Parental guidance

I received a very disturbing email the other day about the way two players of the Philippine team in the Southeast Asian Amateur Basketball Association (SEABA) Club Championships were treated at the airport in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Rey Lachica of the PBL media group reported that American Michael Le Blanc was held for 20 minutes at the immigration office after it was found out that his passport was expiring in a month.

I can’t blame the Indon authorities for that though as every traveler must know that his passport must not be expiring in the next six months if one travels.

But what happened to Nigerian Sam Ekwe was really too much as he was held for a couple of hours for questioning.

Maybe the organizers of the event should have anticipated problems with their immigration office, but the report did not say anything about any assistance offered by the event’s organizers to the Harbour Centre-RP Team.

This is another sad experience that we call all learn something from.  After the 9/11 tragedy in the United States, security at the airports have been made extra tight, but then if there was proper coordination, the organizers could have made it easier for the RP team.

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I’ve long wanted to visit the driving range more often but never got the chance until lately.

Unfortunately, my visits are not exactly for me, but to take my son, who decided to take up golf without my prodding, to his lessons. 

There, I meet other parents who play a similar role for their children.  We might not have the same goals set for the kids, but we all hope that they found a sport that they can enjoy and play at a certain level as they progress.

One thing I learned about being a sports parent is that at a certain age, you can’t impose yourself on the kids.  My immediate goal now is not to be the dad of the next biggest thing in the sport, but to have a regular companion on the fairways once he is up to the challenge.

We have to take note though of the importance that the kids start the right way, so look for a good coach that can provide the basics.

Also, let’s not be too hard on them.  I still can’t understand why my son hits the ball better when I am not looking or why he plays better football in games that I don’t watch.

I ask myself if I have set such a high goal for him that he seems to get bothered when I watch.  Honestly, I have no answer and I would say I am not a mean parent who wants only perfection.

That’s a mystery I still have to unravel and I’m sure many fellow parents face the same question.

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MILESTONE: Congratulations to the members of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing class of 2008 of Asian College of Technology, who will graduate today.  My wife, who took a second course, is part of the class of 22 survivors.

I’d also like to extend birthday greetings to Morela Carlos-Noblejas of Union Bank, who turns a year older today. Greetings also go to my TAO brod, Atty. Jeffrey Pabriaga.

More power!

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Send me email through [email protected].