The Field of Dreams comes alive in Maguindanao
Photostory by Jun Degayo
“Once a battlefield, now a football field!”
SIPAGASA, a grassroots football program, was kicked off this February in Rajah Buayan, Maguindanao. With over 500 kids from 11 schools participating in the program, SIPAGASA aims to gather children to a fun and experiential activity that will teach them values, discipline, critical life skills, and most of all, given the situation in Maguindanao, hope.
“In this same place, the sound of guns and bombs would scare us. But now they’ve been replaced with the whoosh of balls, with kids laughing, playing, learning this new sport of football.” – Ms. Raida Montero (ALS Coordinator)
The football field, while still rough, is fertile enough to grow the seeds of hope. This field not only alters the landscape of Rajah Buayan, it will also change the course of history of this town.
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“9 years old ka na datu?
Baka mahirapan ka sa basketball
pero sa football hindi kailangan
ang matangkad, kailangan lang
mabilis kumilos at magaling sumipa.
Baka pagdating ng panahon
isa ka pa sa magbibigay ng karangalan
sa Rajah Buayan sa pamamagitan
ng football!”
- Mayor Datu Zamzamin Ampatuan |
Love means Walang Iwanan
This wouldn’t have been possible if not for people who chose to love courageously. International coaches headed by Coach Kaka Sinsuat of the Maguindanao Regional Football Association trained soon to be local coaches, who despite zero football knowledge, have 100% heart, going all-in in the pursuit to inspire the youth. Individuals and online donors of the Love Means Walang Iwanan campaign also provided the initial funding to jumpstart the program. On-ground, the local government of Rajah Buayan and DepEd Rajah Buayan were also our partners in dreaming up this vision.
“Exciting pala ang football!” sabi nila. Unang sipa ng football ang naranasan
ng mga kabataan sa Maguindanao pero karamihan sa kanila ay nakitaan na ng
potensyal ng mga magagaling na football coaches. Sa umpisa ay umiiwas sila
at nahihiyang sumipa, pero kinatagalan halos hindi na sila mapahinto,
kahit matindi na ang sikat ng araw."
A place where kids get to be kids. A place where kids get to dream. This football field is not just any other field, it’s a field where hope for peace is sown and dreams start to take shape.
It is only through love that we can start to bridge differences, and by choosing to leave no one behind, we are also choosing to love beyond borders. Walang imposible pag walang iwanan.
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As one big loveteam, help us sustain SIPAGASA in Rajah Buayan
and kickstart the program in other towns of Maguindanao,
Sultan Kudarat, Surigao, and Davao.
Help us make The Field of Dreams come alive in more communities
by giving to the Love Means Walang Iwanan campaign.
You can make a donation by clicking here.
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