Juniors shootfest

No we go full blast for sports for our children.

Several sports activities are lined up for the children in various venues and the choices seem unlimited.

Aside from clinics and training camps, there are also competitions like the one happening this Saturday at the Kamagong Gun Club inside Camp Lapu-lapu in barangay Apas, this city.

The event is the 1st Philippine Practical Shooting Association Junior Nationals-Rotary Cup. This is a level 2 PPSA sanctioned handgun competition and is expected to draw the top shooters aged 21 and below from all over the country.

The project is a brainchild of my cousin Lowell Belarmino, who is also a doting dad to two junior shooters – Ariel and Martin.

Lowell is also the assistant area coordinator for PPSA Cebu. 

PPSA medals courtesy of their president Rep. Jackie Enrile will also be given to the top ten for the standard, production, and open divisions.

Lowell said that there will also be a separate competition for those aged above 21 years old.

More than giving the juniors a chance to compete against each other, the event also aims to raise awareness about gun safety.

It always takes a doting parent to help keep sports going for the children.

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My best experience about parents going the extra mile for their children was when the Sacred Heart School-Jesuit Football Club was organized about seven years ago.

It was a labor of love by parents spearheaded by my fellow columnist and La Sallian Rico Navarro, who kick started our group that gathered regularly at the old field located inside the Cebu Business Park.

Then we were practically groping in the dark, but with many parents chipping in their ideas and resources, the gargantuan task became doable. 

To shorten the story, I would say that the rest is now history.

The school, which is now SHS-Ateneo de Cebu has a very good sports program and many parents continue to be very involved in the various sports programs of the school.

The same is happening in other schools even in those which are known to be powerhouses in certain sporting disciplines.

In order to be successful, the parents and the schools have to be part of the equation. If you take one away, the success rate will be very low.

It was also through my involvement in sports for children with other equally doting fathers and mothers that I made many good friends, who are there in good and bad times.

Getting your kids into sports is also a chance for you to learn something new.

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MILESTONES: Belated happy birthday greetings to Pinky Mag-iba-Balagtas of PAL, my mistah Sid Antonio, and Marie Jo Dormitorio-Caldoza, who turned a year older last Monday.

The same goes to my mistahs Joey Dalauidao and Ruben Vargas, Jr., Eloisa Roa, Kirsten Cavada, and top female photographer Jade Saducas, who celebrated yesterday.

Today’s greetings go to another mistah, Dante Desuasido and my fellow San Antonio Spurs fan Camille de Guzman.

More power to all of you! – THE FREEMAN