Clean Slate – Otousan

The Davao City Recreation Center was temporarily opened on August 20 for the Basketball with the Stars exhibition game.
The basketball goals donated by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) during the term of its chairman, William “Butch” Ramirez, were just right for the occasion. The new wooden parquette floor was shiny and the new lighting system was just perfect. Photographer Bing Gonzales, who usually complains of poor lighting when covering previous games at the venue, will no longer have to use flash to come up with dramatic court action photos.
But there is still more work to be done, like the railings, comfort rooms, repainting and more.
Kadayawan Sports Festival committee chairman Christopher “Bong” Go, who shone more than the movie stars in their game that night by firing 72 points, said they hope to completely finish making the gym ready soon.
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Davao City Baseball Association president Joaquin Sarabia and Datu Uchida Development Foundation officer-in-charge Ines P. Mallari have started planning for the 5th Davao City Baseball Cup in February next year.
The Uchida Foundation under president Tatsuo Uchida, a Datu Bago awardee, and the Tokyo Kichijoji Lions Club headed by their new president Noboru Sugita will be working too to find supporters and keep the tournament going on for our elementary and high school teams.
Sarabia and Mallari agreed to find new backers this time because the Japanese sponsors cannot support the tournament forever obviously. It is high time for baseball lovers to come in and support the young players of Davao City.
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At the Tokyu Inn, the official meeting place of officers and members of the Tokyo Kichijoji Lions Club, Tatsuo Uchida hosted a dinner for the five Davao baseball officials and myself who went to Japan for the Baseball Study Tour.
He invited family members, like his only son Kazunari and wife Ayumi, grandsons Yusuke and Masaaki. The other grandson, Taka was miles away. Lucky could not make it too. He has to watch over the fmily’s house. Yusuke’s wife Atsuko, Yoshiaki Takeyama, coach Hidetoshi Suzuki, Utsonomiya and wife Anna Liza joined the gathering.
Datu Uchida, dearly called Otousan, talked about his being a Davao-born Japanese and  more of a Dabawenyo by heart. He could not hide his love for the youth in the City of Davao and that is why he initiated the holding of the Davao City Baseball Cup for the young boys four years ago.
His eldest grandson, Yusuke, plays the sport and coaches the Philippine Nikkei Jin Kai team. Nikkei Jin Kai, I learned, was established by his late wife, Ayako, a teacher by profession.
His other grandson, Taka, suits up for the Miracle Elephants, a commercial baseball team. The youngest Masaaki might be serious too in baseball. That I guess, he would do should he fully recover from his injury.
Through baseball, Otousan hopes to change the lives of the young boys, for them to become better Dabawenyos. Baseball teaches them how to be on time, to be disciplined, to be a team player and these traits and more are what Oto San hopes to become a part of their lives.
But Otousan cannot live forever. He can’t all the time rally the Tokyo Kichijoji Lions Club officers to keep backing the Davao City Baseball Cup and keep the young boys in baseball and  safe from the harsh realities of life.
Otousan, who is already in his ripe age, hopes that the contributions of the Tokyo Kichijoji Lions Club, the Uchida Foundation and other supporters can inspire others to reach out to the young boys too.
I wish he becomes immortal in order to see to it that the four-year-old Davao City Baseball Cup will fully grow and mature like the calamansi plant he brought from Davao to his humble home in Tokyo.
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Congratulations to all winners of the recent 11th Jollibee Family Fun Run like three-kilometer double category kargaton champion Bruve Van Zante and son Nathaniel,  father and child first placer Reynaldo Abrigon and son Kecir, mother and child champion Amy Simons and Linea, husband and wife winner Juniephing and Angela Tobias.
I hope they defend their titles next year.