For the helpless

We are very privileged to be able to function effectively and have our physical faculties complete, something we often take for granted. Some people have a more challenging situation, though, with one or more of their senses impaired. It’s more poignant if it affects children.

This is the story of Jose Virgilio “JV” Cruz, a former basketball coach with Eric Altamirano’s “Coach E” camps. He was moved to do something for kids stricken with various ailments because his nine-year old son is blind. JV racked his brains trying to figure out a way to raise awareness of this plight of the helpless.

“Children are our future, regardless of what their situation is,” Cruz told this writer. “If there is anything we can do to help them, we should do it. Someone has to reach out to the community at large and call attention to it.” 

Cruz launched a non-profit movement called “iRun, I Give Hope” originally aimed at the young blind. Initially targeting friends and fellow sports practitioners and people within his immediate circle, Cruz was able to generate support for some small events. With a small initial fund, he has been able to sustain his runs, which are starting to grow in size as word spreads about his advocacy.

“We had the blind kids run 100 meters, since they aren’t really runners,” coach JV explains. “They wanted more, so we’re trying to empower them by finding ways for them to run more. We don’t really spend much putting the runs together, and the money now goes to a fund for kids who are blind, have cancer and those with other health issues.

On May 11, iRun, I Give Hope is having a run at Cruz’s alma mater, the Ateneo de Manila. Interested parties may learn more from their Facebook page or either participate or sponsor a child, or both. P500 will support one child. This will cover the transportation and food for one child to be able to join the race. To participate personally, the entry fee for the 3k run in P400, the 4k is P500 and the 5k is worth P600. If you’re going to run anyway, might as well do it for a worthy cause. And there is none more worthy than helping sick kids.

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I had first met Ewon Arayi over a decade ago, when she was known as one of the toughest frontliners of the Adamson Lady Falcons. I knew very little about her, other than her fearsome reputation on the basketball court. I wasn’t surprised when years later, she became a member of the national team Perlas Pilipinas.

Though playing the game itself was quite fulfilling, Ewon was looking for something more. They weren’t really playing that often, and you ran the risk that, after years of training, some new players would come along and take your spot, or at least your playing time. And as is the pattern in the Philippines, all national teams have their own organizational quirks and politics.

With a group of fellow Philippine team veterans, the Pangasinan native formed the Philippine Lady Commandos. Their mission is two-fold: conduct free basketball clinics nationwide, and build women’s basketball along the way. Ewon saw this as an opportunity for paying forward the blessings she received from the sport.

“Just because you come from a poor family doesn’t mean your dreams should end,” Arayi told this writer. “My teammates and I are so lucky we got to play our sport that we love. But there are kids out there who have no direction and basketball can give them that. For female college players, they have nowhere to go after they finish playing for the varsity.”

The Lady Commandos have a pool of eight to 10 coaches depending on the sponsor’s budget. They travel by whatever means possible to the location, do not charge entrance for the kids, give them life lessons on top of the basketball clinic, and even give away basketballs when they can afford to. They realized, too that if the coaches are female, girls will want to learn the sport. The effort is always worth it.

“We just want to have our expenses covered, because we don’t really earn that much ourselves,” she adds. “It is such a great feeling to see these kids light up, develop and have confidence in themselves.”

The program, called “Believe and Achieve” is already being invited to places like Bacolod, Iloilo and Cagayan de Oro, with planned stops on many Metro Manila and Luzon provincial venues. They’ve already been to Dagupan, parts of Bulacan and Rizal, even playing exhibition games against men after a long day of teaching. But the Lady Commandos are still looking for sponsors. They have received support from a few so far, but the program is growing faster than they foresaw.

Interested parties may look up the Philippine Lady Commandos Facebook page, or contact this writer through [email protected].