In a shocking revelation, former Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) courtside reporter Ira Pablo has opened up about the body discrimination she experienced during her brief stint as a reporter, leading to the abrupt end of what she described as her “childhood dream.”
Pablo, daughter of PBA legend Victor Pablo, shared her painful experience, highlighting the impact of weight-based discrimination in sports media.
Ira Pablo had long harbored the dream of working as a PBA courtside reporter, a passion she developed early on while watching her father play in the league. In 2022, after years of hard work and experience, that dream came true when she was hired as a sports correspondent and courtside reporter for the PBA’s 47th season.
Pablo had already built a solid foundation in sports journalism, having started her career covering National University (NU) in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP). Her transition to the PBA was a significant career milestone and a personal victory.
However, after covering just 10 games, Pablo’s tenure as a PBA reporter abruptly ended. She was replaced without any formal explanation from the network. “I was wondering why the next conference had started already but I still didn’t have a schedule,” Pablo recalled. Despite her efforts to seek clarification, she was met with silence from management.
It wasn’t until friends from within the network revealed the heartbreaking truth: her weight, or more specifically, her plus-sized figure, had been the reason behind her dismissal. Pablo revealed that her exclusion was allegedly the decision of a female network executive who did not want plus-sized reporters covering PBA games.
In a heartfelt post shared on social media, Pablo expressed her frustration and disappointment. “Sharing something I wish I had the courage to share two years ago - I became a PBA courtside reporter, then I was fired because I was ‘fat,’” she wrote.
Pablo went on to recount how her childhood dream had finally come true when she was chosen to report for the PBA after years of gaining experience in sports reporting. However, the joy of achieving her goal was short-lived when she was unceremoniously replaced without warning.
“But after covering just about 10 PBA games, all of a sudden, I had no more assigned games. I was wondering why the next conference had started already but I still didn’t have a schedule,” Pablo said. “They held auditions for new PBA reporters, but I had no idea or even just a heads up from the management or network that I would be replaced.”
According to Pablo, it was a male executive who brought her into the PBA, but a female executive who decided to let her go. “Some members of the production finally had the discretion to tell me what was really going on - the head of the network, who is a female, didn’t want a lot of plus-sized girls as reporters for PBA. In short, body type became the basis.”
Pablo’s experience serves as a sobering reminder of the challenges many women, particularly those in media, face when it comes to appearance-based discrimination. While professional capabilities and expertise should be the standard by which reporters are judged, Pablo’s story highlights how body image and societal standards often play an unfair role in employment decisions.
“I was not informed that a 25-inch waistline is a requirement to cover the PBA; I thought it was all about sportscasting skills,” Pablo said, expressing her frustration at being judged for her physical appearance rather than her ability to do the job. Despite the setback, she remains determined to continue her career and build opportunities for herself.
"I was not informed that a 25-inch waistline is a requirement to cover the PBA."
— Rappler (@rapplerdotcom) October 16, 2024
Former PBA courtside reporter Ira Pablo said she got unceremoniously laid off from her job two years ago due to her body size.
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“I owe this post to my younger self - that worked so hard to gather as many sportscasting experiences as she can so that one day she will be ready to report for the most elite local basketball league,” Pablo wrote. She also expressed her belief that one’s worth isn’t measured in pounds but in their ability to create opportunities despite rejection and discrimination.
“Just believe in yourself, learn from your experiences, and let your magic take you to places,” she concluded.
Pablo’s story underscores the importance of addressing body image discrimination, particularly in industries where appearance is often unfairly prioritized over skill and talent. Her courage in speaking out sheds light on the need for more inclusive standards within media organizations, especially in sports broadcasting, where women are frequently subject to unrealistic beauty standards.
This kind of discrimination is not only harmful on a personal level but also perpetuates toxic norms that can discourage other women from pursuing their dreams, particularly in male-dominated fields like sports journalism. It’s crucial for media networks to evaluate talent based on skill, knowledge, and passion for the job, rather than succumbing to shallow criteria like appearance.
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