Basketball player Justin Brownlee took his oath of allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines on Monday, January 16, in front of Sen. Francis Tolentino, the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Human Rights and Justice.
The oath-taking ceremony happened less than 24 hours after Brownlee won his sixth PBA championship with Brgy. Ginebra.
"This experience has been unbelievable for me and such a blessing. I am really just thankful and honored to be here in front of you guys and just being a citizen of the Philippines. You know, it means the world to me" Brownlee said after the oath-taking ceremony.
"Since I came to this country, I've gotten a lot of love from the fans, from just people walking down the street or anything. A lot of people show a lot of love and I am very appreciative of that," he added.
The three-time PBA Best Import of the Conference registered 34 points and 12 rebounds to lead Ginebra to a 114-99 victory against Bay Area Dragons in Game Seven of the 2022-2023 Commissioner's Cup at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.
Last Thursday, January 12, Tolentino revealed that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed Republic Act 11937, which grants Filipino citizenship to Brownlee.
Senators Christopher 'Bong' Go and JV Ejercito gave a copy of RA 11937 to Brownlee after he swore his oath of allegiance.
Once Brownlee receives his Filipino passport, the basketball player can represent the Philippines in international tournaments, including the upcoming 2023 FIBA World Cup.
"I am just very honored, blessed, to be a Filipino, and represent the country in the right way, and show that Filipino pride to the world, on the international stage for basketball," Brownlee said.
Philippines, Indonesia, and Japan will co-host the 19th edition of the quadrennial tournament, which will run from August 25 to September 10.
In an earlier statement, Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Al Panlilio expressed his gratitude for the naturalization of Brownlee.
"It is with much gratitude that the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, led by our Chairman Emeritus Manny V. Pangilinan, welcomes the naturalization of Justin Brownlee in time for the sixth window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Asian Qualifiers next month," Panlilio said in a statement.
"The SBP wishes to thank profoundly the President for signing into law Republic Act 11937. We also are grateful to the Senate, through Sen. Francis Tolentino, chairman of the Committee on Justice and Human Rights, and the House of Representatives, through Rep. Juliet Marie de Leon Ferrer, chairman of the Committee on Justice, for their invaluable support in passing the legislative act," he added.
