11 June 2011

Villaflor: We Believe or make-believe?

“LONG is the way, and hard, that out of Hell leads up to light” – John Milton, Paradise Lost


THE “We Believe” campaign, in its simplest terms, aims to make the public aware that the Azkals’ victory “is also the nation’s triumph,” apart from bringing the team closer to the fans.

The campaign, launched yesterday in Metro Manila, also has a vision: to uplift Filipino pride and “to inspire them to believe in what they can do for the country.”


“We Believe” makes for a good slogan, which happens to be a variation of earlier catchphrases from other campaigns of the same theme, such as “Posible,” “Yes we can,” “Kaya Natin,” etc. (It could also pass muster as a “meme,” the idea or belief that spreads within a culture from one person or another.)


But could this nationwide campaign be nothing more than mere feel-good sloganeering, or is it a sincere effort to build on the momentum of the Azkals phenomenon?


The campaign itself is the result of a “paradigm shift” that has given the Filipino football community a newfound sense of optimism. Thanks to the Azkals nearly improbable run during the 2010 Suzuki Cup finals in Vietnam, a story we know all too well.


While some are helplessly cynical and others warn football fans and stakeholders to proceed with caution, many more are just happy to be caught up in the Azkals frenzy. But definitely, there is no one more optimistic right now than Dan Palami, the standard bearer of the “We Believe” campaign.


In my column last Thursday (That World Cup dream), I sought to explain Palami’s blueprint for the Azkals’ 2018 World Cup qualification. I forgot to mention, however, what in the world made him believe it was possible to qualify for the globe’s most important sporting event in such a short time.


Before his stint with the seniors’ squad, Palami, a businessman, was appointed as manager of the Under-19 team only three weeks before they were to compete in China.

With so haphazard a preparation, the team was thrashed in all its games. It must have been embarrassing as hell for him as manager.

So when he was given the opportunity to manage the Philippine Men’s National Team, Palami also found the chance to redeem himself. But to do so required commitment: he had to pursue a comprehensive plan for the team, which also meant he had to spend his own fortune. (Last year, he spent “half of his income” in managing the team.)


So what’s the deal with the 2018 qualification?


“I had to set such a difficult goal so I would really push myself in managing the team,” Palami had told our small group—– Paulo Pascual’s father Joel, sports editor Mike Limpag and I—hours after he received the Sportswriters Association of Cebu Presidential Award last February.


In other words, the 2018 World Cup goal isn’t so much about qualifying as of setting up a system that would develop the most competitive squad possible, given the meager resources.


Having recalled this bit of information allows me to put into the proper context the most plausible motivation behind the “We Believe” campaign. It is not mere “mindless optimism” on the part of the Azkals management, but something more substantial.


“Our brains aren’t just stamped by the past,” says last week’s Time cover story about the science of optimism. “They are constantly being shaped by the future.”


The future that Palami sees for Philippine football, having emerged from its darkest days, is a bright one. But getting there will be hard, so having a catchy slogan and getting everyone else to say it might just help.

“We Believe.” Say it. Spread the word. It’s not that hard.

(nsvillaflor@gmail.com)

Sun Star Cebu

26 comments:

  1. "I had to set such a difficult goal so I would really push myself in managing the team"

    It's not a difficult goal... it's an IMPOSSIBLE goal of trying to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. It's just not going to happen! At the same time, when he says this, he makes it seem like he owns it and it's some sort of small business which he put up. He's only the team manager FFS! He's gotten in way over his head really!

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  2. before we beat vietnam 2-0, wasnt that an impossible dream too? pray tell me what is the difference?

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  3. at least dan palami accomplished something as compared to people doing nothing and just criticizing

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  4. mau dyud, nakakaon man cguro mog daghang ampalaya kay bitter man ang uban diri.

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  5. "before we beat vietnam 2-0, wasnt that an impossible dream too? pray tell me what is the difference?"

    LOL! What kind of a question is that? Comparing the task of beating a fellow ASEAN nation with the task of trying to qualify for the World Cup... haha! If can't even figure the difference out with that, then you really are true numpty!

    "at least dan palami accomplished something as compared to people doing nothing and just criticizing"

    LOL at you too. So every single person is obligated to do something?? Like actually donate money for the team or something like that?!? Idiots! Let me ask you then... what the hell have you done?!? Cheer for the team? Buy a jersey? Wow, that's really gonna help... Shut up!

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  6. So,ok you are a non-supporter. Thanks for letting us know YOU cannot be counted on. Mr. Palami has set a bar for the Azkals to reach, let him work on achieving. If you can help, then do so, if NOT, GET THE HECK OUT OF THE WAY.

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  7. I never said that I was a non-supporter. You thinking that further proves how delusional people like you are.

    Yes I am a supporter. What I do not support is all this crazy over the top stuff BS such as being dead serious about qualifying for the 2018 World Cup. It makes him (Palami) look arrogant and idiotic and for non-Filipinos looking in, it makes us look absolutely idiotic as well to say the least.

    He's just for effing team manager as well. It's always him that's being heard in the press/media. Like I've said, it makes it look like he owns the team like its his club team or play thing. And then he comes up and says all kinds of stuff to hype up the team for the wrong reasons. Its BS to say the least!

    "Mr. Palami has set a bar for the Azkals to reach, let him work on achieving."

    So the bar has been set to reaching the 2018 World Cup... well that's just fucking genius isn't it! Ridiculous! It's impossible. You know what, he's gotten in way over his head especially with that type of a goal, if the national team fails with that, he should be shot!!!

    "If you can help, then do so, if NOT, GET THE HECK OUT OF THE WAY."

    Get the heck out of the way? LOL!! When have I "been in the way" to begin with you dumb ass! LOL!

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  8. to the guy 2 comments above me...

    Ok! Let's assume that the world cup is absolutely impossible.
    What the hell do you suggest the Azkals do now?

    Sit back and wait until the Philippines is a football powerhouse?

    Tama! The Azkals should not do anything world cup qualifying-related, and not strive for the highest so they won't look ridiculous!

    Judging by your arguments and your grammar, you sound like an educated person, so I don't think you should be reminded that ridiculous things do happen every now and then.

    Libre mangarap...

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  9. tama si Go Azkals!

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  10. Si kiatkiat yan cguro. hahaha nagmamarunong pero wala naman alam sa football. hindi naman malakas yung lugar niya sa football. amfefe

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  11. Crab mentality do exist, this also another reason why Philippines never improved itself. Nothing good will really happen to our beloved country if people will tend to think negatively and won't hold on to their dreams tsktsktsk.....

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  12. I wouldn't say the first commenter was "negative", more like being realistic. Much as I'd like to see the Azkals succeed, we have to accept the fact that we are at "the bottom of the bottom" football-wise being a lower ranked team of a low ranked region (as SEA teams have fared poorly compared to other AFC teams). With only four slots for Asia in the world cup and three of those all but guaranteed to go to Japan, South Korea and Australia, what makes us think that the Azkals would get that last slot ahead of other more advanced (and much higher ranked) countries like from the middle east?

    If we're really serious about aiming to qualify for the world cup in the future, we need a proper sport development system in the country along with a fully professional football league (UFL doesn't count as it's only semi-pro) where players can hone and improve their skills on a full time basis as we cannot rely on fil-foreigners forever to fill the national team roster. Sports development also takes a lot of time to be successful as shown by Japan where it took them almost 20 years since the start of their development program back in the early 90's to get to where they are now being the top ranked Asian team, so assuming Philippine sports officials start today, believing the Azkals would qualify for a world cup within the next 20 years or so is delusional and makes the team look more like pretenders rather than serious contenders.

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  13. i believe if they start training our under 23 and 19 for the 2018....PFF must start now for this dream and to be train by the international coaches....but with the current style hmmm i doubt it.....training for team chemistry, tactical plays, individual skills is the key for this dream....

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  14. KualaLumpurPinoy12 June 2011 at 16:05

    Though dreaming high ain't a crime, i just think it's too early to even talk about our chance of qualifying for WC. We have never been dominant even in SEA region yet, and we should know that powerhouses in the region such as Thailand, Indonesia or Malaysia all have failed to even come close to qualifying for WC in modern days. I mean, "not even close". Plus, beware that there was not a single SEA country who qualified for Asian Cup 2011. So this is where SEA football locates on the AFC map.

    So we should just dominate SEA first before talking about WC qualifying. I'm not saying we shoudn't even try. Of course we have to participate in every possible events no matter if we have chance or not. But i just don't find any slightest piece of chance in WC qualifying in such a short period of time.

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  15. so when you pessimists say we should not dream of qualifying for the WC finals within 7 years, then in how many years do you think will we reach that goal? i hope you will not say never, otherwise, that will imply that you do not believe in setting goals at all and true to my description of you, you are all pessimists

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  16. obviously, you have an axe to grind against dan palami, its personal and no amount of words will ever suffice here.

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  17. dapat pilipino ang tema ng gimik na yan kase lagi niyong binabanggit yang pinoy pride. walang pinoy pride sa salitang inggles.

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  18. "so when you pessimists say we should not dream of qualifying for the WC finals within 7 years, then in how many years do you think will we reach that goal?"

    To you overoptimistic people, here's a little perspective just how ridiculous it is to even think that we'll qualify for the 2018 World Cup. Back in 2006, Malaysia set a goal of qualifying for the 2022 World Cup. Yet here's Palami thinking we could do it before them?? And we're decades behind Malaysia in all levels and aspects of the game.

    There's nothing wrong with setting extremely high goals, but at the end of the day, you still need to be realistic and for overoptimistic followers, you need to be more careful and not be sucked in to such hype too easily.

    But to answer the question of, "then in how many years do you think will we reach that goal?" Personally I believe some things aren't meant to be, and the Philippines qualifying for the World Cup in 2018 or any other time will never happen. But for arguments sake, then this goal should be set no earlier than 20-30 years time.

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  19. cebu weak ang football diyan, basketball lang ang pinapansin diyan

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  20. The Philippines can qualify for the World Cup, but these idiots have to realize that a child doesn't start running before he walks.

    Reach for the cloud before you reach for the stars.

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  21. ...or you can reach for the stars so when you fall short, you're at least where the clouds are.

    Anyway, there's nothing wrong with Palami setting these goals. If he falls short, it's his a$$. The fans just need to realize that this is all done to hype up the interest. That's all. We dont have to buy into it. We just need to support the team if it's going the right direction and support the game to grow. Palami can even come out and guarantee a victory over Sri Lanka and Kuwait and I wont have a problem with it. Im not gonna hold my breathe for it but he at least better show that he tried his best to do his part.

    -ace

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  22. "The fans just need to realize that this is all done to hype up the interest. That's all. We dont have to buy into it."

    That's the problem. A lot of these so called fans don't realize it and therefore they do buy into all this BS hype and ridiculous impossible goals which have been set. Gaining more interest in the national team and the sport in general can be done without setting idiotic goals like qualifying for the 2018 World Cup. People, especially Palami have gotten in way over their heads and it's gotten to a point where things have become a farce.

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  23. Interesting to see people bashing Palami for his public declaration of our objective to qualify for the 2018 WC.

    I agree that he's crazy for setting such a lofty goal because our football team is nowhere near the top-tier of Asian football powerhouses. I believe that we must first take baby steps by winning the minor Asian football tournaments, then some of the major ones before talking about WC qualification. But I'd rather see someone dare our country to dream big than hear small-minded non-believers settle for mediocrity.

    Most people are afraid to take risks because they believe that by not daring oneself, you don't lose your dignity, you don't lose your reputation and you don't fail. In short, they prefer to stay within their comfort zone and safety than be called outrageous and idiotic. These are the same people who dream of flying but are too scared to spread their wings because they're afraid of falling.

    On the other hand, we have someone like Palami who is senseless enough to take chances without regard for his reputation because he believes that enormous rewards require huge risks. In other words, he's daring our country to spread its wings so it can learn how to fly. None of our big dreams will ever come true if we don't wake up and work on it.

    WC qualification is a very audacious goal but it's not impossible. Every FIFA members has a a chance to reach the WC even though the odds vary from very high to very low. Traditional powers and nations ranked in the top 50 always have a higher percentage of qualifying so the few spots left are for teams like ours to battle. Fortunately, there are only a handful of teams in Asia that are traditionally strong so the path to WC is the 2nd easiest amongst football confederations. To reach it though, we'll need a combination of creating our own luck and tons of lucky breaks.

    Keep in mind that many of our players are coming from Europe where football is considered a religion. This is our advantage over most Asian nations because the Filipinos from this region gain advanced training and are exposed to a very high level of competition - higher than most of our Asian counterparts. And with Germany's financial assistance and technical know-hows, we're gaining more advantages over our nearest football rivals.

    GO AZKALS! BEAT Sri Lanka!!!

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  24. "Keep in mind that many of our players are coming from Europe where football is considered a religion. This is our advantage over most Asian nations..."

    So is that how you want to do it? Rely on foreign players? By the way, even the Halfers aren't even considered world class. But you compare that to Indonesian halfers like G. Van Bronckhorst

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  25. You see them as foreign players but I see them as Filipinos (making sacrifices to play for our country). People like you need to get over your inferiority complex and your prejudices against fellow Filipinos with foreign blood because they are just as proud to be wearing our national colors as any full-blooded Filipinos. It continues to puzzle me why their "Filipinoness" should be an issue with anyone.

    Germany, England, Italy, France, Netherlands, Turkey and many top football nations have players who play for their national teams that don't have a drop of blood of their respective ethnicity. They're either naturalized citizens or native born, yet there are people like you that nitpick because our Filipino players are not full-blooded. If being a half-Filipino is a major concern to you, I can't imagine how you'd react if foreigners born in our country, who would love nothing more than to represent the Philippines, are finally allowed to play for our national team.

    "So is that how you want to do it? Rely on foreign players?"
    You do realize that we don't have a premier league where we can assemble our top players from, right? And you are aware that our country fairly recently coordinated and organized developmental leagues so it is still in its infancy? If we don't "rely" on Filipinos from abroad, where their talent and skills are better honed and developed, where else should the best Filipino footballers come from? Locally, our skills are not up to par with the best leagues in Asia - yet. Until we invest the money and resources required to reach the same competitive level of Asia's top leagues, we have to assemble the best footballers willing to represent RP wherever they come from.

    "By the way, even the Halfers aren't even considered world class. But you compare that to Indonesian halfers like G. Van Bronckhorst"
    Do we not have more than a handful of players that play (or played) either in 1st and 2nd Divisions or has played in the U19/U20 national teams in Europe? Why should I bother comparing our players with Van Bronckhorst? Is he some star player that played in some of Europe's top leagues? If not, what was your point of bringing him up? Besides, football is a team sport not an individual sport so comparing the talent and skills of our group of players to one player is irrelevant. Indonesia can have their Van Bronckhorst and I certainly wish them all the best (except when they play us) but I'll take our current team over theirs anyday of the week.

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