“Is it for convenience?”
Two weeks ago, Fil-Japanese golfing star Yuka Saso chose Japanese citizenship instead of remaining a Filipino citizen to represent the country. It was later revealed that she apparently chose the Japanese passport to make her travel a lot easier because professional golf indeed requires a tremendous amount of travelling. A Filipino passport gets a holder into 66 countries and territories without a visa while a Japanese passport together with that of a Singapore passport are two of the most powerful passports in the world. The two passports allow a holder to enter 190 countries without a visa. One could therefore say that Yuka chose the Japanese passport for convenience. She said however, that whatever country she represents, she is still a Filipino. That may be so but it is not as simple as that anymore. Being a citizen of a country requires certain mandatory duties and obligations as we all know. Furthermore, whatever honors or golf tournaments that she will win from now on, it will be as a Japanese citizen and not as a Filipino. For instance, she can no longer represent the country in the Olympic games. Filipino supporters can still cheer her victories but can no longer wave the Philippine flag. In a just concluded LPGA tournament in the United States where she ended third last Sunday, she was referred to as Yuka Saso of Japan already. So, whatever she says, it will never be the same.
This is not to say that she should not have done it. In fact, many would even probably consider her decision as a no brainer. But considering that she is still proclaiming her Filipino ethnicity indicates that she must have struggled in making her decision. Maybe deep in her heart she still considers herself a Filipino. It is so unlike Fil-Australian champion golfer Jason Day whose mother is a Filipino who never once publicly acknowledged his Filipino ethnicity. It was left to the media to do it for him.
When it comes to international travel, holding a Philippine passport can present some problems as many Filipinos who have traveled will attest. A Filipino traveler for instance must have to plan his or her travel routes and itineraries a lot more extensively because there are certain countries that require visas just to transit. One might also stumble on very suspicious, arrogant and inquisitive border officials with a lot of questions that are sometimes insulting. Such are some of the travails when traveling with a Philippine passport.
But for Filipino athletes who have acquired international star status, international travel should not pose serious problems even if they hold a Filipino passport. Filipino star athletes like boxing champion Senator Manny Pacquiao and renowned pool champion Efren Reyes who have achieved international name recognition did not seem to have any problems traveling abroad to box or participate in pool tournaments.
Perhaps, Yuka should have followed their example. Long-term, multiple-re entry visas, for instance, could be applied for. Since most of the professional golf tournaments are played in the United States and Europe, and both issue long term multiple reentry visas, Yuka should not have any problem getting them. After all, she won the United States Ladies Golf Open Championships which is one of the toughest in ladies’ golf. This gave her enough name recognition especially if she keeps on winning other golf tournaments. She might still encounter certain travel inconveniences but that should not be enough reason for her to give up her Filipino citizenship if she really wanted to. Senator Manny Pacquiao and Efren Reyes who have given much pride and honor to the country never gave up their citizenship and have stayed in the country as two of our country’s great sportsmen. EJ Obiena, our Olympic pole vaulter who is now battling PATAFA to his credit has maintained that he will continue to represent the country in spite of invitations from other countries to represent them. Whether he will be able to represent the country due to his ongoing tussle with his athletic federation is another matter.
Yuka is not the only one that got away. We have chess master Wesley So and Alex Pagulayan, another pool champion who is now representing Canada.
Happily, there are still many Filipino athletes in other disciplines campaigning as Filipino citizens overseas bringing pride and honor to the country. The loss of Yuka is unfortunate for a country hungry for true-blue Filipino athletes willing to stick it out regardless of the many challenges that they have to navigate. The reward for those who stay is the eternal gratitude and adulation of the Filipino people. Senator Pacquiao, Hidilyn Diaz and Efren Reyes are the best examples.
Nonetheless, let’s all wish Yuka great success in her quest for golf greatness.