Zero to Hero: Trisha Tubu's art of remembering what matters most
Date Posted: March 9, 2023 at 04:33 PM
Lady Falcons’ rookie Trisha Tubu has been making noise in her debut season in the UAAP, posting eye-popping stat lines while leading her team as one of the favorites to be in the tournament’s Final Four.
However, her on-court brilliance did not just endear her to volleyball fans, but also gained her critics, mostly on social media.
In an interview with The Adamson News this March 7, Trisha revealed that she was well aware of the comments about her -- the good and the bad.
“Actually, lahat po ng social media platforms na may nakapost about sa akin, binabasa ko lahat yun isa-isa. Kahit mahigit 1000 pa yung comments na nandyan, iniisa-isa ko. At the same time, ang dami ring nagmemessage [of support] sa akin. Isa-isa ko rin silang nirereplyan, nagpapa-thank you,” she said.
The rookie out of Concepcion, Tarlac, though, iterated that the criticisms does not bother her, but instead motivates her to be better.
“Sanay naman na po ako kasi meron na talagang ilan-ilan kahit noong high school pa ako. Bago ako pumasok sa college [sports scene] inisip ko na talaga kung anong mga pwedeng sabihin ng tao. Hindi ko lang po tinrain yung katawan ko, tinrain ko na rin po yung mindset and emotional strength ko, especially kung paano ko magcocope up,” she explained.
“Tsaka alam ko naman na pag naapektuhan ko sa mga comments, ako lang din and yung team ang mahihirapan. Ngayon, parang wala na talaga sakin yung mga yun. Mas napupush pa ako lalo na may mga supporters din ako na lagi akong sinasabihang nasa likod ko lang sila, which is ang sarap din sa feeling kahit ‘di kami personally magkakilala.”
Not something new
Further elaborating her situation, Trisha shared she had worse experience than the bashing she receives in social media.
She also mentioned that she already knew back in high school that she would be subject of negative comments, which initially prompted her to think twice about moving up to college. She eventually accepted it and chose to continue building on her mental toughness in and out of the volleyball court.
But despite keeping a strong disposition amid all accusations being thrown at her, the former Baby Lady Falcon admitted that it nearly got the best of her during the UAAP bubble season.
The 5-foot-8 spiker revealed that she initially lost her passion for volleyball back then due to fear of criticism, which then prompted her to go back to her province and skip UAAP 84.
“May time na umalis na ako dahil natakot ako sa mga sasabihin ng mga tao, halo-halo na yung pressure, homesick and yung takot. Parang hindi pa ako ready [so] umalis ako,” she recalled.
And as she reflected on her situation during her hiatus, she eventually decided to confront her fear and return to Adamson, even nixing suggestions of turning pro.
With this, Trisha admitted that she has learned to adjust her own affairs in favor of others, especially when outside of familiar territories – actions showing development on her perspective of her situation.
Trisha also expressed gratitude to her family, teammates, coaching staff and fans who have been with her in her career and where she stands today.
The former Palarong Pambansa standout then went back to why she decided to suit up for AdU’s blue and white, saying Adamson’s welcoming klasmeyt culture has become a refuge and an inspiration for her.
“Pinili ko rin po ang Adamson kasi gusto ko yung pag dumating yung time na nasa taas na [ang team], masasabi kong part ako noon. Masarap sa feeling yung galing ka sa zero tapos aangat ka,” she added.
Trisha was a member of the Baby Lady Falcons team that gave AdU its maiden UAAP Girls’ Volleyball championship appearance.
Falcons “Rise as One”
Trisha also encouraged her klasmeyts to remain steadfast amid the prejudice that the community has received lately on the issue involving John Matthew Salilig, an AdU Chemistry student who has passed away due to alleged fraternity hazing.
“[As someone who has frequently experienced prejudice and discrimination upfront, I can say] nasa sarili na lang din po siguro on how to deal with the situation kasi kung magpapaapekto ka, ikaw din yung mahihirapan. Tsaka in the first place, tayo yung gumagawa ng kung anong meron tayo ngayon and how we approach things,” she said.
“Kasi sa akin po, wala namang magagawa ang mga side comments [of those who are not members of the community] at tayo pa rin yung gagawa ng path natin.”
Trisha also shared her own approach to dealing with people with negative comments and behavior towards her.
“Ang ginagawa ko na lang doon is hinahanapan ko po ng positive side. Kung may masasabi man sila sa akin, iniisip ko kung bakit ganon silang tumingin – na baka meron silang nakikita na pwede kong maging motivation na mag-grow pa ako.”
“Yung family ko rin po kasi is laging sinasabi sa akin na “be you” -- maging totoo ka lang sa sarili mo and sa mga tao sa paligid mo.”
And as she continues to receive negativity from people around her, Trisha has chosen to take the noble path.
“Lagi ko na lang pong ginagawa sa iba yung gusto ko na gawin nila sa akin. Kung pangit man yung gawin o sabihin nila sa akin, ibabalik ko pa rin nang maganda kasi wala naman din pong mangyayari if ibalik ko sa kanila yung ‘di maganda. Hinahayaan ko na lang talaga since I know God has a purpose for me kung bakit nya ako dinala at binalik dito [sa Adamson].”
“Lagi ko pong pinapagdasal, “God, dinala mo ako dito, I know na hindi mo ako ipapahiya, hindi mo ako sasaktan kaya ikaw na ang bahala.” Ganun po yung prayer ko na everything has its purpose kaya yung mga nangyayaring ‘to, there will come a time na everything will turn out for the best, and how it is supposed to be.”
