The Duterte government has this “Build, Build, Build” program with the intention, of course, to bring this country to better living conditions.
While there is still military presence in Marawi after its liberation from the terrorist Maute group, Professor Henry Daut of the Mindanao State University and his team have conducted sports activities aimed at healing the wounds brought by the unwanted conflicts that greatly affected the children in Marawi.
For months, Prof. Daut and his dedicated volunteers have organized Sports for Peace events and I strongly believe this should be continued while the national government are in the works rebuilding the war-torn city.
We just hope that there will be no retaliatory attacks by any remnants of the terrorist group (I hope they are all gone!) and that way, the children in Marawi can also start rebuilding their lives through sports for peace activities by the good professor.
It is just sad that terrible things happen in Mindanao because history has shown us that whenever there is conflict or war, the innocent children are the most affected.
The Sports for Peace in Mindanao years ago has been formed for this very purpose and we are glad that Prof. Henry with the help of Philippine Sports Commission chairman William “Butch” Ramirez, the founder of the program has done their part with the help also of corporate backers.
At the recent event, the Jollibee mascot was there to entertain the kids at the evacuation center and at least at that time, the kids smiled and forgot the horrors of the conflict even for just a day. The Jollibee burgers were actually just a bonus.
I know that chairman Ramirez has been thinking of the kids in Marawi for weeks now and could not wait to do something for them again.
This will, again, give chance to corporate backers to show its corporate citizenship in Mindanao by reaching out to chairman Ramirez and Prof. Daut and start discussing in what they they can help.
And let us continue to pray that there will be continued peace, again, in that city and nearby cities and urge fellow Mindanaoans to be vigilant for their children and grandchildren do not deserve such disturbance of the peace.
“The kids of Mindanao have the right to enjoy sports because we see sports development as basic as food, clothing, shelter and health care”.
Those are actually not my words but of the good chairman Butch Ramirez, a son of Mindanao.
