A Different Christmas

December 5, 2004 was a different badminton day at Westdrive Badminton Center in Pasig whereminton cl we had a grand and merry smashing with thirty less fortunate children aged 5 to 15 years old. My friend Daday Pascual and I, together with a couple of volunteer friends started the yuletide season with this badinic dubbed as, “Give a Little Lob this ChristSmash” for Jesus Loves the Little Children Foundation (JLTLC), a Christian institution giving shelter to the abandoned children of the streets.

It was definitely a unique and joyous way of starting Christmas by bringing the sport we all love closer to these children who would normally just enjoy palo-palo of plastic shuttlecocks without a net in the side streets. This time around in Westdrive, the children immensely enjoyed indoor badminton on five matted courts swinging sturdy steel rackets and hitting on feather shuttlecocks for four straight hours of lobbing fun! Before that, the kids gathered round in a circle for some stretching exercises with their Ates and Kuyas.

The idea started last September when Daday and I thought of celebrating the true spirit of Christmas out of the usual Christmas parties. Why not conduct a badminton clinic and at the same time throw a party for these children? The idea was perfect. We immediately pooled volunteers of Baddicts friends and the various fundraising projects began at once.

For two months, we were able to raise sufficient money by selling Baddicts dri-fit shirts, selling shuttlecocks, placing makeshift coin banks out of shuttlecock tubes in various badminton courts, and pledging support from kind donors. We were able to buy Eagle rackets for the children, recreational materials and other basic necessities to assist the foundation. Pinoy Badminton extended their help with generous donations of badminton apparels, equipment and cash.

An intimate party followed at the deck of Westdrive after the games. The kids and volunteers loved the Santa Claus hats they wore that truly set the Christmas mood early and made the party more fun and exciting. The dinner party turned out to be two hours of major bonding with the children, complete with parlor games, song and dance presentations. We feasted on spaghetti, fried chickens and leche flans. We handed out loot bags filled with sweets and other goodies as extra delights for the children. The hours passed in a breeze and before we could catch our breaths the night has come to an end. One little boy led a heartfelt closing prayer of thanks, extremely grateful for the blessings they have all received. Their tremendous appreciation for all our efforts was enough to paint smiles on our haggard faces. It was a night to remember, the memories to be treasured forever.

The kids piled out of the badminton court one by one, giving the volunteer group resounding high fives of thanks. As their jeepney rides drove out of the gate, the kids craned their necks to look back one last time to their waving Ate’s and Kuya’s, and continued their shouts of gratitude. It was amazing how these children could have such energy in them. I went back in the court with my volunteer group, feeling so overwhelmed and fulfilled.

I was very tired but happy. The children’s voices echoed in my mind. “Ate Rory, thank you ha. Laro tayo ulit ha.” Of course, why not? Just as Christmas is for everyone, badminton is definitely for everyone too. These children who pucker up a smile on top of their small misfortunes and are very happy and grateful for the blessings they receive unknowingly taught me humility and contentment in life. I knew I could not ask for anything more on Christmas.

Kudos to the volunteer group and to JLTLC for raising those adorable children!