Iligan: Clues to Solve an Enigma
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In the last few days we saw a video that showed kids playing ultimate frisbee on the streets of Iligan City. One of the known breeding grounds of great frisbee players of the country. These young players of 12-18 years old are having their evening scrimmages in Tomas Cabili Avenue, an area near Iligan port.
According to the Uploader Jeffrey Delos Santos II (who is also an ultimate player), he would see these kids play in this area on his way to his late night grub of “halang halang”. He would describe these kids play with toughness and speed. They would train in the morning in a small open area. They even have mini tourneys on their own, added Jeffrey.
Upon hearing from us, he preceded to ask the kids how they know each other "Mag silingan rami halos ug purok pero lahi2 mi ug teams and mag sabot2 lang mi kung mag dula mi sa dalan inig ka gabii" said Shaen Dejino one of the players. | Almost all of us are nieghbors or from the same community but we play on different teams. We just talk and plan to play on the streets in the evenings.
Unfortunately on the wee hours, this spot is also known to be a battle ground for gang fights which causes distress to the local living within the area. “That is why I wanted to share the video to create a different image of the area as it has been a zone for gang wars and with this, this could help some of those kids to participate in sports or be active in physical activities rather than drawing their self near danger or harm.” replied Jeffrey to my question why he took the video and uploaded it.
“For me it is one great pride why Iligan ultimate players have been manifesting greatness for years. It is because that we did find ways to cope up with what the national and even international play have been taking it to higher levels. That’s why these kids have also been aiming to improve themselves as they have [seen] the best role models here in Iligan that have already grabbing highest level of play in the local and even in the international scene of ultimate. Grassroots as they say, is one avenue where the next generation could be able to sustain what the pioneers in Iligan have brought to be recognized as a city or region where most of the formidable players in the country have been brought up.” answered Jefrey about his motivations of sharing the video. “One thing also is that the Iligan ultimate community have been asking for the local government unit to recognize more the community and also help us in terms of the field or pitches that we could be able to use for us to produce more talents in this event as some players before and actively playing have been bringing the banner of the city to the top of national level competitions for more than a decade.” he added.
How can a city without a decent field or facility produce competitive and high talented players? This is a question that we have been asking and meaning to find out about this place we would call an ‘enigma’.
-Nico
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