Smokey Mountain lot turned into football 'field of dreams'

MANILA, Philippines - The dump, which became the hangout of young drug users in the populated garbage waste disposal area called Smokey Mountain for many years, has now been converted into a field for sports were the dreams of young players can come true.

The 300 members of the Junior Chamber International (JCI) Manila, turned over the 60-meter by 60-meter football field called the “Field of Dreams” to the residents of Smokey Mountain yesterday morning.

The football field is part of the “Futbol para sa Pagasa” program of the JCI Manila, in collaboration with Gawad Kalinga (GK).

The project hopes to be able to help provide a better future for the young members of the Smokey Mountain community in Tondo.

Gino Olivares, who chairs the Dare to C.A.R.E. (Community Awareness and Rehabilitation Effort) program of JCI Manila, said they have heard stories that the idle land used to be a dump filled with rocks and grass.

Olivares said, “We were told that it was a favorite hangout of young drug users, particularly those who are addicted to rugby.” The lives of many of these young adults were reportedly destroyed because of drug addiction.

On the other hand, introducing children aged seven to 17 to sports would help them find a more productive way of spending their time instead of getting hooked on illegal drugs, Olivares said.

JCI Manila believes that the children of Smokey Mountain can have a better future.

In fact, they have heard the stories of some of the young residents, majority of them belonging to poor families, who have succeeded in life by doing well in sports.

“We have heard stories that there are some young residents of Smokey Mountain who have excelled in sports such as baseball and football and they became scholars of universities in Metro Manila such as the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), De La Salle University and Adamson University,” said Olivares.

By coming up with their Field of Dreams, JCI Manila hopes to provide similar opportunities to the young residents of Smokey Mountain.

They hope to develop their talents at a young age so that by the time they reach high school or college, they could avail of sports scholarships offered by many universities.

So far, there have been some 200 kids who have joined the Futbol Para sa Pagasa program.

The Field of Dreams, surrounded by a high net and secured by a gate, can be a practice venue for various sports like football, baseball, frisbee throwing, and kickball.

“We have decided to have a morning and afternoon game practice to complement the school schedule of the kids. Those who go to school in the morning can head straight to the field in the afternoon to play or practice, and vice versa,” the JCI Manila officer added.

The organization also managed to raise funds and found willing sponsors who provided the initial equipment for the players such as footballs, gloves, shoes and even jerseys marked “Smokey.”

Merill Lazo, Futbol Para sa Pagasa project chairman, said they also turned over the Pagasa Sports Center which would serve as the adminis-tration office of the football field. It would also serve as the dugout of the players and coaches.

JCI Manila also installed shower rooms and would soon be putting up lockers where the players can keep their belongings.