“Court of Inspiration” unveiled in M’daue

CEBU, Philippines -  An advocacy of changing the negative perception of body pain led six legends of Philippine Basketball Association to Barangay Casuntingan, Mandaue City for a basketball clinic, friendly game, and turnover of the "Court of Inspiration" to the said community.

The Court of Inspiration initiated through the "Galing Mo! (Hugutin Ang Tagumpay Mula sa Aray)" campaign eyes to transform body pain into a source of pride, a proof of the hard work rendered for the community.

"Building on the social and cultural significance of basketball courts in the Philippines, the campaign tapped local volunteers to construct this indispensable facility for their village," said Alaxan FR in an official statement. By the way, Alaxan FR is manufactured by United Lab. It is 325 mg paracetamol and 200 mg ibuprofen intended for the faster relief of mild to moderately severe pain of muscoskeletal origin (muscle pain, arthritis, rheumatism, sprain, strain, tendonitis, backache, stiff neck, tension headache, dysmennorhea, bursitis, toothache, pain after tooth extraction and minor surgical operations; including reduction of fever).

To take things even further, the locals filled the court with Legend Markers - motivational messages put in different places all over the court to inspire people to push themselves to greatness. There is also a Ceremonial Marker featuring the handprints of the six PBA Legends and their signatures.

So, last November 24, residents of Barangay Casuntingan were given the surprise of a lifetime during the official unveiling of their community's first real basketball court.

Attending what initially seemed like a normal inauguration, the locals were delighted when they discovered that their very own court would be turned over to them by none other than PBA Legends Isabelo "Jojo" Lastimosa, Jr; Venancio "Benjie" Paras, Jr.; Alvin Patrimonio, Jerry Codiñera, Ronald "Ronnie" Magsanoc, and Johnny Abarrientos a month after volunteer-residents started constructing the community facility.

The event was highlighted by a friendly game between the PBA Legends versus the local squad, as part of the Galing Mo campaign to honor the people who have worked hard for their own communities.

Around 70 residents of Casuntingan were reported to have devoted long hours of volunteer work for the completion of the basketball court, dubbed the "Court of Inspiration."

Now, locals take pride in the body pain that come with hard work, having constructed something that greatly benefits their community.

"We were given 21 days to finish this basketball court, but we completed this in just five days. Atong isipon unsa ta ka-privileged nga sa kadaghang barangay, dinhi gyod sa ato natukod ni ug dinhi sab nato nahimong bisita ang PBA Legends. Sa tanang naglihok, libre mo sa tanang kalingawan atong ipahigayon ning atong korte. Casuntingan, ang galing nyo!" said barangay chairman Oscar del Castillo, emphasizing the catchphrase of Alaxan FR, to inspire his constituents.

Like most of the volunteers who came to help, the six former cage stars started playing in neighborhood courts similar to what the locals have constructed. The PBA Legends attribute their success to decades of hard work, unafraid of the pain that comes with pushing oneself beyond limits. Sharing in Alaxan FR's advocacy, they believe that pain, should be treated as a badge of honor --- a testament to the hard work required for success.

"Katulad nyo sa humble court rin kami nag-start. Buti nga 'tong sa inyo sa Casuntingan whole court, eh ako nong magsimula half-court lang. Kaya ang panawagan ko sa mga parents, ingatan natin ang mga anak natin while we also take care of this court. So many things can happen when you toil and feel pain. Who knows? The next basketball hero would come from Casuntingan," Patrimonio said.

Meanwhile, Lastimosa described the group's commitment to the project as a "way of giving back to their legion of fans."

"Prior to our retirement from the PBA, we were never given that proper venue to thank our fans for the support they'd given us throughout our basketball career. So this is it! To sweat it out for a cause is also another good reason to be in this project," Lastimosa expressed.

Barangay Casuntingan is just one of the places chosen for the construction of the said court. Aside from Cebu, the advocacy is expected to unveil in Tacloban and Zamboanga. Courts were already unveiled in Iloilo, Dumaguete, Butuan, Bacolod, Davao, Sarangani, and Cagayan de Oro City.

If there's one thing that both the legends and the locals have demonstrated, it is the fact that there is, indeed, pride in pain.

Says Magsanoc: "Ito'y maagang handog pamasko ng Alaxan. At nandito kami para ibahagi sa inyo ang kwento ng aming buhay, ang kuwento ng kayod. Tulad ninyo, kami ay naghikahos din, naghanap at nangarap. Totoong libre ang mangarap, ang hindi libre ay ang maghirap!" (FREEMAN)