There’s no better time to drop an article like this than now.
This day, July 24, 2023, is the day the 17th president of the Philippines, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is doing his second State of the Nation Address (SONA). So, it’s only right that we do our own version of the annual report by the chief executive.
In this case, it will be all about the current status of the country’s sporting landscape, and not about reducing the price of rice to 20 pesos per kilo.
If you want to avoid getting stressed out by the never-ending problems of the Filipino people, just be a netizen and feast your eyes on our latest creation. To make it more consumable, unlike a two-hour long speech, this SONA will excessively use emojis to get its point across.
Let’s begin with the country’s favorite.
Basketball 🔥💯💪👀
Hooping in the Philippines is about to be lit. With or without superstar Nikola Jokic, history will be made when the Philippines serves as the main host of this year’s edition of the FIBA World Cup. That said, there is that concern about the Filipino blue chippers' preference to play pro overseas. But looking at the big picture, it might be a good thing for the players themselves as they get secure their bags, while the other talents get more opportunities to shine locally.
Volleyball 💥💣🤪🇵🇭
Volleyball might just be on the verge of becoming the Philippines’ most popular sport, mostly because of the PVL. The league’s top teams each have their own huge following, and the passion of the fans is more bonkers than a Fliptop Ahon crowd. Still, everyone wants to see this type of success translate in the international stage such as in the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, the Asian Games, and hopefully, in the Olympics.
Athletics 🔝
All the way up. Yep, EJ Obiena is now the world’s no. 2 pole vaulter, and he’s not about to slow down.
Weightlifting 🥇🥇
The country’s first and only Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz has been conquering challenges left and right as she aims to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics. With that, she appears to be on track to go and get the Philippines its second gold in the sporting world’s grandest stage.
Boxing 🤞 🌟🥊
Manny Pacquiao is retired. Nonito Donaire is at the tail end of his career. The Philippines currently has two world champions in WBO minimumweight titlist Melvin Jerusalem, and WBA, IBF titleholder Marlon Tapales, but they have yet to reach superstar status unlike their predecessors. Here’s hoping that a huge fight against a huge name will change that pretty soon.
Martial Arts 😭😤👊🏼
Team Lakay, arguably the country’s top mixed martial arts stable, experienced an exodus that included several of its best fighters leaving Mark Sangiao’s nest. It was an end of an era, which is sad, but at the same, exciting, knowing that a new chapter for Filipino MMA warriors will inevitably emerge.
Tennis 💪🏽🔬🎾🏆
Alex Eala bagged her third International Tennis Federation (ITF) title last June. But just like any other tennis pro, what she ultimately wants is to see success in the Grand Slam tournaments. There’s no doubt that the Rafa Nadal Academy product will get back in the lab, figure things out, and battle her way out until she gets to that point.
Racing 🏆🏆🌍
Bianca Bustamante proved to be one of the world’s best F1 Academy drivers when she captured her second career win in Monza, Italy earlier this month. At 18 years old, Bianca the blur is just getting started. The world is yours for the taking, young speedster.
Billiards 👑👑
James Aranas and Johann Chua reclaimed the Philippines’ title as the world’s preeminent billiards nation when they won the country it’s fourth World Cup of Pool crown, this month in Lugo, Spain. They entered the prestigious tournament unseeded and left as the new kings of the sport.
Football 🐐🌍🇵🇭
The history-making Filipinas are continuing to prove that they are for real, real. They are dead set on making more history, and sooner or later they will accomplish it on a stage no less than the FIFA Women’s World Cup. GOAT stuff.
In conclusion, this SONA is getting an approval rating of 99%. Take note, the rating system that was used for this exercise wasn’t rigged, and no tampering was involved. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
(GM)