The STAR's newsboys' palaro

MANILA, Philippines - Recognizing the vital role that they have played and continue to play in the growth of The Philippine STAR and Pilipino STAR Ngayon, The STAR Group of Publications, for the second straight year, conducted a sports festival for newspaper vendors from all over Metro Manila.

“Newsboys Olympics: Palakasan, Pasayahan at Pasasalamat sa mga Newsboy” was held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Amoranto Sports Complex in Quezon City last April 14. The event featured individual and group events participated in by hundreds of newspaper vendors divided into six teams – the dark blue, light blue, violet, yellow, red, and green groups.

The individual event was a 1.2-kilometer fun run for both males and females that carried P3,000, P2,000 and P1,000 cash prizes for the first, second and third placers, respectively.

Meantime, among the group events were the catch the dragon tail, tug-of-war, sack race, planting the straw relay, calamansi relay, ball sandwich relay, obstacle course, threading relay, coconut husk relay, and egg throwing relay.

The dark blue team dominated the group events and emerged as the overall champion team, taking away the P25,000 cash prize.

Other prizes were P20,000 for the first runner-up (red), P15,000 for the second runner-up (yellow), P10,000 for the third runner-up (green), and P5,000 each for the two other teams (light blue and violet).

The Philippine STAR’s vice president for circulation Fernando Lopez thanks the newsboys and their families. STAR photos by joey mendoza

There was also a cheering competition prior to the start of the games, much to the delight of the crowd, estimated to have numbered over a thousand, composed of newspaper vendors and their families.

The STAR Group’s vice president for circulation Fernando Lopez, who delivered the opening remarks, thanked the participants who faithfully distribute the papers in the streets each day. He noted that their efforts that have helped drive The Philippine STAR and Pilipino STAR Ngayon’s 25 years in the print industry and propelled both papers to their positions of leadership.

Pilipino STAR Ngayon celebrated its 25th anniversary last March 17 while The STAR will mark its silver anniversary this coming July 28.

Lopez said this was just one of the ways by which The STAR Group of Publications shows how much they appreciate the contribution of the newspaper vendors.

He vowed that the company, in its own way, will continue to take good care of these faithful sellers.

Alberto Algarbis, 44, of the red team and who sells newspapers in Pasig, says his job has helped him a lot in raising his three children. Alberto says he has been selling newspapers for the past 30 years and, on average, earns P250 a day. He shares that he also sells cigarettes to augment his income.

Maryjane Reyes, 12, of the green team, has been helping her mother sell newspapers in their stall near Sta. Lucia. Maryjane says through selling, the value of earning money at such a young age has been inculcated in her by her parents.

Joselito Miraflor, 43, of the yellow team and who sells newspapers near SM North, says he is thankful for Newsboys Olympics because it gives them a brief respite from their daily work. It likewise provides them the opportunity to meet other newspaper vendors. In the various competitions, teamwork is the word that they do not forget, according to Joselito.

Among those who trooped to the Amoranto Stadium to witness the event were Andrea Quintos, 76, and Siony Basano. Andrea and Siony have been selling newspapers for the past 35 and 50 years, respectively. Andrea, who sells newspapers in front of the National Housing Authority in Quezon City from 6 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., proudly says that through her hard work, she has managed to raise seven children, who have all finished vocational courses.

Alpha Tolentino, STARweek editorial assistant and member of The STAR’s socio-humanitarian arm Operation Damayan which facilitated the sports event, said aside from the cash prizes, the newsboys and their families also received t-shirts and lunch, plus a raffle draw that included major prizes of two motorbikes.

The news vendors, armed with their trademark smiles and warmth that charm their buyers, showed how, come rain or shine, they bring the news to the reading public and thus help in informing and educating the citizenry towards national development.