ACROSS any sport, Filipinos are often among the loudest and most passionate supporters when an athlete is doing well.
The noise, though, can quickly turn into judgment and criticism when things don’t go exactly as planned.
Many Filipino athletes have become targets of hate on social media during tough times, only to be praised again when the sun shines.
Alex Eala is no exception.
That’s why it’s a good thing the 20-year-old rising star doesn’t let it get to her head.
“There’s so much positive that I get from Pinoys that I don’t really pay attention to the negative comments,” Eala said on Friday at a meet-and-greet event organized by her longtime backer, Globe Telecom, at the Globe Tower in BGC.
And it’s not at all coming from a place of avoidance, but rather from understanding her kababayans.
“A lot of these people don’t know a lot about tennis and what goes on behind the scenes. I’m very confident in myself, my team, and my work. I know we’re doing things right, and I’m doing the best I can. That confidence allows me not to get affected by those,” she continued.
Eala, born in Quezon City, has always handled all the attention well, even from a young age. She added that her mind is too focused on the good for there to be any space for negativity.
Alex, pride of the Philippines
Aside from her three Junior Grand Slam titles, it was her recent Miami Open run — where she defeated four top players in a row — that once again brought her into the spotlight.
Since then, Filipino sports fans have stayed up late to catch her matches, often in odd hours due to the time difference, especially during Grand Slams.
With two having been already completed this year, namely Roland Garros and Wimbledon, Eala continues to embrace her role as a representative of the Philippines.
READ: With Wimbledon debut, Alex Eala turned dream into reality for self and PH
And with that, she chooses to look past the occasional online toxicity and instead focus on proudly carrying the flag.
“I’ve never met a Filipino who isn’t proud to be a Filipino,” she said. “Where you come from is a big part of who you are. Every time you step out on the court, your flag is next to your name. It’s always going to relate to your identity. A part of loving yourself is loving where you come from and being proud of it.”
With her pro career just getting started and her ranking now at 56, Eala hopes she’s doing a good job of being a global Filipino.
As she put it, “I do my best to behave as well as I can, especially in the international tennis scene. I am what comes to mind when they see Filipinos, so I really do my best. A lot of people, especially the youth, look up to me. I want to represent us in a way Pinoys would be glad to be represented.”
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