Wrong admiration: How to deodorize Jaja’s decision to become Japanese

By Matias Dennis U. Eroa

Don’t get me wrong because I’m ready to get hammered by blind followers. I’m not a killjoy, ask my colleagues and readers.

I’m just appalled ( actually I suspect) that there is a group trying to justify the move of volleyball star Jaja Santiago to embrace Japanese citizenship.

I am drowning in a sea of praises for Santiago, who was quoted telling the world that she remains Filipina at heart. OMG! The move, according to Jaja and her army of backers, will make her dream of playing in the Olympics a reality if she can crack the world-class Japanese team. Besides she married Japanese coach Taka Minowa. Hence, Jaja is now Sachi Minowa.

Here’s what Sachi says about her decision: ‘‘Changing one’s nationality is not an easy decision. It requires many sacrifices to achieve your dream. Some people will support you, but there are also those who may not understand your decision.’’

That’s correct. I belong, sad to say, to the minority group of non-believers. Still, I have to speak my mind.

The former National University star admitted the process of turning Japanese isn’t easy. She needed to learn Nippongo and pass an exam to gain Japanese citizenship.

‘‘The entire process has not been easy. But first and foremost, I am grateful to God for giving me the sign, the blessing, and the opportunity to be in the situation in my life that I am now,’’ Jaja said in a story carried by Philstar.com.She thanks Taka and her family for the support. She also mentioned the backing given by Cherry Tiggo Crossovers and Tats Suzara to fulfill her dream.

Very well explained, Jaja.

Before I continue, let me clarify that Jaja, ooops Sachi’s decision to play as an import for JT Marvelous in the Japanese V League is a welcome development. I love it because Jaja has shown to the world the world-class talent of Filipina volleyball players. This case is the same as the likable Jia Morado-De Guzman, who temporarily left Alas Pilipinas after she got another contract with Denso Airybess in Japan.

Note the word temporary because I’m sure De Guzman will come back and play again for the national team. The contract is lucrative and I can’t blame Jia for agreeing to play anew for Denso.

Jaja is now well-off. This is the same scenario for Filipino basketball players carrying foreign teams’ jerseys. They never thought of switching nationalities due to a lack of offer or simply because they love to endure the usual heat, smoke, and flood of the country.

That’s why I ask Jaja why turn Japanese?

Is the Philippines a bad country? The country remains beautiful. Of course, not. The sport of volleyball is very popular here and Jaja’s turning Japanese is a setback for the sport because the Philippine national team loses a key player in its quest to gain supremacy at least at the Southeast Asian Games level. Remember that we’ve been trying for years to upstage Vietnam and powerhouse Thailand, to no avail.

Without Sachi, the country will miss her defense and ability to hammer points. Finding a new Sachi will be very difficult for the Philippine National Volleyball Federation headed by Suzara.

I need to confirm also if Sachi can still play in the Philippine Volleyball League. My guess is she can play as an import.

Her backers can deodorize her decision. I respect that. I always look at the other side of the equation. We have contrasting opinions and I continue to follow the wisdom of my beloved parents. Don’t speak ill to others.

Sachi’s situation, however, is not the same as the decision of chess wizard Wesley So to become American or ace golfer Yuka Saso turning Japanese. Then there is the case of eskrimador Maxine Esteban who carried the Ivory Coast flag in the Paris Olympics.

What’s the difference? So Saso just fell silent on their new commitments. They didn’t rely on wrong admiration to justify their life-changing decisions.
I need to caution the backers (paid or not) to stop spreading the good news about Sachi Minowa. You are damaging the soul of our beloved country. The healing will not be so painful if you are silent because in this situation Silence is Golden.

May the force be with you Sachi.

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Dennis Eroa

Columnist at Sports Bytes PH

After 25 years of working with the Inquirer Group of Companies, Dennis decided to make an early retirement due to the pandemic. Formerly a college editor of UE’s The Dawn, Dennis learned the craft from the country’s leading chroniclers of sports namely Recah Trinidad, Al Mendoza,Jimmy Cantor, Chito Manuel and the late Larry Galvez, Doc Inigo and Tito Tagle. In the early 90s, Dennis became a section editor of Riyadh Daily, Saudi Arabia’s first English newspaper. He is an active member and officer of the Philippine Sportswriters Association, Tabloids Organization in Philippines and the Sports Communicators Organization in the Philippines, He covered local and international sporting events while working at Sports Flash, Malaya, Headline, Evening Standard, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Libre and Bandera.