Rain or shine, Alex is the man

by Robbie Pangilinan

Popular and quite controversial PBA player Alex Crisano does not mind whether the rain is pouring or the sun is shining. He does his act in all kinds of weather, even in the midst of a storm.

After playing for Barangay Ginebra and Red Bull, Crisano expressed interest in being part of the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters as a center. Currently, Rain or Shine has no center player whose body is as powerfully built and whose professional basketball skills are as suitably apt as Crisano’s.

The 6’7” PBA star’s 10-year stint at the country’s professional ball game will be an asset to Rain or Shine, as well as his three- championship experience in the PBA. Crisano, with a perfectly buffed and conditioned body, sound mind and excellent training, believes that he can help the team win a title.

“Rain or Shine would be needing a great spark, and I believe I can give them that,” the man with the superb moves says. Crisano wants to win one more championship before he retires, which is still far in the future.

The New York-born Crisano is friends with Rain or Shine’s Fil-Am players, guard Sol Mercado and guard/forward Gabe Norwood, who are both shorter in height than the towering Crisano. The three Am-boys can easily be the local counterpart of Miami Heat’s dream team of LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh. The three NBA stars have been called the power trio, probably the most powerful in the history of the NBA. James, Wade and Bosh were teammates in the Beijing Olympics who took home gold medals for the US.

“We can be the PBA’s dream team,” Crisano says, comparing himself to the five-time NBA All-Star Bosh who remains to be Toronto’s all-time leader in points, rebounds, blocks, double doubles, free throws and minutes played. Both Crisano and Bosh also have a big heart for people in need. Bosh founded his Chris Bosh Foundation for the youth in Dallas and Toronto, while Crisano helps a foundation for street children.

Lately, Crisano is seen with boxing icons Manny Pacquiao and Gerry Peñalosa. Many speculate that he is already going into boxing and leaving basketball. Early this year, it was reported that the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) offered him to join the national team as a heavyweight boxer but Alex wanted to stay in basketball then. He says he might go into boxing if he did not get back to the PBA this season.

“Gerry is my Rocky Balboa. He is a legend. I idolize him because he is a humble and funny guy like me. We are both entertainers,” Crisano shares. Of course, he looks up to Manny Pacquiao, the pound-for-pound king, and would want to be part of the People’s Champ entourage. The three are considered sports icons, sharing the same principles in life. #

Coseteng: Wife, Mother, Servant

By Robbie Pangilinan

She has one of the loveliest faces in Philippine politics today, and she is loved by her constituents, having been reelected city councillor of the 2nd district of Valenzuela. But, the love that Kate Abigael Galang Coseteng treasures most is from her family—husband Julian who is also a public servant, and son Ryan who is 2 and a half years old.

Kate finds being a public servant and being a parent similar in the sense that she needs to please both her son and constituents and in the same breath, there are times when she needs to make the painful decision to say “no”.

“Being in public service is more difficult than parenting because I have to deal with different kinds of people with different needs and wants,” the 29-year-old mother and councillor says.

Having a Business Administration Major in Management degree has been trained Kate to practice proper time management between her personal and professional life. Because she and Julian were already in public office before they got married, they did not feel much change in their lives besides the fact that Kate missed her husband and son terribly during this election’s campaign period. Julian ran in another city and Ryan was too young to join his parents in the campaign. Kate made a promise that she would spend more time with them after the elections, and over the next few years.

“I intend to devote as much quality time as possible with my family without taking time away from my duties, obligations and commitments to my constituents,” the former model vows.

Quality time for Julian and Kate means watching movies at home or in the theater. “We also enjoy going to the mall and shopping together whenever we can afford it,” Kate shares. Travelling is another of the couple’s favorites. “We like Baguio, Boracay and Cebu. As a couple, we enjoy visits to the States and Hong Kong whenever we can. Ryan’s still too young to travel that far,” the Tarlac-born official says.

The young parents love playing and spending time with Ryan who had just started schooling. They also make it a point to spend time with their different sets of friends, and of course, their extended families. Julian is the son of former Senator Nikki Coseteng while Kate is the great-granddaughter of a Pampanga mayor who served for 20 years.

Kate and Julian were both members of the National Movement for Young Legislators and this is where they met. Kate was Secretary General and Julian was chairman. But the pretty councilor’s parents were very strict and she was not allowed to go out without a chaperone. “I turned him down several times but he was so persistent. He followed me to Cebu, to Bohol and to Boracay,” Kate discloses. Julian actually courted Kate’s whole family and his persistence and determination paid off when Kate said yes. They got married on May 28, 2007.

Kate and Julian may have little fights at times, but Julian’s firm resolve always smoothens out the rough spots. Kate admits that Julian always says that he will not allow her to break up with him. This firm resolve is one of the many reasons why Kate is very much in love with her husband.

As for Ryan, Kate thinks he still may be too young to pick up life lessons, but the young mother looks forward to teaching him to treat people nicely and with respect, and to be accepting of each person who comes his way.

With the humbling experiences she has had in public service, the strong support system from her family and friends, and with Julian beside her all the way, Kate is sure that Ryan will grow up as a fine gentleman. For now, she is just basking in the innocent love she gets from him. #