Former sports superstar now a call center agent
By Juan Dela Cruz

A curious bit of news from my "people stalking the night" caught my attention because it doesn't happen very often: a former Philippines basketball superstar known for his scoring prowess and his bad boy image off-court is now working as a HSBC call center agent!. A sports star given a second chance by the BPO sector.

There are so many success stories in call centers here in the Philippines; it is easy to understand why so many are still aspiring to work in it even if the competition is tough and the sacrifices huge. People of my age who I've come to know personally are already Call Center Directors and General Manager and are earning unbelievable salaries. Based on what I've heard, jobs they have pay them at least 180,000 pesos monthly for the most junior roles to as much as 500,000 (A Peso has the same value as an Indian Rupee). But it’s nothing compared to professional basketball franchise players like Paul Alvarez who back in his prime days could be earning a max of 500,000 plus perks plus endorsement deals.  More than a decade ago, Paul was earning millions a year.

No doubt, Paul Alvarez was one of the best scorers in his days. In fact, he was even given the moniker "Mr. Excitement" at that time and his basketball prowess was likened to Michael Jordan of the NBA. He played 10 years here in the pioneer professional basketball league in Asia and helped his team to many championships. His popularity even earned him an opportunity to get a starring role in a local movie along side 2 other popular players at that time. He amassed great wealth due to his well deserved success. His huge mansion which he shared with his now estranged actress wife was even featured on television.

Alas come 2001, his basketball days were coming to an end. Even with his superb scoring talent, he was not helping his team win championships anymore. His multi-million playing contract expired and no other team wanted to pick him up. He then ventured into entrepreneurship by setting up a cargo business which did not work out too well.

In 2003, Paul got accused of adultery when he was caught sleeping with an aspiring-politician businessperson at the latter's home.  However, this didn't get him in jail and the incident was long forgotten. He then disappeared from the lime-light only to resurface in the news when in 2006 he got the chance to play in a minor American professional basketball league with the Pennsylvania Valley Dawgs. His contract expired again and Paul came back home to Philippines.

In 2007, he was in the news again for all the wrong reasons. In a much publicized case, he was arrested after mauling a taxi driver over a fare disagreement. Media reporters were having a field day in the precinct covering this story.  Irritated by the media frenzy, Paul made things worse for himself by attacking a lady-reporter who was covering his story. He was able to post bail and his 2 criminal cases are still pending in court. Two months later, his wife filed a restraining order against him after his behavior often became violent after coming home drunk. They eventually separated and that's the last time we heard of Paul Alvarez.

Over 2 years have past and it seems this fallen superstar has finally gotten back on his feet. The ending of his past troubles never hit the news again. While his contemporaries are now coaches and team managers in the basketball pro league, my source in HSBC confirms he is now working as a call center agent where my source also works. My source couldn't tell me if superstar Paul was now a different man from the inside but he tells me Paul is totally different from the outside. He is put on middle age weight and is a long way from his former macho image. HSBC must really be an equal opportunity employer to have accepted such a person with a tumultuous past life.

Looking at the bigger picture, that's just what call center life is here in the Philippines. For most people, it’s a chance to make it big in life and for some it is a second chance at life.

(Email me news and tips at 1delacruise at gmail dot com)