A MINI-BASKETBALL COURT FOR THE KIDS

Wait, this article has nothing to do with the SARS-influenced proposal made by several smart alecks to postpone the opening of regular classes from June to September; it only refers to the adage that “all work and no play will surely make Jack an outright dumb kid”. And now allow me to get into another story relative to my visit to the metropolis last April.

A small dream that somehow I could not shake off from my mind in my adopted hometown is doing something for the poor young boys in the neighborhood who have nothing to do when they come home from school. This was aggravated when school year ended last month because most of these poor tykes were practically idle the whole afternoon. Not that they have absolutely nothing to do for there are menial jobs that their parents would want to do for them but in fine, there really is not much to be done. A few boys who manage to scrimp on their allowance can be seen at an office space intended for an Internet Café but because of the difficulty of connecting the computer to the Internet instead served as a gaming room for the kids to while the time away. The operator of course cannot be blamed, with the very difficult means of connecting to the Internet, the more profitable way of recovering his investment is to lure the kids to play games, and never mind if there is no educational value in it.

The solution, I reckon, is to install a mini-basketball court at our backyard where the kids can while their time away free from the drudgeries of humdrum life. An elder in the community suggested that the place adjacent to our backyard can be used for the purpose but we definitely will need balls, the basketball rings and construct the goal. That elder also promised he will take care of the materials needed through donations that he will solicit from the well-to-do members of the community should I be successful in getting the balls and the rings home.

And so last month when I was at the metropolis, I chanced upon WM John Teng of Laong Laan Lodge No. 185 and asked if he will generous enough to donate a few midget size basketballs having size of six inch diameter and the accompanying basketball rings? He gladly said he will and so posthaste I went to Raon St. in Manila and purchased four six-inch diameter balls and two basketball rings costing P800 which he immediately reimbursed during the stated meeting of the lodge. WM Ferlu Sudario of Juan Sumulong Lodge No. 169 likewise promised to donate balls, only, we no longer had the chance to meet up to the time me and the missus departed for home.

Upon returning to our provincial residence, we immediately contacted the elder who made the proposal and presented to him the rings and the balls. But the promised materials were slow in coming; or quite plainly, it did not come at all. And so the missus took the bull by the horn; she contacted a carpenter, ordered him to purchase the needed lumber, marine plywood, nails and all, and saw to it that the basketball equipment is completed. Using her own funds for the purpose, of course!!


And so, these grateful tykes are now merrily playing basketball in a backyard free from the drudgeries of useless toil! And many thanks to WM John Teng for being such a generous brother and definitely a kind-hearted soul!!