The field of dreams

August 9, 2009 will become a very important day for sports in Cebu.

That is because the Aboitiz Sports Field will officially open its doors on this day in Subangdaku, Mandaue City.

What does this mean for Cebu sports? I believe, this means a lot.

First, the field which is touted as the home of the Aboitiz Cup Football Tournament, which will be opening its 12th edition also on August 9, will not only be the venue for this annual event.

It is also a field that can accommodate other events like the international rugby matches held a few months ago and more outdoor events that probably only the limits of our imagination can stop us.

While this field has actually been operating for several months now, the formal opening is set next month yet and they have also added facilities like showers and bleachers that would make playing at the Aboitiz Field a more pleasant experience.

I am hopeful that as the years would go by, this facility will develop into a major sporting hub complete with commercial facilities that would become a haven for hardcore athletes and sports enthusiasts alike.

That might be something too far ahead, but as I wrote above, only our imagination can stop us.

Now that we have this field we can start seeing our dreams become a reality.

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Since we are in the subject of dreams, there is actually one dreamer who uses the Aboitiz Sports Field to make his dreams happen – Jesse Bernad of Fastball Batting Cages.

Jesse’s dream is for the people of Cebu to enjoy baseball and I’m sure there have been very rough times for his business owing to the fact that batted sports don’t really have that big a following yet, but slowly people are realizing how much fun there is in hitting balls using bats and catching them using leather gloves.

Jesse said that he hopes to take after the movie Field of Dreams. “If you build it, they will come,” he said when he first brought up to me his idea of opening the batting facility.

Now with the formal opening of the field, I’m sure this will also help push the interest of people to baseball and softball.

I do know of many wanting to play but are just too shy to try. The batting cages actually can help that become a reality for you as it helps hone the coordination of your eyes and hands.

Well, just try it if you want and you won’t regret it.

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MILESTONES: Belated birthday greetings to Globe’s Deenah Rose Rotea, who turned a year older yesterday as well to Edeliz Lingaro, Joy Siguenza and Mary Grace Avila-Abad.

Today’s happy birthday greetings go to Rhia de Pablo, Didit Fernandez and to our high school class valedictorian, Dr. Sharon Rose Aliño Hormacheulos-Santos.

More power to all of you!