Being parents

It felt much different to be back on the football field to be once more just a dad rooting for your child, who was playing rather than being a journalist covering the event, a player, a member of the organizing group, or as official of the football association.

If there’s one role I would always prefer to play, it is as a football dad.

If there is one reason why we have made major improvements in sports, it is the active participation of the parents.

Of course, as anything good, this has to be tempered and must not get out of hand. Parents should remember that their role is to support their children and teammates and not encourage them to cheat or violate rules.

Being there for our children, must also be coupled with being good examples like not smoking, throwing trash in the proper receptacles, not cursing, and most of all not joining the fray when the going gets rough.

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I was in a very interesting meeting last Monday afternoon at the Minglanilla Central School.

It wasn’t the first time that I was invited to attend such meeting, but it was the first time I had the chance to really be there.

There is now a move to organize a group that would revitalize sports, culture and arts in the town of Minglanilla, the place that my family calls home.

It was last year when Jigger Cañedo called me up to ask about what I thought of reviving the Minglanilla Council of Youth (MCY), which used to organize a summer sports competition as well as activities in relation to culture and arts.

Growing up in the town was a lot of fun during the school break and it also allowed us to make many friends from the youth organizations.

Recently, Jigger again called me up that they were holding meetings for the Minglanilla Sports, Culture and Arts Commission.

Last Monday, it was agreed to we form a foundation instead and it was good to see many old familiar faces as well as many new ones in the group.

For us, who had the opportunity to compete in the various events of the MCY, we could not help but reminisce, while the newer residents of the town brought up some new ideas that would help the group attain its goals.

I am hopeful that this private sector endeavor would bear fruit and help us realize our dreams for the town.

There are still many small steps to take, but the journey has started. Jigger seems very eager to get this going and many share the same eagerness for our desire to bring back to good old days in our town.

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MILESTONES: Belated happy birthday greetings to my high school classmate Gene Cagas, who is now doing missionary work in Cambodia. He turned a year older last Sunday.

The same goes to last Monday’s celebrants Nath Ybañez of myTV, Sharon Benavides, Marites Ho, and Marion Caryk Sauro.

Belated greetings also to yesterday’s celebrants like Cavaliers Ariel Elgwin Emock and Albert Rojo, Junjun Baguia, and my mistah Lt. Col. Arnel Morada.

Today’s greetings go to Sogod Mayor Monyeen Durano, Venezia Milan Uy, and Perry Johns.

More power to all of you!