A miracle begins with a single kick

MANILA, Philippines - On March 12, 10 teenagers flew to Durban, South Africa to represent the Philippines in the Deloitte Street Child World Cup (SCWC), a sideline event to the main World Cup. But these are not children from elite schools or wealthy families. This is a team composed of former and current street children.

The Philippines is one of eight countries chosen by the Amos Trust (UK) to take part in this unique seven-a-side football competition slated from March 15 to 23 in South Africa.

The team will play against other street children from India, South Africa, Tanzania, Brazil, Nicaragua, the United Kingdom and Ukraine.

A Day In The Life Of A Street Child

The Philippine Miracle Team’s journey does not start in South Africa. It actually started in the streets of Tondo and Payatas.

Take for instance the plight of 15-year-old Roberto Orlandez who lives in a rusty container van, which he calls home.

“Life is hard. At a young age, we had to work hard to have a filling meal,” shares Roberto. “Playing futkal (football sa kalye) after a hard day’s work is the only thing that reminds us we’re still children.”

For Roberto, every day is a struggle. The name of the game is survival. Violence haunts them every day.

All the kids who make up the Philippine Street Child Miracle Team have known abuse, neglect, abandonment or bereavement. They grow old before they have a chance at childhood. For some of them being alive is a miracle in itself.

Most of them have made the right choice in trusting strangers, who genuinely care for them. Some have found a second home in Tuloy sa Don Bosco and the Nayon ng Kabataan.

Rhythm Of The Streets

Most street children come from abusive families. And so they only have two choices: they can stay in that family and be abused; or stand on their own two feet and survive on the streets.

“In working with these street children, what I discovered is that some of them are more intelligent than children their own age. The only difference is that they are not given the same opportunities like normal kids,” says Craig Burrows, who co-manages the Philippine Street Child Miracle Team with Ed Formoso.

For years, the Henry V. Moran Foundation (THVMF) has been working with various orphanages around the country in providing free football training to their wards.

“THVMF even hired coaches to train these kids to learn and appreciate football. Well, that’s just one of the things the foundation is doing. Together, we want people to know that these street children need opportunities. They don’t just need a handout. They need a hand up,” Craig adds.

The Deloitte Street Child World Cup provides a platform for the rights of the street children to be heard. And so, THVMF is sending a team to represent the Philippines in the prestigious competition.

“We believe that the Deloitte Street Child World Cup is a great opportunity for our street children to showcase their potential. It will also provide a platform to tell their stories to policy makers and to worldwide media. We want the rights of the street children to be recognized and upheld,” notes Peter Moran of THVMF.

On The Road To Success

Members of the Philippine Street Child Miracle Team have been chosen from several “Pinoy Futbol Festivals” held last year, which were organized by Formoso with funding from THVMF.

The 2008 Melbourne Homeless World Cup team members, namely JayR de Jesus, Jeffrey Solis and Kevin Logioy, selected the best players from those festivals. The three also served as trainers and assistant coaches initially and finally named the SCWC Team on Dec. 12, 2009.

In simple rites at Max’s restaurant, the team was formed and coach Jess Landagan, appointed head coach.

The Philippine Miracle Team is composed of Blueshark Gaerlan (defense), Tuloy sa Don Bosco’s Erica Mae Inocencio (captain), Ladylyn Ampe (striker), Noriel Pineones (midfield), Mario Titoy and Raymond Elona (wings), Jayson Simangan (defense), Roberto Orlandez Jr. (goalie) and Lorelyn Cabanayan (striker). Jonah is not traveling. Gerry Boy Joaquino is the team reserve.

The team practiced for more than two months in Nayon ng Kabataan/DSWD, La Salle Green Hills and Tuloy sa Don Bosco Street Children Village.

The team’s airfare was provided by the Angus Lawson Memorial Trust (ALMT). Additional funding came from Damian Dunn of Deutsche Bank Knowledge Service.

“Deutsche Knowledge Services (DKS), the professional service center of the Deutsche Bank Group based in the Philippines, is supporting the Philippine Team for the international competition, consistent with its corporate social responsibility program, specifically in creating opportunities for marginalized communities,” says Dunn.

Chris Sullivan, DKS chief executive officer, adds: “Supporting the Philippine Team for the Street Children World Cup is important in bringing the children closer to their aspiration of alleviating their condition, empowering them, while bringing lots of hope and inspiration to the rest of the Filipino youth.”

Derek Page of UK Department of Trade and Industry gave strong support by bringing in Mitre, which provided the team with uniforms. “Mitre is proud to sponsor the Philippine team in the Deloitte Street Children’s World Cup and believe that the sport is a positive influence on all their future well-being,” Page says. 

One of the players, Blue Shark, also called John, saw this football tournament reunite him with his mother Erlinda, whom he had not seen for more than a year after he ran away from home.

“Nung nakasali na po ako sa team, pinahanap ko po yung nanay ko. Nakuha ni coach ‘yung number tapos pinuntahan niya sa pinagtatrabuhan niya. Pinapunta po sa Tuloy sa Don Bosco,” he relates.

Coach Jess Landagan, a former street boy, leads the team by example. “When I was seven, I slept on the streets and spent my days collecting trash to help my parents earn money. One day, a priest at Don Bosco saw me and invited me to attend some of the classes they were offering. He introduced me to football and it was through that sport that I got an education and work,” shares coach Jess.

The Philippine Miracle Team is now in South Africa to carry not their own dreams but also those of the many ninongs and ninangs who supported this project of THVMF. They are Freddy Gonzalez, Damian and Laura Dunn, Monchu Garcia, Mike Camahort, Marissa Concepcion, Sarah Mcleod, Sandy Moran, Manuel de Jesus, Fernando Pena, Robs Delfino, Inaki Alvarez, Carla Ramsey, Stephen Davis, Dolores Cheng, Dicky and Cathy Rivilla, Miles Roces, the Football Alliance Group, Stone Baptist Church, Manny Pacquiao, Danny Moran, Chris and Natalie Pickering, Anton Cancio, Angela Zalamea, Libet Virata, Camille Samson, Ane Preysler, Tess Maquera, Elizabeth Silverio, John Harton, Elizabeth Kramer, Mitzi Olondriz, John Tiong, Rene Godinez, Tetta Matera, Simon Paterno, Cecilia Suarez, Ina Ayala, Angela Padilla, Emilia Vorbeck, Georges Ramirez, Poch and Mitos Camahort, Paul Atherton, Brendan Hughes, Tristan Eugenio, Globe, Mike Moran, Melinda Quimson, Christopher Gaston, Rhona Macasaet, Chris and Linds Boughton, Rhett Eala, Smart, Kevin and Roseanne Belmonte, Gigi Perrett, Unilever, Lizette and Mikey Cojuangco, Pedro and Gina Roxas, Grace Alcid, Hans and Regina Sicat, Annie Ayllon, Rotary Street Children Foundation, Karen Batungbacal, Springboard Foundation, Deloitte, Whitehouse Scientific, Amos Trust, Bayanihan National Dance Co., Asian Students Christian Foundation and Tesoro’s.

 “When I was on the street, I did not have any dreams for myself because I thought nothing would happen to my life. But now, I’ve learned to dream big — to finish college and get employed,” says team captain Erica Mae, 15. “If possible, I also want to teach football to street children as a sign of gratitude. My first kick is dedicated to my fellow street children. I hope they, too, will find good benefactors like us.”