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Public Affairs

League of hope


Episode on July 13, 2009 Monday late night after Saksi The Philippines gained international prominence when the likes of Manny Pacquiao, Efren “Bata" Reyes, and Paeng Nepomuceno rose to international stardom after achieving several international titles in their respective sports. They have wowed the world with their superb athletic skills and put the Philippines in the map of the sporting world. Bringing honor to the country is also what a group of kids from Tondo, Manila hopes to achieve. They are members of the Sagip Baseball Team, organized by Gawad Kalinga as a way to prevent poor kids from engaging in illegal vices and cart them off the streets. Amidst the poverty that surrounds them and living just beneath the shadow of the infamous Smokey Mountain, these kids are training arduously to become the country’s first ever baseball champions from the slums. 12-year old Bugoy dreams of visiting other places. By joining the Sagip Baseball Team, he believes he could make this dream come true. According to his friends, Bugoy used to be the community’s bully, but he has since changed after being recruited to join the team. Brothers Balog and Al-Al are the newest members of the baseball team. Both garbage collectors, Al-Al and Balog never miss a day of training despite their rigid work. Al-Al is currently the youngest and smallest member of the group. Because of his diminutive size, Al-Al could hardly hit the ball, but this does not discourage him. Al-al knows that proper training could make him better. The team has been competing for some time now. In fact, during the 2009 Little League Philippine Series held in Luneta and Smokey Mountain, the Sagip Team was able to reach the semifinal round. Unfortunately, the better-trained and well-equipped players from private schools beat them to the championship. Award-winning journalist Jay Taruc presents an inspiring documentary about the struggles and triumphs of the small but mighty “League of Hope," airing on I-Witness this Monday midnight over GMA-7.
Tanyag na tanyag ang Pilipinas sa buong mundo dahil sa mga tulad ni Manny “Pacman" Pacquiao, Efren "Bata" Reyes, Paeng Nepumuceno, at iba pang atletang Pinoy na nag-iwan ng tatak ng kagalingan ng mga Pilipino sa larangan ng palakasan. Sa isang maliit na sulok ng dating Smokey Mountain sa Tundo, Maynila, isang grupo ng mga kabataan ang nangangarap ding makamit ang kagalingang ito. Sila ang mga miyembro ng Sagip Baseball Team, na binuo ng Gawad Kalinga para matulungan ang mga bata sa Tundo na makaiwas sa pagtambay at malulong sa masasamang bisyo. Isa rito ang 12-taong gulang na si Bugoy. Pangarap daw niyang makarating sa iba't-ibang lugar, kaya naman walang puknat siya sa pag-eensayo. Ayon sa kanyang kasamahan, dati raw siga si Bugoy, pero mula nang masali sa baseball team, bigla raw itong nagbago at bumait ng husto. Bagong sali naman ang magkapatid na Balog at Al-Al. Kasalukuyang nasa training stage pa lang silang dalawa, pero si Al-al ang pinakabata at pinakamaliit sa grupo. Bagamat hirap pa siyang pumalo sa bola, pursigido siyang mahasa sa paglalaro ng baseball. Nito lamang nakaraang Abril, sumali ang Sagip Baseball Team sa Little League Philippine Series na ginanap sa Luneta at sa mismong Smokey Mountain. Pinatag nila ang isang bahagi ng bundok ng basura para rito, ngunit sadyang mas malalakas at kumpleto sa training ang ibang mga private school na kanilang nakalaban, kaya sa semifinals lang umabot ang grupo. Pero sa kabila ng kakulangan sa gamit, sinisikap ng mga batang ito na maging magaling sa kanilang napiling sports. Para sa kanila, hindi hadlang ang kahirapan para makarating sa World Series at gagawin nila ang lahat, matupad lang ang minimithing pangarap. Samahan ang award-winning journalist na si Jay Taruc sa pagkilala sa kahusayan ng “Liga ng Pag-asa," ngayong Lunes ng hatinggabi sa I-Witness pagkatapos ng Saksi.
Tags: iwitness