Iligan Amazons: Through Tough Times, They Prevail
Competitive. It's the best word to describe Ultimate in Iligan City. Even if it's only a one-day hat tournament, the games are no different to a three day 60 plus team tournaments around the country. Iliganon's go all out, all day. During my last visit in the City of Waterfalls, I only saw one big open field that can accommodate two playing fields for them to play freely. So even on cement grounds, a field of gravel, on grass full of cow dung, weeds and roots of trees, as long as they can run and jump, they will play on it in Iligan.
Ultimate Frisbee is a lifestyle. Most players carry their pair of shoes and jerseys in their bags the moment they leave for school in the morning so that when the day ends, they go straight to the park, lace up their cleats and run. With everything that's happening in the area, Ultimate Frisbee became the stress reliever, an escape from reality for these young Iliganons.
During the month of May, Iligan Amazons Women's Team, together with the men's team, Iliguns, went to Bacolod city for the first ever single gender PFDA National Championships. They only had two whole days of training before they left for Negros, for the reason that they spend most of their time looking for sponsors and to conduct a few fund raising activities. Money is seriously an issue for these amazing athletes. Because of that, they did not get the chance to bring their complete roster and filtered their line-up to those who can spend for themselves. But in the end, they still pulled it through.
Lack of finances and not having a decent place to train are the main problems in Iligan, as well as not having the right gear. In order for some to own a decent pair of cleats, they have to search for a pair in an "Ukay-Ukay" store and others had them donated by friends and teammates, sew them up if they are too worn out. Even discs are recycled. They have a few sewn discs because of the cracks, and they need to do these things because they only have a couple more good discs left in their inventory, and they are trying to save the good ones for future use. These are real stories, folks. But we are still fortunate that there are some good people in the community that send them discs once in a while.
Just like in any other areas of the country, some parents still don't understand why their children are obsessed in chasing these white flying plastic discs. Same with this team. The Amazons usually set aside their school allowances just to join upcoming tournaments. Most of their parents do not give them the support that they need to join these events.
The struggle of finding time to train and looking for extra funds are big issues for these girls, and the 22 hour travel time (one way) was also a big hill to climb. In order for the Amazons (and Iliguns) to make the Nationals possible, they went to their City Government and asked for assistance. The city of Iligan was able to lend the City Bus for them to use from Iligan to Pulawan Port and back. Though the city gave them a small amount of financial support, that bus ride right there was already a big help for them.
To save up their money, the Amazons stayed at different houses in Bacolod (Local Ultimate friends) and the Iliguns were housed at USLS Bahay Kalinungan. With regards to their food, they brought their own canned goods that were good enough for the whole weekend in Bacolod, and of course, they brought a box of their famous Palapa for additional fundraising.
When I asked them about the challenges during the Nationals:
"Both teams have to adjust because we haven't got the chance to
train in a field with seven players on each side, and most of us were so drained due to the traveling that we did from Iligan to Bacolod."
They were so excited that both teams went head to head and won games against some of the great teams in the country, especially the teams from Luzon.
On winning both Men and Women Championships?
"We were so overwhelmed on what happened at Nationals. We were able to defeat one of the most respected Women's team in the Philippines. Both teams were so happy that most of us cried our hearts out during our final huddle. We have been praying for this moment that both Men's and Women's team will bring home the Championship trophies in Iligan. (They've been battling it out since Ultimate Battle Grounds twice, Frisbeecation and Banuwa Ku)"
"We would like to thank God for making all things possible. To our families for supporting us. To the Iligan Ultimate Community. The City Government of Iligan and the City Sports Office for the transportation and financial support. To the La Salle Brothers for accommodating us in Bacolod, to all those who bought our Palapa and Amazon Caps, and to all those who helped and supported us (You know who you are) this Championship is for all of you."
The Iligan Boys and Girls had a different story to tell than the rest of us. They may not have the most expensive pair of cleats in the "Ukay-Ukay" store or the best sown, cracked discs to throw with, but their Passion and Love towards the sport is pretty much the same as the rest...
Or even greater than most of us.
Congratulations, Iligan Ultimate Community... Amping mo!
On the latest update in the situation in Iligan,
April Adalim: "Iligan is much safer now with the presence of more military troops. The Curfew has been moved from 9:00 pm to 11:00 pm.
Martial Law did not affect any of our daily activities. We can still train like before. What Martial Law did is make Iligan and Mindanao a safer place."
Until then... More images to share. More stories to tell...
It's All About U
Thanks sir Don.
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