SOCSARGEN PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT PORTAL: Kids’ Football Training: Venue for a Partnership, Dialogue and Teambuilding with B’laan Community at T’murok

Football coaches and Tri-youth volunteers braved more than 4 hours ride (in a dump truck) and hiking from General Santos City to a small B’laan village in T’murok, Malapatan, Sarangani Province last May 28-30, 2012 to bring the culture of peace through football.

PARTNERSHIP.

“I learned how to appreciate the simple comforts at home – having electricity, food to eat 3x a day, warmth of my blankets, etc.” “ I learned to cook and to be with a team”. “I appreciate the simple joys of the children – in playing, conversing, receiving candies, etc.” “I learned to appreciate nature… this is my first time to climb a mountain”. “… appreciated the B’laan dances and costume”.

These were some feedbacks of the coaches and volunteers during the first sharing session. Fr. Angel highlighted the “partnership” experience – "there are no beneficiaries and benefactors here… we trained the kids in football, give them equipments, share our food, give school supplies, bibles, rosaries; … but we also get something from them that can’t be bought – the learnings and life’s realizations... and that is the essence of partnership."

DIALOGUE.

The training gave way to cross cultural and faith dialogues. The community and the visitors learned each other language, costume and dances. From time to time, a tri-people prayers (Lumad, Muslim and Christians) were recited before and after the games, programs and meals. Various activities experienced the interactions across ages – kids and adult.

TEAM BUILDING.

The group learned the teambuilding skills. Each group experienced how to be a server – preparing the food, washing plates, feeding the children … making the members comfortable. During trekking the groups were divided into three – the lead, the middle and the” sweeper”.

FOOT BALL TRAINING.

Boys and girls enjoyed the new experience they had with the football coaches. They learned how to warm up/down and the basic of kicking and passing the ball. In their last game, the kids won over the volunteers at the score of 4-0. It was also noticed that both sexes were eager to play football and they were good kickers and runners. The training lasted two days though. The Gensan Sarangani Footbal Club headed by Coach Ralph Kintanar trained the kids and donated soccer balls for the community.

MOUNTAIN CLIMBING.

The group and the community had their first time to climb the Mt. Magulo or T’murok mountain. Children led the climb. It was almost a 70 degree ascend on a humus ground. Climbers has to crawl up and slide down. One side of the mountain owned by B’laan community is still a dense forest… the other side owned by “Bisayan” settlers were almost denuded and planted with cash crops such as cabbages, carrots, potatoes and corn.

Many of the climbers had bruises during their slides and had an itchy experience while accidentally touching the “bulan bulan” leaves. The B’laan kids offer a plant found in the forest to cure the itchiness.

AN EXPERIENCE TO BE CHERISHED.

Experienced a chilling cold of less than 20 degrees celsius.

Talking a quick bath in an ice-cold water.

Seeing the fog all day with the fireflies at night.

Learning to greet in B’laan language.

Instant joy with the kids during plays and eating.

Walking uphill and downhill for hours.

Cross cultural entertainments during the second night.

Both partners briefly bonded together in just three days. Children were so excited everyday as they woke up in the morning and waited for their coaches to play soccer and to have fun with their “Ate’s and Kuya’s” in their various Child Friendly Activities (CFA) led by Princess Fernandez.

On the last day, the children walked an extra kilometers to be with their "Ate’s and Kuya’s" . They had an emotional bidding of goodbye’s in the a crossroad where the coaches, volunteers and the kids had to depart ways. They brought with them the experience… the genuine love… as they heed toward home – T’murok and Gen. Santos City.