Sports people in the game of their lives

The current health crisis had forced everything to stop except for medical and other essential services.  These are not ordinary times we’re experiencing and when this will come to pass, things will never be the same as not only precautions will be the new normal but most importantly, the economy will try to get up from a major crash. 

The sporting world is not exempt and we sure miss all the excitement and frustrations from the action, our favorite teams and athletes.  They too are obliged to follow the enforced shelter-in-place for obvious reasons.  But a good number of them had jumped to a different playing field, this time in the collective effort to control the spread of the killer disease.

Serving in the three branches of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, enlisted athletes from different sporting disciplines reported for duty to selflessly join the fight against the pandemic.  From basketball to boxing, from cycling to muay thai and to volleyball, these military sports people answered their call of duty.

Athletes who were not with the armed services are also into the alleviation efforts and they either donated their allowances or auctioned off their game-used equipment and personal memorabilia collections with the proceeds used in the purchase and distribution of relief goods and the manufacture of personal protective equipment for medical frontliners.  Professional ball players are also doing their share with at least one PBA team donating part of their salaries to CoVid relief undertakings.

Sports apparel companies likewise are helping.  Because sporting activities are on an indefinite leave, they shifted their production from athletic uniforms to PPEs.  There are several of them doing the noble work all over the country but I would like to make mention one company based in my hometown Liloan, a suki of Engr. Tomas Pepito, the LGU’s Project Development Officer.  Yes, I am biased.

Owned and operated by Ian Callet, the Cebu Shirts and Sportswear partnered with a non-profit organization for the materials and donations and so far had distributed almost 900 PPE suits and more than 1000 face masks.   

It’s not easy to transition from uniforms to PPEs because it’s an entriely different product and process.  Prior to distribution, CSAS, like other companies transitioning to PPEs, had to go thru testings and approvals from health and medical experts to make sure that frontliners who will be wearing them will be properly protected.   I understand CSAS do sell PPEs in bulk as well as to individuals at competitive prices to defray operational costs. 

Special mention also goes to Engr. Ruel Jugalbot, council member of barangay Catarman, Liloan who recently donated 100 PPE suits to the town’s Municipal Health Office.  Indeed, local health workers will now have additional protection in their continuing yet thankless job of providing basic medical services.

Today, we’re in a different environment, a different arena, in a completely different game.  In the blink of an eye, an invisible adversary had claimed thousands of lives and infected thousands more worldwide. 

Yet, we always have heroes who had given us hope, and opposite them are the usual anti-heroes who always find fault to anyone and anywhere except themselves.  But we are comforted by these people willing to spend time, effort and resources, even risking their own well being, now playing in the game of their lives.