in Guangju, South Korea, has begun.
I doubt that your media team and core members of your BAP diehards are even aware of this. So, my final question: “What are you and your BAP doing to prepare for this international event considered in significance as next to the Olympic Games?” Whatever it is, I pray your efforts will be blessed.
Warmest regards.
Perry Mequi
