It has been a long time coming, but legendary football coach Hans-Peter Smit is just one step away from being granted citizenship in the Republic of the Philippines.
Courtesy of Senator Pia Cayetano’s Senate Bill No. 2711 and its counterpart in the House of Representatives, House Bill No. 5560 authored by Congressmen Niel Tupas Jr., Lino Cayetano and Rodolfo Albano Jr., Smit only needs to accomplish his Oath of Allegiance to formally become a Filipino citizen. Once the long-time La Salle coach accomplishes this, a Certificate of Naturalization shall be given to him and the Republic Act will be effective immediately once it is published in two broadsheets.
Originally an Indonesian citizen, this forthcoming law is one which shall allow Smit to disregard the numerous bureaucratic he had to go through as Permanent Resident. Described by Sen. Cayetano as an “icon in Philippine football” in her sponsorship speech, Smit can be formally made a Filipino before the end of incumbent President Noynoy Aquino’s term by June 30, 2016.
In a social media post, Smit was elated with the outcome and thanked the multiple personalities who aided him in his quest to become a Filipino as well as appreciated his former players, relatives, friends and acquaintances in the Philippine football community.
“Thank you Lord for giving me the strength and energy to continue and pursue this milestone in my life! I know that You have wanted me to do this way back when! Finally, I would just like to say ‘PINOY AKO!,'” Smit stated at the end of his post.
For his service to Philippine football, this endowment of Philippine citizenship to Smit is arguably the least the man deserved. As a Filipino citizen, Smit can now focus on football and he wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.
