BY REY C. LACHICA
Rain or Shine center Beau Belga feels he’s five pounds heavier than his playing weight of 260 pounds since the shutdown of the PBA two months ago due to the imposition of Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) in the capital region.
But that’s the least of his concerns for now.
What worries him the most is the plight of the frontliners, especially the healthcare workers who are risking their lives treating patients battling the deadly coronavirus disease.
“I have nothing but respect for them because they are risking their lives in the line of their duties,” said the 33-year-old Belga. “Talagang saludo ako sa kanila at sa kanilang mga pamilya who are also sacrificing in their absence.”
Heartbreaking as it is, death has become a daily occurrence as the world’s pharmaceutical giants are working in break-neck speed to discover the right formula for vaccine that will cure those with coronavirus.
“Sana na matapos na ito,” said the 2017 Jakarta Asian Games veteran who did his own share of helping the frontliners along with fellow PBA players a month ago.
Turning more serious, Belga said his heart also bleeds for the less privileged and workers who got practically nothing due to ‘no work, no pay’ policy of their respective companies.
“Papaano sila ngayon, san sila kukuha ng pambili ng makakain sa ganitong sitwasyon?” lamented the product of Philippine Christian University who remains one of the effective operators down low due to his massive frame.
With the downgrading of the lockdown from ECQ to ‘modified’ ECQ in the capital region and two other major areas starting today, Belga is hoping that those badly affected financially can summon enough strength to rebound from this crisis that slumped the country’s economy to its worst since World War II.
Experts are one in saying the government has to ease the restrictions gradually to revive the country’s economy that appeared so healthy early on.
About the unwanted pounds he gained during the period of ECQ, Belga told Tempo-Bulletin with confidence that he can get rid of those in a week’s time.
“Di pa ako nagti-timbang pero sa tingin ko bumigat ako ng konti pero it’s not a problem naman kasi one week na todo ensayo balik na ulit ako sa playing weight ko,” said Belga, who has squat rack, steel plates, dumb bells and resistance bands to use for his daily exercise.
And for the resumption of the PBA?
Belga said that can wait, adding that he supports the wait and see stand of the league officials who earlier emphasized that the safety of everybody, including the paying fans, are their primary concern in this unpredictable time.
Like Commissioner Willie Marcial, Belga is hoping the stoppage won’t be long enough since the basketball-crazy nation needs a real entertainment, and they believe the PBA can help lift the spirit of every Filipino.
