Careless Clavio

HANGTIME

Neil Bravo

Arnold Clavio must have felt by now the heat from an incensed sports community.

After Clavio and his co-host Rhea Santos made some comments considered by the offended Philippine Football Federation (PFF) and several sports fans as racist, libelous and discriminatory.

The PFF has also formally filed a complaint letter to the GMA authorities over the said comments made on the Unang Hirit program last March 13.

What has gotten into the mind of Clavio to suddenly go on a barking spree? He lashed at the Azkals in the middle of the AFC Challenge Cup where the Azkals by now have made him swallow his own rabies with a historic win and a semifinals seat in the tough AFC Group Stages.

A video of Clavio’s tirades against the Azkals went viral on Youtube and the legions of Azkal fans responded with loud and violent reaction like a barking pack of canines coming to the rescue of a wounded buddy.

In the said morning show, Clavio was seen calling the Azkals' behavior to the Cristy Ramos complaint as "insensitive," and then proceeded by questioning the citizenship of some members of the Azkals team. He also talked of their sexual tirades and use of antibiotics. Clavio’s barking spree got second voice from co-host Santos.

Among the tirades of Clavio cited in the PFF complaint: "Dapat maging aral na sa inyo 'yan. Ang yayabang niyo. Porke't dinadagsa kayo ng mga [fans] ang guguwapo ni'yo, 'di ba?. Parang God's gift to women,.”

"Ngayon nag-sorry para daw sa isa nilang kasamahan. Saan ka nakakitang Azkal na may suso? Anong 'Cup D, maybe a Cup B' sa isang kasama? Palusot na lang 'yon. Sana kung nag-sorry, sorry na lang talaga.”

Then came his hardest dig: "Eh, hindi naman kayo Filipino, nagpapanggap lang kayong kayumanggi, hindi dito lumaki. Mahirap 'yon, insensitive."

And then more: "Alam naman nila' yung mga 'sexcapades' nila sa isa't isa, sino ang nag-penicillin, alam naman nila 'yan."

First, this is not to cloud the issue nor cover up the main issue of the Azkals-Ramos controversy. That case is already with the PFF Disciplinary Committee. Ramos has not filed with the courts either any sexual harassment raps against the two Azkals.

We don’t know what went into the mind of Clavio. He suddenly went berserk like he was God’s gift to broadcasting. But he was far from that.

I watched the morning show as I was writing this anticipating there might be an apology or an explanation from the network or Clavio himself. Instead, I was tickled to find that one of the presentors of the show is a soy sauce brand featuring the Azkals. The ad’s message is simple—whether you are pure Pinoy or half-Pinoy, you will love this soy sauce. Good thing, the brand has not pulled out their ad yet.

I don’t know if Clavio has seen this ad for him to know there is such a thing as pure-Pinoy and half-Pinoy and that under citizenship laws, there is no distinction. That is assuming he does not know Art. 4, Sec. 1, par. 2 and 4 of the Philippine Constitution.

Paragraph 2 says you only need one Filipino parent to have the citizenship of this country like most Fil-foreigners whether in sports or in show business including several stars of the network. Paragraph 4 says you can also be naturalized like Marcus Douthit of the Smart Gilas.

Women’s world boxing champion Ana Julaton, who belongs to the network, is also half-Pinoy having been born in San Francisco, California.

No need to elaborate on that, I do not believe Clavio does not know the law. Perhaps even his muppet look-alike Arn-Arn knows that. There are 8.7 to 11 million Filipinos outside the country. They comprise 11% of our population. And they are no lesser Filipinos. They even vote during elections wherever they are.

You also don’t need to have brown skin or to have lived your life entirely in the country to be Filipino. Nonito Donaire did not grow up in the country. President Aquino spent some years of his life in Boston. Grace Lee is not Filipino but Clavio’s employer embraced her.

There simply was no rhyme and reason for Clavio to berate the Azkals who have earned the respect and adulation of many not only because they look good, but because they fought and risked their limbs for the country. If some of them committed SH against Cristy Ramos, let the investigation or even the courts take its course.

Was Clavio in the locker room on the day the alleged SH happened? Was he with the Azkals when, according to him, they used penicillin (an antibiotic used to treat bacteria)?

I think it’s weird for someone who calls himself ‘Igan (friend). There is a term young people use for that—F.C. Feeling close.

Clavio and his employers must take action by way of a response, apology or disciplinary action. He cannot hide behind the image he has created for himself. No offense here but watching the morning news for a long time now, we have grown to believe that Clavio has two personalities--half-man half-muppet.

If Clavio cannot face this issue himself, let Arn-Arn do it for him.

(Neil Bravo now writes for Edge Davao as Sports Editor. This column came out on its March 18-19 issue.)