THE CEBU City Sports Commission (CCSC) gave Badjao kids a chance to have a better future by training them for free under its summer grassroots sports training program, which ended yesterday at the Cebu City Sports Center.
With the help of the Cebu City Police Office, CCSC gathered 47 Badjao kids and trained them during the summer under volunteer coaches.
“This is a positive activity for the Badjaos because instead of begging, there are diversion of activities which will boost their self confidence,” said CCSC chairman Edward Hayco. “[Hopefully we can ] turn them into aspirants of Batang Pinoy games.”
The first batch of Badjao swimmers were also guided by Alaska Mambaling Elementary School principal Cerelina Llerin and Indigenous People Education (Iped) coordinator Glenda Pardillada.
Llerin said they made sure that in the program, the Badjao kids will learn sports, most especially swimming, without harming their culture.
An example of this is that in the free meals given to the kids during training, meat is avoided since this isn’t allowed in their culture.
She added that the main reason why they’re focusing on swimming for Badjaos is because it’s also part of their culture.
But isntead of using their natural talent in swimming for begging, the CCSC wants to make them use it for sports so they would have a chance someday to achieve something, she said.
The Badjao’s love for swimming is made clear in the way they’re treating their training with coach Lando Alvarez of the Cebu City swimming team.
Alvarez said he is very strict in training the Badjaos, and he noticed that the kids are very attentive.
“Usa ra ka blow sa akong whistle, mutuo dayon na sila,” Alvarez said.
He added that he would be very happy if these Badjao kids would be able to pursue their college education and become successful swimmers someday.