For the first time in a long while, the images of local athletes are honored in Taguig's famed Tenement basketball court, instead of an international hoop legend.
On Friday, faces of Filipino Olympians Hidilyn Diaz, Nesthy Petecio, Carlo Paalam and Eumir Marcial filled the massive court, as painted by the group Tenement Visual Artists (TVA) who said they wanted to honor the Philippines' best finish ever at the recently concluded Tokyo Olympics.
Weighlifter Diaz won the Philippines its first ever gold. Boxers Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam each took home a silver, while another boxer Eumir Marcial secured a bronze.
"Naging Tradisyon na sa Tenement Court na ipinta ang mga atletang basketbolista dahil mahihilig [kami] sa basketball. Pero sinubaybayan din namin ang naging resulta ng Tokyo Olympics at nabigyan [kami ng] inspirasyon na handugan din sila nito," Jerry Gabo, the head of TVA, told reportr.
He said it took them two weeks to pain the entire mural due to intermittent rains.
"Malaking karangalan sa amin na ipagmalaki ang sariling atin, Pinoy Pride. Gusto naming maging ibahagi ang aming talento sa pamamagitan ng pagsaludo sa mga Olympic Atletes natin na nagbigay karangalan sa bansa," Gabo said.
The Tenement court is known for its murals of international athletes Lebron James and Kobe Bryant, regard by the basketball-obsessed nation as two of sports' greatest. The latter perished in 2020 in a helicopter crash alongside his daughter, which TVA honored last year.
This week, residents of Tenement got to witness the unfolding of a mural that portrays a new breed of sports legends that is much closer to home.
Here are more photos:
