There's nothing wrong with the photo of National Basketball Association star Damian Lilliard of the Portland Trailblazers.
In joining the Filipinos’ celebration of Bonifacio Day (November 30), Portland posted on its official social media page a photo of its top playmaker, photoshopped with a red handkerchief wrapped around his neck.
This was the team’s tribute to Andres Bonifacio, one of the national heroes of the Philippines. He led the country’s revolution against the Spanish occupation in the 1890s. The man from Tondo, Manila has several monuments that depict him wearing a Camisa de Chino (white shirt with Chinese collar), with a red handkerchief wrapped around his neck, while he tightly clutches a Filipino bolo.
The Facebook post has a caption in pure Filipino that reads: “Aling pag-ibig pa ang hihigit kaya sa pagkadalisay at pagkadakila. Gaya ng pag-ibig sa tinubuang lupa. Aling pag-ibig pa? Wala na nga wala.” – Andrés Bonifacio.
One Julius Reyes gladly translated the post into English: “Is there a love greater than your love for your country? There is none… No, there’s none.” “Happy birthday Gat. Andres Bonifacio.”
The post has so far generated 17,000 reactions, with more than 600 comments and 4,200 shares.
Netizens made positive comments about the post. Christian A. Rafael said “This is a great appreciation. For Filipino fans.”
Others reminded netizens about Lillard’s good heart for the Filipinos.
“Though Damian Lillard isn’t a Filipino, his heart is more than a Filipino,” commented Israel Panganiban.
Dan Ogie Soniega Sotelo wrote: “May puso si Dame sa mga nasunugan sa Philippine General Hospital nagbigay ng donasyon saludo, Dame Time.”
Lillard showed his love for Filipinos when he quietly donated for the repair of the Philippine General Hospital, which caught fire in May this year.
His donation was coursed through Filipina actress Yassi Pressman, who spearheaded the donation drive that was set up on social media.
The exact amount of his donation was not divulged, but it reportedly made up the bulk of the total P1 million cash donatee for the damaged hospital facility.
The NBA star last visited the Philippines and played an exhibition game in 2016.