Sports as therapy

Filipinos are known to be a people who can laugh at our miseries. While this political and economic crisis that our country is now facing may worry us about what is in store for us in the next few days, we always find time to laugh and make fun of the situation.

It is not exactly apathy on the part of the Filipinos, but more of adaptability, which is of course both good and bad.

We have ousted two presidents through a peaceful revolt and the situation now could lead to a third and I don't know what else is to come. Maybe it would be interesting to know what EDSA 1,567 would be as we fondly call all these revolts EDSA after Epifanio de los Santos Avenue where the first revolt was held in 1986 that led to fall of Ferdinand Marcos.

I am not exactly amused about what is happening. In fact I am worried since I don't know what is going to happen next. Prayers will definitely help, but then we must also do something concrete if we want our nation to get out of this crisis.

Leaving the country could be an option, but let us not lose hope on the Philippines, because if we do, we will never find a righteous leader for our country.

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I have always tried to veer from politics in this column, but sometimes it is just unavoidable.

One thing I always tell my friends is that if you want to start your day right, go straight to the sports section of the newspaper before you read the rest of it.

One good news that I can share with the Cebuano sports fans is that the Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdogs team from the Philippine Basketball Association will be in town on Friday for the Kasadyaan 2 Festival.

My good friend from Manila, Joao Miranda, got in touch with me last week about this event, which is happening at the Ayala Center Cebu Activity Area on Friday afternoon.

This is not something that will be serious stuff about sports, but more of a variety show featuring the players including James Yap, who has become more popular due to his romantic link with gameshow host Kris Aquino.

Other players due here will be Jun Limpot and Peter June Simon plus four others whose names I cannot anymore recall.

Basketball fans will get a chance to rub elbows with their idols on Friday at the Kasadyaan Festival. On Saturday, the group will head to Dumaguete City for a similar activity.

This should be a good break from the worries we are getting from the political and economic turmoil.

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Engaging in sports is therapeutic not just physically, but also mentally and emotionally.

I used to engage in all sorts of physical activity when I was depressed when I was a lot younger. These days, I try to do some form exercises for judo if not karate or head to the driving range and hit some golf balls when I want to unleash pent up emotions.

Maybe our country needs some sports therapy, but unfortunately not the kind that most of our current leaders are offering.

If you feel you are not athletic enough, you can always head to the sports arenas to watch the action, just like the people of Mandaue who troop to the Mandaue City Sports and Cultural Complex to watch and root for their Mantawi Sparkling Nights in the National Basketball Conference.

The next game of the team will be on Tuesday against Laguna, which should be worth looking forward to.