Time for sports

It was a holiday last Monday, but there was work for several staff of the Cebu City Sports Commission as it was also the opening of the Grassroots Sports Development Program.

Although there were many hitches as most were still in the holiday mode, but several volunteer trainers showed up and so did many of the kids.

I only managed to visit the training centers in Pardo and Labangon to talk to the volunteer judo coaches from the University of Cebu.

Since I was wearing my CCSC shirt, I was also given an instant task of delivering an inspirational message at the Labangon Elementary School. I hope I did the job just right.

The judo coaches will be teaching falling techniques to the kids involved in the grassroots program.

This way, the children, who get involved in sports, would know how to protect themselves when they trip or fall. Some of the barangay leaders, parents, and teachers, who were in Labangon, saw the short demo that was presented and realized the importance of proper techniques when falling.

This is the first time that judo, a Japanese martial art, is introduced in the grassroots level in many barangays around Cebu City. There is still much that can be desired, but we have to start somewhere.

* * *

It is always heartwarming to see not only enthusiastic children, but also parents at the sports programs being offered this school break.

I spent a few moments the past few days at the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu to watch some of the action going on in the sports programs for children.

One thing that has brought me back to my daily activity just like in many school breaks in the past is the fact that my son has once again joined the football program.

I was just one of many enthusiastic parents in the crowd. Since my son is not anymore a small kid, who needs to have somebody around to help him out, the few minutes I spent at the football field allowed me to see and appreciate what the other parents are doing for their children.

It started this way for me and my son 11 years ago when he first enrolled in a football training program with coach Glen Ramos.

Being a sporting parent is not all joy and it takes a lot of sacrifice to wake up early morning and take them to the training venue and to see them try to do their best and sometimes fall short of our expectations.

I have been around quite long to know that it is bad to put too much pressure on the kid unless we believe he or she has a chance to turn professional or become a part of the national team.

Let us allow our children to enjoy sports as this will also help us enjoy it more.

* * *

MILESTONES: Happy birthday greetings to a man, who many of us cousins look up to as our second father. His buddies in the now defunct Philippine Constabulary call him JunQuin. Some of his siblings and cousins call him Ambo. But to us, he is our Tatay, Cipriano Frasco Quiñones, Jr., younger brother of my father.

The same goes to The FREEMAN’s Edizza Jaca-Wenceslao and to Bernel Lebumfacil Nery.

Advance greetings to my fellow sporting dad Kenneth Tan, Sarah Mae Enclona, Jennifer Ramos, and Nova Noval, who are celebrating tomorrow.

More power to all of you! - THE FREEMAN