Alaxan FR, PBA Legends Unveil Court of Inspiration in Brgy. Taloc, Bago By James U. Sy, Jr.

The crowd that witnessed the Unveiling of the Alaxan FR "Court of Inspiration" last August 26, 2012 at Prk. Langka, Brgy. Taloc, Bago City (James U. Sy Jr./CMAS photo).

Newly crowned World Boxing Council (WBC) international silver super bantamweight and World Boxing Organization (WBO) Asia Pacific super bantamweight champion Genesis Azucal Cervania of Bacolod City being interviewed by the emcee during the Unveiling of the "Court of Inspiration" last August 26, 2012 at Prk. Langka, Brgy. Taloc, Bago City (James U. Sy Jr./CMAS photo).

PBA legends from left): Jerry Codinera, Ronnie Magsanoc, and Benjie Paras during the presscon of the Unveiling of the "Court of Inspiration" last August 26, 2012 at Prk. Langka, Brgy. Taloc, Bago City (James U. Sy Jr./CMAS photo).

PBA legends (seated from left): Jerry Codinera, Benjie Paras, and Ronnie Magsanoc during the presscon of the Unveiling of the "Court of Inspiration" last August 26, 2012 at Prk. Langka, Brgy. Taloc, Bago City. At the back of Paras is Prk. Langka President Benefredo “Bebing” M. Lobrido, the 1st Generation Inheritor/Grandmaster of Original Filipino Tapado (James U. Sy Jr./CMAS photo).

Negros Daily Bulletin writer James U. Sy Jr. with PBA legend Benjie Paras Unveiling of the Alaxan FR "Court of Inspiration" last August 26, 2012 at Prk. Langka, Brgy. Taloc, Bago City (James U. Sy Jr./NDB photo).

A Close up of the "Court of Inspiration" jointly constructed by UNILAB's Alaxan FR and the volunteer-residents of Brgy. Taloc, Bago City (Geiser Maclang/UNILAB Alaxan FR photo).

The Court of Inspiration land mark before cement was added and the handprints left by the PBA legends (James U. Sy Jr./CMAS photo).

Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) legend Benjie Paras leaving his hand print in the Court of Inspiration's land mark during the official Unveiling of the "Court of Inspiration" last August 26, 2012 at Prk. Langka, Brgy. Taloc, Bago City (James U. Sy Jr./CMAS photo).

The handprints of the PBA legends immortalized in cement (James U. Sy Jr./CMAS photo).

Brgy. Taloc officials and Prk. presidents gave a plaque of appreciation to UNILAB Alaxan FR officials for their generous help in setting up a Court of Inspiration in their local (James U. Sy Jr./CMAS photo).

UNILAB officials with the PBA legends after the official Unveiling of the "Court of Inspiration" last August 26, 2012 at Prk. Langka, Brgy. Taloc, Bago City (James U. Sy Jr./CMAS photo).

UNILAB officials, PBA legends, and Brgy. Taloc and Prk. Langka officials pose for posterity during the Unveiling of the "Court of Inspiration" last August 26, 2012 at Prk. Langka, Brgy. Taloc, Bago City (James U. Sy Jr./CMAS photo).

UNILAB officials, PBA legends, Brgy. Taloc and Prk. Langka officials, and local players pose for posterity during the Unveiling of the "Court of Inspiration" last August 26, 2012 at Prk. Langka, Brgy. Taloc, Bago City (James U. Sy Jr./CMAS photo)

Alaxan FR volunteers after the Unveiling of the "Court of Inspiration" last August 26, 2012 at Prk. Langka, Brgy. Taloc, Bago City (James U. Sy Jr./CMAS photo).

The Blue Mentors of Bago City College (BCC) after their performance during the Unveiling of the "Court of Inspiration" last August 26, 2012 at Prk. Langka, Brgy. Taloc, Bago City (James U. Sy Jr./CMAS photo).

The first 3-on-3 game between a mixed team of the PBA legends and the local players during the Unveiling of the "Court of Inspiration" last August 26, 2012 at Prk. Langka, Brgy. Taloc, Bago City (James U. Sy Jr./CMAS photo). Alaxan FR, together with three PBA legends and purok and barangay officials, made history when it unveiled its 4th "Court of Inspiration" in the country last August 26, 2012 at Prk. Langka, Brgy. Taloc, Bago City, Negros Occidental. The unveiling was originally scheduled for August 18, 2012 but had to be moved due to some unforeseen circumstances. The Court of Inspiration is a project of a series of construction of basketball courts undertaken by United Laboratories Inc. (UNILAB), the maker of Alaxan FR, in different pre-qualified area-recipients around the country. In a short interview with this writer, Justin Tung, UNILAB Alaxan Brand Manager, revealed that the first three Courts of Inspiration had previously been constructed in Butuan, Dumaguete, and Iloilo. Within the year, six more Courts of Inspiration are planned to be constructed and unveiled, among them in Cagayan De Oro, Cebu, Tacloban, Zamboanga, and Saranggani, the province where 8 weight division world champion and Alaxan FR icon Emmanuel “Manny/Pacman” Pacquiao serves as a congressman. The Court of Inspiration is a reflection of Alaxan FR’s motto “Aray natin, galing natin.” Its advocacy is to change the negative perception of body pain. The slogan means that pain is a byproduct of industriousness and hard work in turn results to the attainment of a goal and thus, progress. Pain, therefore, should be treated as a badge of honor and pride rather than something negative. The same can be said of volunteer-residents of Brgy. Taloc, under the leadership of Brgy. Taloc Captain Delia Teovisio and Prk. Langka President Benefredo “Bebing” M. Lobrido, who devoted hours and hours of volunteer work for the completion of the basketball court, dubbed the “Court of Inspiration,” adjacent to the purok chapel. The volunteer-residents finished the court using a bayanihan system. The Court of Inspiration at Prk. Langka, Brgy. Taloc also has the added feature of Legend Markers, motivational messages put in different places all over the court to inspire people to push themselves to greatness. The Court of Inspiration is close to the heart of Filipinos because the number one sport in the country is basketball (boxing is only second). An article once commented that there are more basketball courts in the Philippines than schools, with courts, whether makeshift or real, in even the smallest of communities. When UNILAB officials first visited Prk. Langka in Brgy. Taloc, the sun was already setting yet they still saw some teens playing basketball albeit without a real basketball court. Thus, the construction of the Court of Inspiration in their locale means so much, not only to the youth, but also to the residents as a whole. The program officially started at about 10:00 A.M. Intermission numbers were rendered, including song and dance numbers. Martial arts demonstrations were also given by the Taloc-based Original Filipino Tapado Long Stick Fighting Association (OFTLSFA), Inc. and Conceptual Martial Arts Society (CMAS), Inc. British-Filipino Phillip Penman, 10, performed the Original Filipino Tapado basic uno, dos, and bali-bali strikes against the attacks of Master James U. Sy Jr. Prk. Langka President Benefredo “Bebing” M. Lobrido, the 1st Generation Inheritor (Tigsubli)/Grandmaster of Original Filipino Tapado, together with Master Joeffrey S. Deriada, demonstrated the advanced direct hitting linyada of the long stick fighting art indigenous to Brgy. Taloc founded by his late uncle Grandmaster Romeo “Nono” C. Mamar. Sy also showed a solo stick anyo and Conceptual Arnis knife disarming with Deriada.

also graced the event and was introduced to the public and later joined the PBA legends in a presscon. An amateur boxing bout was given by the Jamili Boxing Club under Coach Gil Jamili with Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) and Games and Amusement Board (GAB) national amateur and pro referee Cesar Gamhoa. Much later in the program, the Blue Mentors of Bago City College (BCC) gave a composite medley playground dance number. The official unveiling started with the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) legends Ronnie Magsanoc, Benjie Paras, and Jerry Codinera giving inspirational speeches. The styles of delivery among the legends differed, with Magsanoc being more serious and Paras eliciting laughter from the crowd, but they all emphasized the fact that they too started from scratch. Paras recalled that inspite of the floods, they had to go to school and wear their soaking wet shoes the following day. They had to work hard to maintain their scholarship and they had to work persistently to improve their game. And everything paid off. They’re giving the messages to inspire the youth to dream and to reach that dream through hard work. Kagawad Popoy, in behalf of Brgy. Capt. Teovisio, accepted the new Court of Inspiration from UNILAB officials Alaxan FR Brand Manager Justin Tung, Alaxan FR Product Directress Kristine Martinez, and Product Area Manager Noel Delgado, and company, together with their marketing communications partner Geiser Maclang. In gratitude, Brgy. Taloc officials and purok presidents presented a plaque of appreciation to UNILAB Alaxan FR. Part of the program was the filling up of cement of a land marker where the PBA legends left their hand prints. The highlight of the event was a friendly 3-on-3 game between a mixed team of the PBA legends and the local players.