First Runner Up, JVC Open 2005
How time flies!
It seems it was 1991 last year. I still remember my college days in BSU when I started playing badminton – the struggles, the patience and the sacrifices I had to go through to achieve my ambition, all for the love of badminton. During my time it was different from the situation of my players today. I had to work part-time as a tricycle driver in order to have extra money to be able to go to Manila. I would go to RMSC badminton hall and train with the RP Junior Team. I was not really a member of the Junior team, I just worked my way in. I had to befriend the team coach, Coach Polly, so I could train with them. Those days were great! And yes, coach Polly and I have remained good friends. I really had to work hard, be self- reliant because I wanted to learn more about badminton and I wanted to excel in the sport.
I established the club MHPNS (Marcelo H. del Pilar National High School) Badminton Club in 1996. This was my first year in MHPNS as a member of the faculty in Mapeh. I put all my heart in developing kids who had potentials to become future champions in badminton, a sport which is very popular today. Times were hard when my team was starting. I started with only a dozen kids. I had to train them with limited resources. Only a few shuttlecocks, a few rackets, and most of the time, no court to play on. I had to rely on whatever we had. I concentrated on developing the boys and girls, teaching them the proper stance, proper footwork, endurance training. And how happy we were when we would be allowed to use the KB Gym in the Provincial Hall, that was the only time we could play on a court. I would improvise by measuring and placing masking tape on the game floor.
In 1999 my team was recognized, winning for the first time on the national level. And ever since JVC started its Badminton Open Tournaments in 2001, my team has joined every single event. It is the perfect exposure for my team and for the kids, individually, too.
How does my team prepare for a tournament?
No one goes to war unprepared. I prepare my team by making them undergo rigid training, drills that would continuously improve their skills. I always tell them to be focused on whatever they do. Since my team comes from a public school, it would not be surprising that we would incur problems, specially financial. That’s why I would like to take this opportunity to thank the many sponsor-friends I gained through badminton, for their continuous support to my team and the children. Special mention to the Andan family especially Allan Andan for letting my team make free use of their badminton court, Red Oil Badminton Court, in Tikay, Malolos City. I’d like to thank Dr. Noel Lacsamana for his very sincere and kind help to me and my team members. And thank you also to my dear badminton addict friends at MSI, Malolos Shuttlers Club, namely Dennis, Momel, Moi, Jomel, Jake, Arnel, Eva, Bing, Myrna, Stella, Girlie, Karen and Ann who believe in me and my team. Thanks to my wife Esty and my kids Eloise Grace and Raniel who will always be my strength and inspiration.
Now, it’s JVC Tournament season again. It is normal for every player to feel anxious. Just like the recently concluded JVC tournament last June, our team, especially the girls couldn’t help but feel intimidated, knowing that their opponents were from exclusive schools. They know they are good, maybe even better than their opponents. It is their insecurity which caused them to lose some of their games. This is the time when I constantly remind them that they should stay focused – believe in themselves and not feel insecure.
The boys and girls see me as a very strict coach, because I know that is the only way they would strive to improve themselves. It is not like me to praise them. Although in my heart I am very proud of them. I’m very proud of my team. I love them as if they were my family. And every tournament, whenever I watch the boys and girls give their best on the court, I’m proud of them. I’m happy because we are the only team that comes from a public school that has survived tournaments reaching as far as the championships.
Most of all, I remind the boys and girls to have determination and ambition to make a name in badminton. I want them to follow the footsteps of their predecessors like Criselda Sarabia who is now in Meralco, Dahlia Santiago now in Philippine STAR, Mark Alvin Natividad and Jimson Dionisio both in FEU, Rodel Dawal in La Salle, Paolo Dawal n UST and Adrian Pagsanjan in BSU.
I am proud to say that they are all my "kids" and they are all winners of JVC tournaments.
What is most important are the values and lessons they learn from me and the experience they gain. I teach them discipline, teamwork, determination and patience. I remind the girls and the boys that all that they learn they can apply in whatever career or field they choose in the game of life.
In June, my team was very lucky to win first runner up in the HS Girls Team Competition. My girls gave it their all, I know. The HS boys team ended second runner up, they will try to make it in the finals next time. Come November, my team will again be competing in the JVC Interscholastic Championships at PowerSmash Badminton Center and hopefully Glorietta. We will give it our best shot and we hope and pray that this time we will be standing in the first place podium.