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ZAMBOANGA
CITY—From
combat and security duties, elements of the Philippine
Marine Corps (PMC) on the island-province of Sulu have
hanged their rifles and ammunition for four days and
armed themselves with sports gear.
The
Marine Battalion Landing Team-5 (MBLT-5) troops gathered
children aged nine to 11, including some adults, in two
barangays of Patikul town, said to be the stronghold of
one-armed Abu Sayyaf leader Radulan Sahiron, and taught
them how to play baseball.
After
teaching them the proper way of playing baseball, the
Marines organized the children into two teams, with each
team having their own coaches and assistant coaches.
 Besides
coaching, the adult participants of the four-day
baseball clinic were also taught on how to officiate a
baseball tournament.
The
four-day baseball clinic started on Wednesday and
culminated Saturday with a friendly game held at the
elementary school of barangay Kaunayan, wherein the
local team played against its counterpart from nearby
barangay Kadday Mampallam, which it beat, 25-14.
MBLT-5
chief Lt. Col. Nestor Herico said the activity primarily
aims to provide the children with the opportunity to
learn and acquire values which team sports like baseball
offer.
Herico
said team sports help young individuals to grow
physically, socially and emotionally healthy.
“Physical activities with other children do not only
help them gain healthy bodies, but also acquire social
skills through peer interaction,” he said.
Joint
Task Force Comet chief Brig. Gen. Juancho Sabban said
that children will positively become better individuals
as they grow older by learning the right values from
sports at a young age.
Sabban
stressed baseball teaches camaraderie, unity and
cooperation, hence, children are especially taught of
the importance of getting along with their peers,
settling differences and communicating well with others.
He said
studies have shown that drug addiction, alcohol use and
membership to gangs are remotely common with youngsters
who are involved in sports.
Sabban
advised the parents to be active partners of their
children in sports by being supportive of their
children’s sports participation.
“Parental involvement is always encouraged but it must
be done in a way that increases a child’s self worth. To
encourage their children’s health attitude about
themselves and others, parents should always guide and
advise them with due attention and appreciation,” Sabban
said.
He also
stressed on the young players to put emphasis on group
or team success, rather than individual; and cooperation
or friendship over rivalry.
Herico
said the next baseball clinic, the schedule of which has
yet to be announced, will be for barangays Tagblibi and
Pangdanon also in the town of Patikul. |
