Peace the ultimate goal: Football helps instill values to Mindanao kids

MANILA, Philippines – Balls, not bullets; Goals, not guns.

Using the beautiful game as medium, the Philippine Marine Corps and the One Meralco Foundation have been helping kids from conflict areas in Mindanao grow into peace-loving citizens through its “Football for Peace” initiative.

Now on its fifth year, the program brings 218 kids to Manila for a weeklong educational field trip highlighted by a football clinic conducted by UFL side Loyola Meralco Sparks and games against Metro Manila schools and clubs in the fifth Football Festival Cup.

 “It started in Sulu and has progressed into a character-development and nation-building program getting the kids to play football. The whole intent is: balls, not bullets; goals, not guns,” said Rookie Nagtalon, PMC Football for Peace co-founder.

Football for Peace started in 2011 when the Marines stationed in Tubig Puti, Looc, Sulu played football and piqued the interest of the kids in the area. The kids approached them afterwards and asked to borrow the soccer ball.

“The Marines realized that football can be a medium to reach out to the children and the community,” said Nagtalon.

“From simple clinics, we added value-formation activities. We’re trying to instill the value of discipline; teach them to pick up their garbage, clean-up, respect the elders, etc,” said Capt. Ceasar Ryan Gandeza, director of the Marine Corps Special Service Office.

The weeklong activity in the capital gives the children a worthwhile experience that they’ll treasure and bring back home.

“The program helps them build their dream and aspire to enjoy peaceful living,” said Gandeza. “This change in perspective affects the parents and when the parents are involved in the program, it translates into the family and their community.”

“A lot of kids are now improving themselves in education, in the sport, in the community, in the home. We’re training them up to a path where it will lead them to peaceful coexistence. When they grow older, they won’t deviate from it,” said Nagtalon.

The kids from Taw-tawi, Sulu, Basilan, Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat, Misamis, Lanao del Sur, Pagadian, Bohol and Palawan attended a mini-training with the Sparks led by star forward Phil Younghusband and coach Simon McMenemy yesterday at University of Makati Field.

One Meralco has been partners with the Football for Peace since 2012. Each year, the Sparks conduct clinics for the children during their Manila tour and . last year, Sparks players led by James Younghusband even joined its activity in Sulu.

“Our shared belief of building the skills of our young people to become responsible, productive, and peace-loving citizens will hopefully lead us to a better country. One Meralco Foundation’s participation in the program is a concrete expression of its commitment to youth development through sports,” said One Meralco Foundation president Jeffrey Tarayao.