Filipinot

Alex Eala proves she deserves her court assignment at the 14,000-seater Louis Armstrong Stadium. It is the second largest court at the US Open. How, by beating an American qualifier in her home soil with an emphatic score line.

Briefly controversial, as the world number 2 was relegated to the third largest court. Other higher seeds were also assigned in smaller courts. Why, it is all about business strategy. Alex is the biggest crowd drawer on the women’s tour. Impact too, she reminds the world tennis is still here.

Although the Filipino throng did not pack Louis Armstrong to the rafters, Filipinoise resonated all over the place and beyond. A few seats were empty, must be booked by some Filipinos hooked on Filipino time. Speculative, but not remote.

What is real though is that Alex has arrived. She is now ranked world number 18, the highest by any Filipino, man or woman. Or any Southeast Asian woman. Or man, if not for Thai Paradorn Srichapan. In Flushing Meadows she is seeded 17, again the highest by any Filipino, man or woman. Or any Southeast Asian woman. Or man, if not for Thai Paradorn Srichapan.

There could be a Filipino man. A son of Filipino immigrants who plays for the United States is showing respectable promise. Ranked number 184, Andre Ilagan is slowly making his presence felt in the international circuit. He may be unknown for now, just as Alex was. Now she is a global superstar. He may be outside top 100 now, just as Alex was. Now she could barge into the top 10. Last year she struggled to enter the main draw of a grand slam as a qualifier. But now she enjoys the privilege of playing a qualifier in her first round match.

Ilagan identifies himself as Fil-Am or Fil-Hawaiian. Either way, he embraces his Filipino roots. That alone endears him to the rabid, avid and loud Filipino crowd. Others may say he is only Filipino by blood and appearance, but every inch an American by heart. Not his fault, he was born and raised in Hawaii.

But true, being Filipino is not in the blood. It is by words and deeds. But being a patriot requires threshold beyond way of life. They work for a way better life for their countrymen and women. For, within the context of national interest, a few foreigners are more Filipino than Filipinos. Conversely, many Filipinos are more foreigners than the invaders, within the context of betrayal of national interest.