Our dear Professor Ed “Edfer” Fernandez has been promoting the Ping Pong For Peace and even graced the Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum at the SM Mall.
The Ping Pong For Peace (PPFP) is on September 28 to 29 at Spin Davao and for its inaugural tournament, they dubbed it as “1st Mindanao Interschool Pingpong Tournament”.
After two years, the sports for peace advocate and journalism professor has found a strong partner in Friendee Nunez, who has been a long-time table tennis community leader. The connection is easy because Friendee and our dear Edfer are both from the academe. They can easily talk about how to mold the minds of our youth and at the same time, discuss on how to make them healthy and wise. And through sports, they can do it.
I have been worried since the election of President Bongbong Marcos because I have not heard of any Sports For Peace activities for Mindanao. The Philippine Sports Commission-Mindanao Office has been tasked to do it but after the term of Mayor Digong, the Presidente of this Republic, there has been no continuation of the sports program, which I believe many of you would agree is a necessity in Mindanao.
Why? Pangit ba ang program? Way pulos? Puro lang pa cute? For publicity lang ba? Of course not!
We, Mindanaoans, deserve for the continuation of the sports for peace movement but unfortunately, with the change of leaders, they have missed the opportunity to continue a noble program.
Professor Henry Daut and even Professor Edfer went as far as Jolo, Sulu with the assistance of another sports for peace advocate, Father Romeo Saniel, OMI, to plant the seeds of peace through sports.
Why? Pangit ba ang program? Way pulos? Puro lang pa cute? For publicity lang ba? Of course not!
I hope our current sports leaders up there at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex would come to their senses and take a closer look at the Ping Pong For Peace, and reconsider the continuation of the Sports For Peace Program in Mindanao.
The PSC has, I think, requested a P5 billion budget. P5.2B, I believe.
What if the P.2, or a mere P2M is allocated for the Mindanao sports for peace program. Would it hurt? I think not, because I believe that is going to be well spent and a great investment for a sports for peace program.
Mindanaoans deserve more than just Ping Pong For Peace.
Bring back the Sports For Peace Program in Mindanao.
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For comments, email mpb_sports@yahoo.com
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