There is no question that the Philippines is a basketball crazy nation. Gilas is currently competing in the Jones Cup in Taiwan. The NCAA has been going on, while the UAAP recently started. Then of course, we have the PBA. The country is getting its fill of basketball fever. But in a sport were height is might, many have wondered why the Philippines, with its obvious shortage of towering players, would make basketball its favorite. Many sportswriters from all over the world have pointed out this obvious fact time and again. But of course, that has never stopped our players from going toe-to-toe with the best, and tallest of the world.
Recently, the height of Filipinos has been raised. Many have said that it is genetic, and therefore nothing can actually be done about it. We are programmed to grow up to a certain height only. The few who grow beyond six feet are the exception, definitely not the rule. Tall parents will have tall children. We see this in the next generation of players with parents who have played the game both in school and professionally. But according to a study by Save The Children, nutrition also plays a big role in the growth spurt of children. According to their study, one in three Filipino children is short for his age. It is not surprising to note that these "stunted" children belong to the poorest of the population. Poor nutrition and prolonged hunger play a role in growth. With a large number still living below the poverty line, we can expect short children.
This fact can actually be proven. I have friends who are of average height for a Filipino. But because they have migrated to the US and have raised their children there, their children have outgrown them considerably. They are much taller than what the DNA theory would suggest. We can only attribute that to better nutrition. Nutrition is a big thing in the US. By law, food manufacturers must provide nutrition information on the packages of their products. Many use these to decide as to what they would buy for their families.
With these facts at hand, it may be harder to solve the height problem of the country. Government programs to feed the poor are inadequate at best, which is not to say that they are not trying. The program of feeding students at public schools is a good start. And of course, we are not talking of the "junk food" that admittedly, many Filipinos prefer over healthy, nutritious food. The focus here must be on the children, especially the very poor. Who doesn't want tall children? In a country mad about basketball as ours, a tall child, given the right training for basketball, may be the family's ticket out of poverty.
Now that we know not to solely blame our DNA for our lack of height, we should also now know what to do. The children have always been the future of any country. A bright, tall future, even better.