For the love of our children

CEBU - With on-line games, the PSP, Nintendo DS, Wii, X Box, and a lot more taking much of the time of our children, many parents are finding ways to get their kids away from such electronic devices.

Most schools have policies against bringing these devices, so usually kids spend the weekends playing since parents would not allow them to do so on weekdays.

With theses electronic games taking much of their time, it worries many parents that the kids would develop a sedentary lifestyle since while there is so much action on the electronic screens, there is not much breaking of sweat for the player.

Sports can sometimes take their mind off electronic games, but then they also bring them to the field to play with during their break time. 

I have come across many coaches and parents, who don’t allow the kids to play with such, but then another school of thought says that we should not keep kids away from them since it is one way of making sports more enjoyable.

I believe in the second part, but we must always bear in mind that everything has to be in moderation.

Children enjoy playing the electronic games with their friends as much as they enjoy taking part in sports with their friends. There can be a happy mix, but there must be proper guidance from adults like us.

Just like we, the coaches and other team officials also teach them sportsmanship and proper decorum inside the playing arena.

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While working on this piece last night, I got a surprise visit from an old friend, Boy Andoyo, who used to be the executive director of the Cebu City Sports Commission.

He gave me some information by the 1st metro Cebu Inter-School Basketball Challenge, which opens this morning at the Don Bosco Technology Center gym in Punta Princesa, Cebu City.

The event has ten schools participating in two categories – mini and midget. The tournament is organized by the Talent with Effective Action Makes Work Orderly and Responsive to Leadership Development or simply TEAM WORLD.

DBTC and the office of Vice Mayor Michael Rama are the main backers of the tournament.

Although I am not really a huge basketball buff, I support events where children can develop their sports skills and we parents can show our children how much we love them and care for their well being.

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I received email yesterday from my fellow sporting dad Zen Pastoriza of Campaigns Cebu about the Alta Vista Junior Golf Challenge next week.

The junior golf programs of the various clubs have also been an excellent venue for children to develop their talent and for their parents to bond with them.

It has been some time since I last had a chance to be at the golf course with my son, who has been very busy with school and his guitar, but we always talk about it and look forward to being at the fairways and greens again soon.

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MILESTONES: My bestfriend Christopher Rey M. Tio doesn’t seem to run out of ideas for business ventures, which is not only evident his column in The Freeman’s business section every Friday. Last Thursday, he opened his newest store – Eye Bar – at the second floor of The Walk at the Asiatown IT Park.

Belated birthday greetings go to my cousin Evelyn Quiñones-Aringay who turned a year older the other day. The same goes my brother-in-law Edgar Macaraya, assistant coach of Hapee Toothpaste in the PBL and head coach of the San Sebastian-Recoletos team, who turned a year older yesterday.

Happy birthday to Luisito ‘Chito’ Ramos and Raul Dominguiano, who are both celebrating today.

Tomorrow, my godson Vincent Gabriel Morelos Avanzado turns one year old. He is the son of Dr. Vicente and Grace Avanzado. – THE FREEMAN