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[Sunday, April 18, 2004]
:::Honkong Training Info::: by Jacs
Hi, everybody! To those who attended the meeting regarding Hong Kong matters after the game, thanks so much for coming and giving me that much of your time. I really appreciate it. =)

For the benefit of those who weren't able to make the meeting and are interested in Hong Kong (and for the benefit of those who I perhaps didn't manage to get through to), here's a recap of everything that was talked about during the meeting. To those who may think I'm starting to sound like a broken record and are ready to wring my neck, sorry, you're going to hear this stuff one more time from me. =p Being makulit is apparently part of my job. =p So I hope you can bear with me one more time (hopefully for the last time), and take the time to read this nobela email of mine.

Hong Kong 2004 is looming ahead of us, and there's lots to do to prepare, and this time, we have time to correct the things we could have done better last year. For Hong Kong 2003, we trained for only 2 months, and admittedly, we saw a big improvement. Just think how much more we can improve with 7 months to train. We're going to make use of those 7 months, and hopefully kick some ass this year. (girls, incentive natin comes in the form of D-O-N-N-A... =p haha! init talaga ng ulo ko dun!)

So here are the details that were discussed and agreed upon during the meeting:

(1) TRAINING SCHEDULE - We're going to train every Tuesday and Thursday evening, and also on Sunday mornings. When the Rinx Cup ends on May 29, we're going to add Saturdays to the schedule, so all in all, we're going to train four days a week. On Tuesday and Thursday evenings, we're going to train from 8 - 10:30 pm. On Saturdays we train from 11 am - 2 pm . On Sundays we train from 10:30 am - 1 pm. Weekday trainings will start on April 27 (Tuesday). Sunday trainings will start on April 25. Saturday trainings will start on June 5.

(2) TRAINING PROGRAM - We're going to go back to doing plyometrics (I can hear the groans already -- sorry, guys, but we really do need plyo to help us move better on skates =p), then do skating drills, then have a scrimmage. Most likely it's going to be one hour plyo, one hour skating, one hour game. I don't know, I gotta ask whoever's going to coach, pero malamang ganun. Don't worry, we'll start off slowly, kasi pangit naman kung may mabigla. We'll be starting from scratch, because we haven't trained in awhile, so we'll take it slow at first. We're not expecting a major improvement on the first day, so don't worry.

(3) MISSING TRAINING DATES - If for some reason reason you can't attend on a particular day, you're going to have to make up for it on the other days. Parang ang labo nun ah... OK, example: If you can't make it to training on Tuesdays because you have class, then you should attend Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. You're teammates are going to be one day up on you, and so you have to catch up, and you need to really push yourself during those three days.

(4) TRAINING FEE - Sorry, guys, but unfortunately, we can't have the rink time fee waived this year like we did last year. Gameworx is actually losing money on Rinx, and we're in very real danger of losing the rink, so we can't ask them not to charge us.

(5) ALTERNATE TRAINING VENUES - I've already informed Pam that we're going to start Hong Kong training soon, and to please block off those days and times for us, but there will surely be times when we'll get bumped off for other Gameworx events. I've already asked Christian (the marketing manager) how come we can't be given priority over others, since we've been playing here for so long, and he said that sometimes, whe word comes from his higher-ups, there's nothing he can do about it (other than that, he totally supports us, and will give us free reign of the rink for those days and times). So I suggest that you also start looking for alternate venues in case we get bumped off. A village basketball court, or tennis court, something. As early as now, talk to the proper authorities and get permission to use that venue. If it requires paperwork, it's going to take time, so start early.

(6) GUYS AND GIRLS - Here's how it's going to work: All the guys, take charge of your own teammates. All the girls, take charge of your own teammates. This means that tayo na ang bahala mangulit ng mga teammates natin. Because let's face it. If the guys don't show up, it's the guys who are on the losing end, because it won't affect the girls, since we won't be playing with you guys (oOoOoOoh... =p) when we get to Hong Kong anyway. Same goes for the girls. If the girls don't show up, tayo din yung lugi, because, again, we won't be playing with the guys anyway, so it won't affect them. Also, it's up to the guys and girls to build their own teams. I realize na madami yung mga nawala, so we have to build our teams again, meaning we have to recruit people, talk to them, get them to come to training. Guys, take charge of recruiting your own guys, girls, take charge of recruiting your own girls. It can't be just one person trying to get people to come down and join the training sessions. Everyone has to pull their own weight.

(7) SACRIFICES - I realize that 4 days a week is a lot. But when you think about it, Hong Kong is a big deal. This is the Philippine team we're talking about. We're going there to represent the country. For those who went last year, you'll remember that our skill level compared to the other teams was completely far off. So we really do need those 4 days in order to catch up. I do believe that if you really want something, you're going to find ways to get it. So if you really want to be part of the Philippine team, sacrifices have to be made. This would include a bit of rescheduling, finding rides, etc.

(8) DISCIPLINE - Along with sacrifice comes discipline. We have to be consistent in our training in order to see some significant improvement. Which means that we have to attend as many of the trainings as humanly possible. I realize that there will be times when you can't attend a training session because of unforeseen or unavoidable circumstances, and that's totally understandable. But if you're going to be training only once a week, once every two weeks, once a month, please don't expect to make it on the team, and please don't expect to be Philippine team material. If a ride is your problem, I suggest you find a carpool or whatever as early as now. If the person you're counting on for a ride doesn't attend, I hope it won't automatically mean that you won't attend, too, so find several alternate means of transport.

(9) PUNCTUALITY - I've said it before, and I'll say it again, and I'll keep saying it until I'm absolutely sure that I've driven my point home: We're not babies anymore. We're all adults, and we know how to be responsible enough to be on time. Last year, we wasted a lot of time, what with nagiintayan before we can actually start. I'm glad that for the Rinx Cup, people are taking the schedule seriously (we start and end the games right on time, and that's great!), and I hope this keeps up for the Hong Kong training as well. We need to be responsible enough to make an effort to show up on time, and in the event that you happen to be late, be ready to take responsibility for your lateness, and take the consequences that come with it. What consequences am I talking about? Guys, if you're late, I'm sorry, but you are BEARCRAWLING IT. I'm not kidding. I'll be coming from Ortigas, and there will be times that I'll probably be late, but I'm ready to take responsibility for that, and I hope everyone else is, too, should you happen to be late.

(10) SPONSORS - Last year was a total ouch on the pocket, right? Well, this time, we have time to look for sponsors. I know that you're all hoping that we don't have to shoulder all of the expenses, so that means we all have to get our shit together and get out there and find sponsors. We have to work together on this while it's still early, so hopefully companies can find a little space for us in their budgets. If you need a sponsorship letter, please feel free to text/email me, and I can send you one. If you can make one on your own, good for you! Go for it! =)

(11) WORKING TOGETHER - Guys, I'm trying my hardest, and am working double time, but I can't do this on my own. There's only so much that I can do, and so I need everyone's help. I've already sent a letter of request to Solar Sports (that's the channel that airs wrestling all the time), asking them to do a piece on us, so we can get some publicity, and hopefully attract sponsors' attention. I'm also working together with Noey and her dad to try and pull Smart in our direction. I'm also in the process of getting contact numbers of people who could possibly help us get sponsorships from various companies. But, as I said, there's only so much I can do, and I need your help. Please help me find sponsors. Please help me recruit people. Please help make the training sessions a success. We are the ones who can make or break the success of our participation in Hong Kong 2004.

(12) SPEAK UP - Everyone is free to voice out their opinions. If you have any questions, comments, concerns, suggestions, violent reactions, say so. Tell me everything you want to say before the training starts, so that I can have time to look into it, and do something about it. If you don't speak up, and the training starts, I will assume that no one has any problem with what was agreed on.

This is what you'll be in for if you want in on Hong Kong 2004. I won't lie: it's going to take a lot of work. But, as I said, this isn't just laro-laro lang. This is the Philippine team we're talking about. It's strange yet really great that we suddenly have all of these international opportunities coming our way (after so many years of wala lang, just playing against each other every Saturday), and if you want to go against the cream of the crop of other countries, then you're going to have to put in the work.

So this is what Hong Kong is going to demand from us. I suggest that you think about everything that I've said, and decide if you're willing to invest the time and effort to plunge into this. I'll make it clear as early as now: if you tell me that you're committing, and then flake during the training sessions, well, let's just say it won't be pretty. Guys, it's disheartening for me to put so much effort into trying to find sponsors and stuff, just for you to flake on me after you've given me your word regarding your commitment. I don't want there to be any "fillers" on the teams this year (both guys and girls). I would very much like for everyone on the teams to know what their part is on the team, and to play it well.

For those who didn't get to go to Hong Kong last year, just ask any of those who did go, and they will tell you that it was an experience to remember. I'm hoping that the teams that go this year will have an even more unforgettable experience, both hockey-wise, and fun-wise. How this all turns out will really be up to us. There isn't much more I can do, other than set up the training dates, reserve the rink, and show up myself. The rest will be up to you.

This is where I end, because I'm sure you're all thinking that my email is waaaaaaaay long enough. See you guys at training! Let's make Hong Kong 2004 the best we possibly can!

-- Jacs --