Page 38 - 2017 JUL -DEC KAAKBAY

38 July to December
2017

Philippine Consulate in New York Engages in Sports Diplomacy

Philippine Consulate General in New York Team The event allowed the Consulate to reach out to
a larger segment of the Filipino Community and to
As part of efforts to reach out to more Filipinos and establish new contacts in different states under its
Filipino-Americans in the US Northeast Region, the Philippine jurisdiction. Consul General Theresa Dizon-De Vega
Consulate General in New York participated for the first time likewise met separately with the NABA Commissioners
in the North American Basketball Association (NABA) and Directors to discuss other ways to promote
Tournament. community-building through sports and to seek the
NABA’s support for the Philippines’ hosting of the 2019
The tournament now on its 30th edition was held in Southeast Asian Games (SEAG).
Mannheim, Pennsylvania from 1-3 September 2017 with
crowds of around 4,000-5000 Filipinos and Fil-Ams either The NABA tournament remains one of the most
taking part in the competition or supporting their respective popular sports-oriented programs in the US and boasts of
teams. being the training ground for present and future Filipino-
While the bulk of participants come from the US Northeast, American players at the collegiate, amateur, and
specifically the states of New York, New Jersey, professional levels in the Philippines. The tournament is
Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and New England region, other regularly scouted by sports agents in the Philippines to
teams come from Maryland, Washington DC, Baltimore, some identify possible recruits for university, professional, and
cities in the Midwest and West Coast, and teams from national teams.
Montreal, Winnipeg, and Ontario, Canada.
Consul General Dizon-De Vega with some members of the Consulate Team
Aside from fielding a team composed of personnel
from the Consulate General, the Philippine Mission to the
United Nations, the Philippine Center in New York, and family
members, the Consulate also set up an information booth on
Consular, Pag-Ibig, and tourism services for the information of
the participants and spectators at the event.

Filipino-Americans Take Over Barclays Center for Brooklyn Net’s Filipino Heritage Night

Filipino-Americans came in droves to the Barclays Center,
Brooklyn, New York, home court of the NBA Team Brooklyn Nets
on 22 October 2017.

The event held in commemoration of Filipino-American
History Month featured Philippine performances and sports
demonstrations as well as trivia games. Filipino law enforcement
officers were likewise honored for their service.

Several groups of young Filipino and Filipino-American
basketball players were given an opportunity to play on the
Brooklyn Nets court during halftime. The short game showcased
the Filipinos’ innate love and passion for basketball.

One of the event organizer’s second generation Filipino- Young Filipino-American basketball players with the parents, coaches,
and mentors prepare to play a half-time game during the Brooklyn Nets
American Mark Anthony Agbuya, who also helped organize the Filipino Heritage Night (photo by Bel Molina)
equally successful Heritage Night in 2016, commented that this

year’s event is made more significant in that it takes place while

the entire Filipino-American Community commemorate Filipino-American History Month in October. (Continue to page 39)