DAVAO CITY—Diane Astilla and Gretchen Superales had to wake up at dawn and travel almost 60 kilometers for three straight days just to play in the Philippine Sports Commission-Mindanao Children’s Games volleyball competition at Almendras Gym here.
But instead of feeling exhausted, these kids along with six other teammates from the Ubo Manobo Lumad tribe in Barangay Bantol here are gripped with euphoria and gratification.
“We’re hoping to create a sustainable sports program for our tribe,” said village captain Dionisio Sayad. “It will encourage our kids to stay away from drugs and live a better life.”
The Lumad kids won two straight games before eventually losing to Barangay Mulan, 21-25, 25-23, 25-15, in the girls’ 12-under division of the Games designed for out-of-school youth in Mindanao.
“This is a great experience and we really enjoyed playing,” Astilla, 12, said.
The Children’s Games Mindanao will also go to Cagayan de Oro and Butuan City before kicking off its Visayas leg in Bacolod.