The Mindanao Peace Games – transcending sports and promoting peace and women empowerment

The Mindanao Peace Games – transcending sports and promoting peace and women empowerment

by rick olivares

This is the third year of the Mindanao Peace Games (MPG) and more than ever, the word “peace” has taken on a greater meaning especially following the more than three-month armed conflict in Marawi.

“Our city, Iligan, is 45 kilometers from Marawi,” said Reynaldo Mancia, a coach for Iligan Medical Center College. “Everyone knows about the peace and order situation in the Lanao areas. A program like the MPG and its philosophies will change the mindset of our young people. It breaks down barriers and will only serve for a better future for all of us.”

The philosophies that Mancia mentioned were broken down by MPG convenor Emmanuel “Noli” Ayo, “The MPG has three key goals – women empowerment as all the participating athletes are women, peace and community building, and transformational leadership.”

The MPG is a five-day program of athletic competition and seminars designed to enrich and enhance not only the knowledge of coaches and participants, but also to build their character is a project of the three Ateneo schools based in Mindanao – Cagayan De Oro, Davao, and Zamboanga and overseen by Ayo. And this year’s host is Ateneo de Davao University.

“All the participating athletes are women. And if you noticed during the opening ceremony, from the ushers and marshals to most of the performers, they are all men. It is our turn to be the ones to “serve” for lack of a better term and make the experience relevant for the women.”

Added Ayo, “We’ve all heard the term how ‘sports builds character’. It’s partly true. What makes it true is – the coaches. Because they are the ones who will guide, teach, explain, and make these sports experiences more relevant to the athletes. So we need to improve the quality of our coaches. To make better leaders of them who can convey precepts of peace, fair play, sportsmanship, and the positive values of sports.”

“As for peace, we have talks about that and we love the fact that our athletes – Christian and Muslim – are working side by side.”

Twelve Mindanao schools are participating in the MPG – Ateneo de Zamboanga University, Ateneo de Cagayan University, Iligan Medical Center College, La Salle University of Ozamiz, Ateneo de Davao University, Holy Cross of Davao College, University of South Eastern Philippines, Holy Trinity College of General Santos City, Saint Joseph Institute of Technology of Butuan, Father Saturnino Urios University of Butuan, Mindanao State University of Marawi, and Datu Ibrahim Paglas Memorial College of Maguindanao.

The number of participating schools has grown from the initial 10 that participated in the inaugural MPG held at the Ateneo de Cagayan then 12 in last year’s edition at Holy Trinity College at General Santos City.

“It isn’t only about competition,” added Ayo. “We have the popcorn and move night – it’s actually the burger and movie night for this year – where all the coaches and athletes watch a comedy film together. Theirs is nothing like a shared relationship where one watches a movie together – the old fashioned way in a theater -- that includes food. And laughter which we all know is the best medicine.”

The MPG has also been transcendent. For Pao Salvador, a coach at the Holy Cross of Davao College, she cited an athlete of hers who was being recruited by two Manila schools but she opted to stay because she felt that she can achieve more through the MPG not only for her school and team but also for the region. “When this athlete of mine first attended the MPG, she returned a totally changed person. In fact, she can even replace me now as head coach. The change has also affected her teammates as their approach to the games, school, life, and responsibility has changed for the better. Much much better. I am supposed to be in the hospital at the moment because some of my family are confined, but I couldn’t miss this because the MPG means so much to my student-athletes,” shared Salvador.”

For Wemir Cupin, a coach at the La Salle University of Ozamiz, the experience has also been life changing for him. “You learn that there is a bigger world around your immediate surroundings and that you learn from very good people. And what you learn – not only in sports but also about life and people’s philosophies – you adapt to your own self and your school.”

The third Mindanao Peace Games tipped off last Wednesday, October 25, and will close on Sunday, the 29^th.

Finding hope and peace in the Mindanao Peace Games

Mindanao State University (Marawi) students Roel Otero and Frances Tecson and MSU coach Jimmy Yanoyan

Finding hope and peace in the Mindanao Peace Games

by rick olivares

Mindanao State University of Marawi was supposed to participate in the ongoing Mindanao Peace Games; the third staging being held at the Ateneo de Davao University campus. The armed conflict that devastated this bustling city of close to 200,000 people has suspended the school’s participation for obvious reasons.

Yet MSU still elected to send three representatives to the ongoing games “to bring back ideas of hope” said coach Jimmy Yanoyan who once more had to leave his city behind.

Yanoyan isn’t even from Marawi. He hails from Pagadian in Zamboanga del Sur which is roughly three hours and 30 minutes away. But he did go to MSU in Marawi and since called it home.

He was in town when the siege began. “When we heard the first sounds of gunfire we thought that it was just something that would end in a few minutes,” related Yanoyan in Tagalog. “Except it didn’t end. And it got louder and louder until we had to leave our home.”

The trauma, according to Yanoyan, is with his child. He’s afraid that the sounds of war and death may have affected his child. During the conflict, his family like most residents, were forced to leave. And for the second time in the last three-plus months, he left. This time, not as a refugee but this time, “as an ambassador.”

“We (together with MSU-Marawi students Frances Honey Tecson and Roel Otero) are the representatives of our school to the Mindanao Peace Games,” said Yanoyan.

The Mindanao Peace Games or MPG for short is a project of the three Ateneo schools based in Mindanao – Cagayan De Oro, Davao, and Zamboanga and is overseen by convenor Emmanuel “Noli” Ayo where female student-athletes and coaches engage not only in five-days of competition and a series of fora designed to enrich their collective knowledge and outlook on life as well as their profession. This third staging of the event is currently being held at the Ateneo de Davao University campus from October 24-29.

“The MPG has three key goals – women empowerment as all the participating athletes are women, peace and community building, and transformational leadership. We believe that sports should be more than a field of competition. Here, we can aspire not only to be the best in athletic competition but to be the best persons we can be for our families, schools, communities, and to the nation.”

Otero himself feels changed by the MPG. “Before this, I would help officiate some basketball games,” he related. “I would get verbally abused by the Muslim athletes; some of which was very degrading that I wanted to get even. The MPG has people from different walks of life and religions working together for something. They say that the children are the future and it is happening right here. My anger burned away, touched by what we are trying to achieve here as learn from each other and try to come up with lasting changes.”

Like Yanoyan, Tecson wasn’t in the city during the siege. Coming home and seeing the devastation has upset her. “How do you rebuild,” she asked herself. “I don’t know where to start.”

Instead, she also turned to the MPG not only to soothe her soul but to also pick up hope. “When you’re upset, you surround yourself with positive people because that will carry you through the tough times.”

During the opening ceremony at the Ateneo de Davao, the school’s students performed Muslim dances and tribal music. I learned that the Muslim students greatly appreciate that their Christian counterparts have taken the time to learn their culture. In doing so, they too have a greater appreciation for their Christian brethren. It’s a first step for the young in a region constantly wracked by war.

Over a sumptuous Italian dinner hosted by Ateneo de Davao President Fr. Joel Tabora, S.J. at La Toscana, Datu Ahmed Paglas, President of Datu Ibrahim Paglas Memorial College in Maguindanao who himself is a former athlete waxed excited no end about the promise of the MPG. “You know, I was in a car accident in Manila three years ago,” he related. “I was nearly paralyzed and to date, still cannot use my right arm. I feel as if I have been given a second chance at life. I think it is the same for the MPG. It is unique because the program is more than sports. There are key areas that make this very meaningful and a learning experience for all – the female empowerment, the initiatives for peace, the inspiring stories, and the teachings on the values of transformational leadership. This is like another chance and from a different point of view. We like to think we can teach the young. But they too can teach us something.”

Day Two at the Mindanao Peace Games October 25, 2017

Day Two of the Mindanao Peace Games started out with a Coaches Forum held at the Pakighinabi Room of the Community Center of the Ateneo de Davao University. According to Noli Ayo, convenor of the Mindanao Peace Games, to get this room for use is very difficult and not very easy but they managed to secure permission for this special forum. It gives a specialness to the event and for the coaches participating in the forum.

This is where TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP was discussed. Its precepts is something that Ayo hoped to impart to all. I was stunned at how much alike Ayo and I think alike and what we believe in and what we adhere too. Maybe this is why we hit it off quickly when we first met a long time ago.

After the Coaches Forum, there was the Press Conference where we got to interview all the folks here. From left to right: Pao Salvador of Holy Cross of Davao College, Rey Mancia of Iligan Medical Center College, Wemir Joy Cupin of La Salle University Ozamiz, Pol Torrijos of Holy Trinity College of General Santos City (we previously met at the Filoil Flying V Premier Cup of three years ago), Jessica Esparrago of Ateneo de Cagayan, Coach Noli Ayo, Jinky Arriola of St. Joseph Institute of Technology of Butuan, Arvin Martinez of Ateneo de Cagayan University, Romel Cuaresma of Ateneo de Zamboanga, and Alther Rivera of the University of South Eastern Philippines.

Asked them their thoughts about the effect of the MPG on their schools and the student-athletes especially in the light of the recent events at Marawi. I got very moving answers from all. 

Day One at the Mindanao Peace games October 24, 2017

I was invited to attend the Mindanao Peace Games by Noli Ayo and while talking about it, I proposed doing a very quick talk about writing and journalism (my guidelines and secrets that have allowed me to have a successful career) for Ateneo de Davao students. It was their semestral break but we still managed to bring in 13 participants. Not bad. In fact, it was an intimate atmosphere.

The opening program for the 3rd Mindanao Peace Games last more than an hour and 30 minutes. All the participating student-athletes are women and as Coach Noli pointed out, the bulk of the marshals, ushers, and performers were all male. It is their turn to serve, he pointed out. And the cadets of Holy Trinity College of General Santos City provided the most applauded number of the night. 

I was impressed with a lot of things -- from the Ateneo de Davao campus to the entire program to even the people I met. 

The evening was closed out by a wonderful five-course Italian dinner that was hosted by Ateneo de Davao President Fr. Joel Tabora S.J. The food was terrific and I couldn't stop eating (just when I am trying to lose weight). But the table discussions were the best. I have met a lot of administrators, coaches, and officials in my career and it is easy to spot a blowhard and someone full of themselves. But this table of folks -- from left to right - Mrs. Leticia Salas of St. Joseph Institute of Technology in Butuan with her son, Jospeh; Fr. Joel Tabora S.J.; Coach Noli Ayo; me; Datu Ahmed Paglas (President of Datu Ibrahim Paglas Memorial College of Maguindanao), Ms. Jacel Kiram (President of Pencak Silat NSA); Dr. Rey Albano (President of Holy Trinity College of General Santos City); Fr. Angelo Buenavides (Director of the Socsargen Peace Network), and Dr. Royce Torres (President of the Iligan Medica, Center College) -- were a delight to be with. I absolutely loved the exchange of ideas and talk. 

Then Coach Noli and I ended the evening with coffee at Starbucks! Lovely. 

I was in Davao for only a day and a half of the five-day Mindanao Peace Games but I was very impressed and perhaps more importantly, touched. I am committing myself to this (MPG) for as long as they will have me.

At 10-0, for the Ateneo Blue Eagles... their challenges.

The challenges of being undefeated

by rick olivares

The challenges just get tougher for the Ateneo Blue Eagles who now have a target painted on their back.

For the second straight game, the Blue Eagles had to battle back from a deficit to pull out a win in the fourth period for a 70-59 victory over the Far Eastern University Tamaraws. The victory was their tenth in a row and Ateneo remains the only unbeaten side in the ongoing UAAP Men’s Basketball tournament.

I thought that the Tamaraws made their shots early in the game while Ateneo struggled to find the bottom of the net. They shot 25% in the first quarter while FEU hit 47% of their attempts. Even from the free throw line, Ateneo was miserable – 25% (1-4).

Ateneo played better in the second period but FEU still held on to the lead with their late game finishing. And it was the two former Blue Eagles in Arvin Tolentino and Hubert Cani who were showing the way for the Tamaraws.

The Blue Eagles finally found their groove in the fourth quarter with a bit of déjà vu. This time it was sophomore Raffy Verano who reprised the inspiration that Gian Mamuyac gave against National University – by attacking inside. Verano, who has settled down in the past few games after a rather slow start, has always been a gutsy player. He does the little things from setting screens, taking charges, battling for rebounds, or even raiding the passing lanes.

This time around, he drove hard and beat Prince Orizu by a whisker. He scored eight big points in the final 10 minutes of play. And that carved up some space for Matt Nieto who drilled a huge triple.

Ateneo cranked up the defense when it mattered the most (4^th period) by winning the battle of the boards, 16-9; pilfering the ball, 2-1; and protecting the rim, 2-0 blocks. You have to appreciate the two blocks on Ron Dennison – one by Thirdy Ravena and the other by Gian Mamuyac. Dennison had a lay-up but he got rejected.

Prince Orizu was a non-factor in that span (no points and no rebounds) while Tolentino and Cani were blanked.

Winning the battle of the boards was crucial as Ateneo parlayed that into a 4-0 advantage in second chance points. Both squads turned the ball over thrice each but Ateneo came away with a precious 2 points to none in turnover points. And from the line, they shot 8-9 while FEU was 3-6.

If the wins over La Salle, National University, and Adamson were character-defining ones as they were close ones, this one is no different and adds to the end game poise. As part of that endgame poise is the performance of point guard Matt Nieto, who over the course of the season, has become clutch.

Clearly, the burden of carrying a streak is evident. The play at times has been sloppy and not due to the defense. Furthermore, teams are defending players like Anton Asistio better and are going at Chibueze Ikeh to test him further. As good as they are at 10-0, I still hear some of the basketball cognoscenti doubt them. Perhaps it is because they didn’t fare well in the pre-season and because they feel that La Salle is only hitting its stride.

You have to appreciate how head coach Tab Baldwin deconstructed this team and reconfigured it to his basketball philosophies. Watching from afar, he broke conventional wisdom in how Ateneo teams prepared before the season. With the changes in the calendar of games, that necessitated further change. Clearly, the five-peat days are long over.

As to Ateneo’s brand of play -- it’s pretty impressive. And when I think of it…. these Blue Eagles play close to his old national squad, New Zealand plays (minus their athletic stretch forwards and centers). Unselfish team ball that is basketball eye candy and with anyone on any given day capable of lighting it up.

There’s no telling where the boys in blue will end up. La Salle, despite sporting two losses in 10 matches, is still the favorite to win it all unless Ateneo can take it from them. And the way things are going, it looks like the two will meet once more… in the finals.