On the first tee

More than 17 years ago, I first heard my name announced in a manner that continues to scare me…”On the tee, Nimrod Quiñones!”

The first time I heard that line, it was no less than Taby Tabaniag, who made the announcement on the first tee of the Iloilo Golf and Country Club.

Later, he asked me to call him Uncle Taby as I got hooked on the game and tried to learn much more about it.

I still get a little nervous each time my name is announced by the starter, but many times I have also been assured by other players, including professional golfers, that the announcement is scary to them too.

Today, I officially march on to something that is not totally new. Despite that, like playing in a tournament in your home course, you still feel the tension when you are called to tee off.

I’ll still be a sports journalist and will continue to write for The Freeman where much of what I am now has been molded.

Well, it’s goodbye to the daily grind in the newspaper business, but not farewell to the profession that I love so much.

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Sweeping all its assignments in the elimination round of the CESAFI basketball tournament secondary division is just one of the most recent athletic feats of Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu.

The school has also proven to be a major force in the Milo Little Olympics and has students winning in various tournaments here and other parts of the country.

Having seen how the school has transformed itself from a whipping boy to a sports power, I believe that a major ingredient in the mix has been the support of the parents.

No matter what the school does to improve its facilities and hire people to help run programs, the cooperation of the parents remains a key factor to make things happen.

Many years ago, we formed the SHS-Jesuit Football Club at the field inside the Cebu Business Park.

It proved to be one of the events that led to this recent development of the school. Among those who formed the football club Rico Navarro (yes, our Sunday columnist here), is now the school’s athletic director.

Now, I see many more parents getting involved in sports doing various chores from driving their children to practices, helping organize practices and events, to other thankless chores that need to be done.

In my family, I used to play that role, but recently, even my wife is now involved taking care of picking our son up from football practice that finishes late in the afternoon.

Hurray to the parents and of course also to the Magis Eagles!

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MILESTONES: Belated happy birthday greetings to my classmate Amy Gabutan-Encontro, who turned a year older yesterday.

Today’s greetings go to top-notch designer and my wife’s close friend Cary Santiago, Regina Encarnacion-Sitoy, and Celinna Manapat-Yu, wife of my foster son 1Lt Paul Ryan Yu of the Air Force.

Advance greetings to those celebrating tomorrow like Floydith Soon and sporting dad Tony del Prado.

Happy 2nd anniversary also to Fr. Landz Pizza

More power to all of you!