Can sports pave the way for peace?
For the past decades, peace has been elusive in conflict
areas in Mindanao . Now, they are fighting the
war in a different battlefield - football. Sulu-based marines started Football
for Peace because they wanted to teach the youth of Sulu a way out of the
cycles of violence and poverty.
The program’s founder, Lt Col Stephen Cabanlet, says the
program has given impoverished children a crack at a decent future. Now,
finishing their education and playing professional football is no longer an
impossible dream.
LT. COL. STEPHEN CABANLET, PHILIPPINE MARINES: The
medium is football but we can go deeper. Aside from character development, we
can go into scholarship, educational .program. Ang vision na nga nila is hindi
lang maging good football player pero good citizen eh. In that way they can
help their community sa nakuha nilang values sa paglalaro ng football. (Our
vision was not only for the children to be a good football player but more
importantly, a good citizen. In that way they can help their community with the
values they got from the sport.)
The campaign expanded to other provinces like Palawan , Tawi-Tawi, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and
Zamboanga. Thousands of balls have been donated.
But with rough fields and heavy use, the balls never seem to
last long.
Responding to the need for stronger balls in the football
clinics, One World Futbol and Chevrolet Philippines
Chevrolet Philippines
ALBERTO ARCILLA, CHEVROLET PRESIDENT: I personally
believe that sports always bring out the best in the youth, individuals. We
just want to contribute in their growing up, in having direction, enjoying
their being kids.
The Marines are now looking for ways to support the college
education of the children who join their football clinics.
LT. COL. STEPHEN CABANLET, PHILIPPINE MARINES: Hindi
lang naman din bola ang pangangailangan namin. Marami ring kailangang support
para sa scholarship nila. Support para sa mga training equipment, support para
doon sa training sa coaching level and teaching leve ng mga marines na
magtuturo. (Of course, we don’t only need balls. We need scholarship
benefactors for the children…and support to enhance the skills of the coaching
and teaching level of the marines.)
The road to peace is not easy and Cabanlet admits there is a
lot of work to be done.
The marines say this sports program is a significant step
towards building peace in Mindanao . Aside from
mending disputes between communities, football also teaches the children to
dream. The soldiers also say they will continue to promote peace through
sports, hoping to prove that not all wars are won with guns.
David Lozada, Rappler, Taguig.
David Lozada, Rappler, Taguig.
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