Think Philippines

In his most recent blog entry, NBA star Gilbert Arenas of the Washington Wizards described his recent trip to Manila, Philippines. The blog was entitled “Everybody Should Visit Manila.”

Gilbert Arenas, also known in the NBA as “Agent Zero,” is one of the premiere point guards in the United States’ pro basketball league. He just recently signed a $111 million deal with the Wizards to play for them for the next six years. Aside from his scoring prowess, Gil is also known to be one of the more “outspoken” athletes in the world. Most of his criticisms are found on his personal blog, which he himself maintains for NBA.com.

But he had nothing but good words to say about Manila and its people. He described Filipinos as “very warm people, very good-hearted people.”

“You know, you meet nice people, but a whole country of nice, genuine, warm-hearted people was unbelievable,” he added.

Gilbert Arenas signing autographs during his visit to SM Mall of Asia (sandroparedes.multiply)

He couldn’t believe how crowds would flock to wherever he went. During one of his mall tours, he went to SM Mall of Asia – the largest shopping mall in the country and the third largest in the world. People from all over the country gathered there just to catch a glimpse of the NBA star. Some were lucky enough to get his autograph and have their pictures taken with him.

“I mean, crowded to me is a Saturday afternoon at the mall where you have to wait in line for 10 minutes to pay for your jeans,” said Arenas. “Their crowded was probably four or five thousand people in the mall. It was like nothing I’ve ever seen before, and I’ve seen crazy fans all over the world.”

“I was stunned.”

Gil also bore witness to the passion of the Filipinos when it comes to sports – especially the game of basketball. He attended a college game between the country’s two biggest rivals – the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles and the De La Salle University Green Archers. He went with United States Ambassador Kristie Kenney – who has been a fan of collegiate basketball ever since she became ambassador.

“We actually went to a college basketball game together,” said Gil, talking about Ambassador Kenney. “Their college game would be like if it was Duke and Maryland playing each other and you split the crowd in half, 50-50. One side of their gym was blue and one side of their gym was green and everybody was just yelling.”

Backstage in the same event, Gil was introduced to international boxing legend, Manny Pacquiao, who invited the NBA star to see his next fight in the United States – the Filipino champ is set to face Humberto Soto in Las Vegas this coming November.

Whenever celebrities like himself visit Manila, they are always treated with warm smiles and huge crowds. To make a point, Gil shared an anecdote:

“If you’ve ever been to a Beyoncé concert… if they sell out an arena it will be 20,000 fans. Last year in Beyoncé’s hometown, Houston, she pulled in 12,000 people to her show. D.C. was her biggest sell, she put 18,000 people in the seats. Meanwhile, she was in Manila for two days to do two concerts and she had 85,000 people, two nights straight.”

Arenas was not all business in Manila. He also did charity work.

“…I donated – with the help of GK and Adidas – a basketball court to that community and the kid was very happy,” he said.

Gilbert Arenas enjoying the newly inaugurated basketball court with the kid who asked for it. (sandroparedes.multiply)

GK is short for Gawad Kalinga – a local foundation that aims to reduce poverty in the country. GK is well known in the country for building homes for the homeless, and for providing them with livelihood so they could support their own. The kid Gil was talking about was from one of the newly built GK communities. The boy asked for a basketball court for their community. With the donation of his home brand Adidas, Gil helped fund the project. One of his last stops in the country was in that GK community; where he went to personally open the basketball court.

“They made me feel like an NBA star,” said Arenas of the warm Filipino hospitality. “I felt like I just won the NBA championship, to be for real.”

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Tags: agent zero, gawad kalinga, gilbert arenas, gilzero, mall of asia