Jolas Fan’s Wish Comes True

For as long as he could remember Marte Sta. Cruz has always wanted to meet his basketball hero Jojo Lastimosa of the Alaska Aces in person.

That wish finally came true after the TV program Wish Ko Lang granted his fondest desire when program officials arranged from him to attend the practice game of the Alaska Aces against the Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants at the Reyes Gym.

“Sobrang tuwa ko talaga. Kasi noong first time ako manood at saka makita ko si Jojo Lastimosa sa PBA malayo siya sa amin sa stands. Kaya iba talaga ang pakiramdam ko ng noong makita ko siya at magkausap kami,” said Marte.

(I was so happy when I finally met him. When I first saw Jojo Lastimosa while watching a PBA game I was far away in the stands. It was really a different feeling when I met him up close and even got to talk to him.)

Marte talked lengthily with Jolas who also introduced him to the other Alaska Aces. Marte then watched the practice game from the Alaska bench.

Wish Ko Lang grants the fondest wish of ordinary people. All they have to do is write a letter to Vicky Morales of GMA 7 detailing their greatest desire. If they are lucky enough to be chosen then GMA 7 makes sure that their wish comes true.

The gift from GMA 7 comes as a welcome blessing for Marte, 34, who lost his left foot when the LRT Recto station was bombed in 1997. Wife, Shirley, 31, says Marte was hospitalized at the Jose R. Reyes Memorial Hospital in Manila for two months after the LRT bombing in 1997.

“Sa hospital meron siyang poster sa likod niya ni Jolas. Lungkot na lungkot siya. Halos ma depress na siya. Ayaw niyang magpa interview. Sabi niya kay Jolas lang siya makikipag-usap,” said Shirley.

(He had a poster on the wall behind his bed in the hospital. He was very sad and almost went into depression. He did not want to be interviewed by anyone. He said he would talk only to Jolas.)

“Napansin noong isang doktor ang poster. Sabi ng doktor: ‘Imbes na santo ang inilagay mo si Jolas ang nasa likod mo. Maka-Jolas ka ba?’ Iyong doktor maka-Ginebra pala. Sinupladuhan pa siya ng doctor dahil maka-Ginebra nga at maka-Alaska ang asawa ko,” said Shirley.

(One of the doctors noticed the poster. The doctor said: Instead of a saint you have Jolas behind you. Are you a fan of Jolas? It turned out that the doctor was a Ginebra fan. My husband thought the doctor, who was a Ginebra fan, was indifferent to him because he was an Alaska fan.)

Shirley said the biggest disappointment of her husband was that he was unable to play basketball the way he used to after he lost his foot.

“Iyon talaga ang iniiyak niya. Hindi na siya makakapagbasketball. Ang tawag nga sa kanya ng mga barkada niya The Maker dahil magaling siyang magbasketball. Sabi ng mga kaibigan niya nakaka 30 points siya sa isang laro noong hindi pa siya napuputulan ng paa,” said Shirley.

(His biggest disappointment after losing his foot was not being able to play basketball. His friends used to call him The Maker because he was a good basketball player. They said he usually scored 30 points a game before he lost his foot.)

Marte was 20 years old when he lost his left foot in 1997. He however did not lose hope. Life goes on. Marte and Shirley were married in 2000 and now have three children: Art Angel, Allen Carl and Arci Al. Their computer shop Arci Art Allen Computer Shop is doing good business in Valenzuela.

“Nagbusiness na lang kami. Meron kaming computer shop sa Valenzuela, Bulacan. Nagsimula lang sa loob ng bahay namin. Isang family computer muna. Naging play station. Naging Sega. Dati nasa looban lang kami ng barangay. Ngayon nasa labas na kami. Noong una ayaw nga ipa-rent sa amin ang puwesto dahil malulugi lang daw ang computer shop. Ngayon seven years na ang computer shop namin. Nagsimula kami sa bagong lugar namin with six computers. Ngayon 14 na,” said Shirley.

(We went into business. We have a computer shop in Valenzuela, Bulacan. We started the business inside our house. We started with one family computer. Then we added a playstation. Then Sega. We started in our house at the interior of our barangay. Today it is along the main road. At first the owner of the building would not rent us the space because computer shops usually go out of business. That was seven years ago.. We started with six computers. Now we have 14.)

Marte and Shirley take turns manning the shop which opens in the morning and operates until past midnight. Shirley opens the shop in the morning and stays until 4 p.m. Marte takes over and closes the shop past midnight.

Marte was lucky enough to have his wish to spend a day with Jolas and the Alaska Aces granted by GMA 7. Jolas also promised to bring him and his family to the first Alaska game this coming PBA Philippine Cup.

The greatest adversities and hardships test and ultimately mold our character. It is up to us to find strength to overcome such trials. For Marte, he found such strength in his love for basketball and his admiration for Jojo Lastimosa and the Alaska Aces.

Marte has learned that as long as you do not give up on life and persevere despite the greatest hardship and trials, dreams and wishes do eventually come true.