Badminton is for Everyone

It all started with a suggestion from Rors to hold an outreach program for Christmas. With nothing better to and with a personal motive of keeping my mind busy to get over my depression, I volunteered. Perhaps I got too eager and too involved that the next thing I knew was I am co-heading the project with Rors. I have no complains though and in fact, I'm more than glad to do it. Nothing seems to be easy about this project but it doesn't mean that it was not fun. Planning and meetings were held after badminton games. Ideas started pouring in from creative minds in the Baddicts forum and during meetings. Soon an e-group was formed to discuss the details of the fund-raising and the concept of the outreach activity. We agreed to hold another badminton clinic for the children of Jesus Loves the Little Children Foundation.

Thinking of a fund-raising program is excruciating. We came up with some creative suggestions like an acoustic concert, a KTV challenge, selling shuttlecocks, Baddicts shirts, and other badminton merchandise. When we realized that the acoustic night and the KTV is not feasible, we took creativity to the next level. How can I forget the idea of collecting and selling plastic bottles for 20 cents each?! Freaking bottles hahahaha!!! Then the coin banks which earned us a few bucks and a lot of "muni-muni time", and a few other silly suggestions that caused us gas pains (e.g. the "selling mani sa sementeryo" idea with matching hampas sa hangin hahahaha). One afternoon, over soup and bread, a few money-matics, the final plans were set. Badminton buddy system! --Tin's very wise idea. We just need to get thirty sponsors for the thirty kids. We also earned a lot from selling Patrick's shuttlecocks (Thank you again Patrick, and thanks to the top-seller Ms. Carmie). It's overwhelming each time I see a smiley added beside a donor's name. The "smilies" were used to mark paid donations, and as the list becomes crowded with those yellow faces, we started planning the outreach activity with much more confidence. After gathering enough funds, the shopping adventures began. Rors and I explored the tiangge labyrinths of Tutuban and Greenhills for the loot bags and other stuff we can give to the foundation. Aside from the tiangge we also went to Unimart and SM Supermarket for some groceries. This was really exhausting and it tested the limits of our super powers. I must say, our humor saw us through. We managed to turn everything to a fun-filled adventure (or misadventure). The other pretty angels took care of the food preparation. Other unexpected donations came from other Baddicts members, corporate sponsors, and PinoyBadminton. Soon everything was in place.

Now let me tell you a little side story: At the back of my mind, in the early stage of the preparations, I was wondering: what would these orphanage kids benefit from a badminton clinic? Don't they need something more tangible, something they can use for their future? Imagine what we can give them with that amount of money we've raised. As I was walking in the mall one night, I noticed a lot of people are carrying badminton rackets of different sorts, equally different as the people carrying them. Some have fancy rackets and some look like pros. On my way home, I saw children playing badminton at the side of the street. Ting! I can almost see the light bulb appear on top of my head. "BADMINTON IS FOR EVERYONE". Badminton has given me joy in hundred and one ways. We will not be "badminton addicts" if badminton is not fun. The children in the orphanage deserve this kind of fun too. If we will not do it for them, they will set this idea aside, prioritize other things, and will miss the fun of playing badminton. We are going to help them in a way no other donors can, we are going to make them happy the best way we know how.

December 5, 2004, Westdrive Badminton Center, Pasig City -- The Give a Little Lob This ChristSmash outreach program turned from a dream to a reality. I was a bit nervous, not knowing what to expect and afraid that I will fail to meet the children's expectations. Thanks to the Baddicts and JLTLCF Volunteers, everything went great. The kids had fun playing with their ate's and kuya's. The four hours of playing went fast and soon after we all feasted over chicken and spaghetti, and yes, leche flan! After eating, we had a small program where the kids performed and we had a few parlor games. Modesty aside, I think that the project was an overwhelming success. We have met and even exceeded our expectations. We all went home with smiles on our faces and with a memory we could all cling on for a long time. It will always remind me how we can all endure life's trials by having fun and by focusing on the blessings not on the losses. It surely helped me with my abovementioned selfish motive, but it did more than that. I have been blessed with so many wonderful experiences and it has thought me some important lessons. For the children of JLTLCF, it will give them a lasting memory of a special day of badminton fun and that they have ate's and kuya's who hopes not only for their bright FUTURE but also that they enjoy the PRESENT as fun-loving, care-free, well-loved children.