To promote peace
and foster camaraderie among the youth in some conflict areas in Mindanao , some 320 young football enthusiasts joined the
first Football Festival here on May 28-30, spearheaded by the Western Mindanao
Command (WesMinCom) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
“We find football
to be a unifying sport, especially for kids coming from remote and conflict
areas,” said Lieutenant General Rustico O. Guerrero, commanding officer of
WesMinCom.
The participating
groups came from Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Basilan, Lanao del Norte and Cotabato.
“Through this
initiative, we build their characters and teach them team work,” explained
Guerrero.
He said they have
noticed teams coming from conflict areas were not comfortable with one another
“but when they play football, they get along well,” he said.
“Hindi naman
pala kailangang mag giyera eh. Nakikita ‘to ng mga bata. They can compete
in a friendly game. So, hindi nila kailangang tularan ‘yong mga ginagawa ng mga
matatanda. This is the purpose of the game,” (War is not the answer. The kids
can see this. They can compete in a friendly game, so they don’t have to follow
the actions of their predecessors. This is the purpose of the game) underscored
Guerrero.
The commander
expressed his gratitude to all stakeholders who have extended support to the
activity. “We cannot do it alone. We rely on our stakeholders. We certainly
need the support of our partners in this endeavor,” he opined.
As an educational
tour, the group visited some historical places and scenic spots in the city on
the last day of the activity.
http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/2831433126425/westmincom-promotes-peace-through-football
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