Photo credit: Ira Pablo

Ira Pablo, a dedicated sports reporter who grew up dreaming of covering the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), recently opened up about a heartbreaking chapter in her career. In a raw and candid "storytime" post, she shared an experience she wished she had spoken about two years ago: getting dismissed from her job as a PBA courtside reporter because of her body type.

Growing up watching her father play basketball, Ira's passion for the sport was evident from a young age. "Elementary pa lang ako, gusto ko na mag-cover ng PBA," she recalled. She didn't even watch much of the UAAP, where she later gained experience as a collegiate courtside reporter. Her sights were always set on PBA—the league she truly loved. After six years of building up her sportscasting experience, Ira's dream finally came true in 2022 when she was chosen to be a PBA reporter.

But after covering about 10 games, things took a sudden turn. Her name was nowhere to be found on the next conference's schedule. New reporters, with minimal to no basketball reporting experience, began filling the slots, and they all shared a common trait: they were petite. "Wala akong problema with new reporters coming in, pero bakit ako ang nawalan ng trabaho?" she questioned, expressing confusion over the decision.

Eventually, she found out from some production members that the issue wasn’t her skills. It was her body type. A senior executive, who happened to be a woman, allegedly preferred not to have "plus-sized" reporters on the PBA courtside team. For Ira, the revelation was devastating—not just because she lost her dream job, but because it was a case of a woman bringing down another woman. "Men from the sports production team gave me helpful feedback," she said, "pero yung comments ng ibang babae, puro tungkol sa appearance ko—makeup, outfits, kontur para mas maliit ang mukha."

The experience forced her to reflect on the pressures women face in male-dominated fields, where looks sometimes seem to matter more than skills. "Hindi ko alam na requirement pala ang 25-inch waistline para mag-cover sa PBA. Akala ko sportscasting skills ang kailangan," Ira quipped, adding a touch of humor to the hurt.

Despite the setback, Ira took the experience in stride and kept grinding. Today, she earns double—sometimes even triple—what she made in the PBA. "It was a childhood dream for a reason," she reflected. "I was meant to grow up and aim for better things."

Her friend and fellow courtside reporter, Nikki Viola, expressed support by sharing her own experience. Nikki recounted being reminded by a mentor that while the PBA may have been the dream, bigger plans were in store. "Courtside reporter mommas? Pwedeng pwede naman talaga yan!" Nikki added, highlighting the resilience shared by women in the field.

Ira's story is not just a tale of a dream deferred but a powerful reminder that worth isn't defined by body measurements or fleeting opportunities. It's about the drive to keep moving forward, embracing the lessons learned along the way, and knowing that when one door closes, a better one could be waiting just around the corner.

"Bringing another woman down is something girls practice," she wrote, "Real women want to see other women win."