Legends, Alaxan link up to build barangay courts

MANILA, Philippines – Alaxan FR, in partnership with select cage legends, launched yesterday its Court of Inspiration Galing Mo campaign, reaching out to far-flung areas of the country to inspire communities to revive the Filipino spirit of communal unity.

Johnny Abarrientos, Jerry Codiñera, Jojo Lastimosa, Ronnie Magsanoc, Benjie Paras and Alvin Patrimonio back the program where they visit deserving barangays and support community-led construction of basketball courts.

An initiative by Alaxan FR to recognize hard work and foster community-building, Galing Mo relies on the combined effort of volunteer-residents and barangay officials to construct basketball courts in communities that need them the most.

Alaxan FR product director Kristine Martinez said the project is part of an ongoing campaign which aims to change the perception of body pain by turning it into a badge of hard work, rather than a sign of weakness.

Five concrete basketball courts have already been built in barangays in Iloilo, Bacolod, Dumaguete, Butuan and Sarangani. To be given playing courts next are chosen barangays in Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Tacloban and Zamboanga.

During the press launch held at the Unilab Bayanihan Center, the retired basketball stars said they readily embraced the advocacy that inspires youth to dream.

“Through this initiative, we hope to inspire people to direct their energies toward things that benefit their own communities,” said Magsanoc.

“By creating an avenue for honing skills, as well as bringing in the very people that inspire them, we aim to empower the people from these communities to pursue their dreams,” said Martinez. “With their passion, they could spark a revolution of values in their communities, and possibly even produce the next legends.”

In their initial rounds, Magsanoc and company observed the basketball courts Alaxan FR have given away have become more than just sports venues, also used for official barangay functions, community events and social gatherings.

“It’s worth doing that I’m looking forward to the next project,” said Lastimosa.

“We all came from humble beginning that we can relate to the people we see from the barangays. We have the same story,” Lastimosa added.

“For me, the purpose is to bless other people. Yung pain palitan mo ng kayang-kaya, and let’s dream,” said Patrimonio.

“This is one way of giving back to the community. We want to impart our talent. We’ll inspire the youth. We’ll reach out to the best of our ability,” said Codiñera.

“I see the social value of this program. Alaxan is not just giving the basketball courts to the people. People build it by helping one another. It is an occasion where people help one another to help other people to be of help to others. Pahabain pa natin and it would become a culture of helping,” said Magsanoc.