Former PBA courtside reporter Ira Pablo has opened up about the body discrimination she experienced, which led to the sudden end of what she describes as her “childhood dream.”
Having gathered the courage to speak up, the daughter of retired basketball star Vic Pablo shared her unfortunate experience while working for the network that covered the league.
“STORYTIME: Sharing something I wish I had the courage to share 2 years ago — I became a PBA courtside reporter, and then I lost my job because I was told I was ‘too heavy,’” she wrote in her lengthy Facebook post on Tuesday.
Pablo, who built her reputation as a courtside reporter for National University in the UAAP before transitioning to the professional league, stated that “a female” was involved in the decision to cut her stint short after just 10 games in Season 47 in 2022.
“After about ten games, my time with the PBA ended. It was a male who got me into the PBA, but it was a female who let me go. It’s disappointing,” she said.
“I was never informed that a 25-inch waistline was a requirement to cover the PBA; I thought sportscasting skills were what mattered.”
Beyond the discrimination she faced, Pablo expressed concerns about professionalism in the workplace, particularly regarding the lack of communication about her situation.
“They held auditions for new PBA reporters without giving me any heads-up from the management or the network about my replacement,” she explained.
It was through her colleagues that she learned the true reason for her exit.
“Some members of the production were finally able to tell me what was REALLY going on — the head of the network, who is a woman, didn’t want to have many plus-sized reporters for the PBA,” she wrote.
“In short, body type became the basis for my exit,” Pablo shared, having had six years of sports reporting experience before being invited to cover the PBA.
Despite the disappointment of losing her dream job, Pablo has made peace with her experience and feels a sense of responsibility to share her story.
“I owe this post to my younger self — who worked hard to gain as much sportscasting experience as possible to prepare for reporting on the most elite local basketball league,” she reflected.
“I owe this post to my current self — to recognize that my worth isn’t measured in pounds, but rather by the opportunities I continue to create for myself, despite facing rejection and discrimination,” Pablo continued.
“I owe this post to my future self — to remind myself that life doesn’t end when things don’t go as planned. Just believe in yourself, learn from your experiences, and let your unique strengths take you to new heights.”
