My role was to conduct the workshop.
I asked the participants to describe their sports hero and explain their choice in an essay of no more than 300 words. They were free to write in the first person, if they chose, or use whatever tense and language or dialect. I mentioned that the sports hero could be a generic symbol — such as the Filipino boxer or the Filipino basketball player — or someone who isn’t a national figure, like a father or mother. Or the choice could be traditional such as a popular basketball star like Alvin Patrimonio or a world champion fighter like Manny Pacquiao.
The participants were locked in an air-conditioned classroom and had an hour to finish their work.
As it turned out, all seven essays were exceptional. Six were in English – one, in Pilipino.
Wilmer picked cue artist Efren (Bata) Reyes as his sports idol. Romeo chose his father - whom he said is his inspiration. Romeo intimated that he was devastated when his father left home and went abroad for work but he understood it was for the sake of their family, for his education. Romeo said his father has sacrificed a lot for their family – like a basketball player sacrificing personal goals for the sake of his team.
Cherry’s hero is Michael Jordan. Nomer picked his physical education teacher. Maricel chose her best friend who plays softball, volleyball, badminton, and table tennis, among other sports. Denjen, who was once on the Cagayan National High School archery team, said the archer is his symbolic hero.
The winning essay was Darwin’s and it was in Pilipino. Here’s his entry, in full:
"Sa mga dinamidaming bantog at magagaling na manlalaro, mapa telebisyon o mapa radyo, hindi natin alam kung sino ang hahangaan. Nguni’t alam kong mabibigla kayo kung sabihin ko na ang aking iniidolo ay hindi palagiang napapanood sa labanan ng PBA sa telebisyon.
"Siya’y kasa-kasama ko sa araw-araw, kaakbay sa lahat ng problemang dumarating sa buhay. Siya ay ang babaeng malapit sa buhay ko at masasabi kong sports superhero ng buhay ko.
"Ang isang manlalaro ay kinakikitaan ng lakas ng loob at katatagan. May responsibilidad siyang kailangang gampanan, ang ipakita sa kanyang tagapanood, tagabasa at tagapakinig na sa kagipitan, lumalaban siya at pagnadadapa ay bumabangon at taas-noong binibigkas na ‘kaya ko.’
"Hindi sagabal sa kanya ang pagkababae niya at walang kasing-lakas na pagpalo sa bola ng softball at pagbalik ng bola ng volleyball sa kalaban.
"Hindi niya dinidibdib ang pagkatalo, bagkus hamon ito sa kanya para muling lumaban at mapagtagumpayan ang laro. May malakas rin siyang paniniwala sa Diyos at may prinsipyong walang kasintamis ang tagumpay pagpinaghirapan ng lubos at ibinuhos mo ang iyong pawis.
"Itinuro niya sa akin ang dakilang aral sa mundo ng sports at sa lahat ng kumpetisyon na may natatalo at may nananalo. Karagdagan aniya na ang panalo ay hindi marunong sumuko sa laban.
"Siya’y ang aking nag-iisang kapatid na babae, si Princess, pitcher ng softball team at captain ball ng volleyball."
For his winning essay, Darwin received a plaque from the Louisian Courier and a copy of the 2000-01 PBA Annual, just off the press. The other participants were given a copy each of the PBA Annual.
Again, my thanks to the Louisian Courier for the opportunity to make new friends and visit Cagayan.