House that, Papa?

We spotted hermit crabs crawling hurriedly on the beach one morning.

"Look, papa!" the little one exclaimed. "Small crabs!"

"They're called hermit crabs, Bela. Let's take one home," her older brother suggested.

"Sorry guys but we can't," kill joy papa intervened. "We shouldn't harm animals."

"But we're not going to harm it," Gabi pleaded. "We will take care of it."

"Yes, papa. It will be our pet." Bela echoed.

"But most animals are not meant to be pets," I tried to explain. "We actually harm animals once we remove them from their habitat."

"What's habitat?" the little one asked.

"Habitat is where the animal lives." I answered authoritatively.

"Then there's no problem!" Gabi pronounced after some thought.  "We can take a hermit crab with us, Papa... Because a hermit crab always carries its home on its back!"

Down ... but not out!

The scoreline was depressing: Makati Football School - Eleven (11) - Raya School - Nil (0). 

And that was for the very first game of Gabi's 6 years old-and-under team in the Alaska Cup 2011.

The team was totally outclassed. Never have the young kids encountered such skilled opponents. Never have they played against teams that actually employed strategies in the game. 

And the Raya Razkals played all their games without subs. Unlike the other teams who were up to 12 man deep in the seven a side tournament.

The neophyte team went on to lose the rest of their games. All against established football institutions. All via big margins. Don Bosco Academy, 0 - 5. La Salle Zobel, 0 - 8. 

They also lost to Alabang Football School and Atletico Diliman Football Club. But by this time, I already stopped counting the goals.

The kids though never gave up. Though outclassed, they continued to fight. Though outplayed, they gave their all. Though outscored, they never lost hope.

The five matches in four hours took its toll on the kids. They were sun burned, hungry and bone tired. Many of them had cuts and bruises. Our valiant goalie even got hit in the face.

I hugged Gabi as he walked off the field after the last game. I gave him "5" and quietly accompanied him back to the tent. I didn't know what to say.

What do I tell my son after such a beating? How do I tell him that things will be better? How do I pick him up after this bad fall?

But before I could even say something remotely inspiring, Gabi sensed my melancholy and said: "Don't worry, Papa, we'll do better next time."

He then ran off to join his team mates for a last powow and a last cheer:

"Raya! One Team!"

Halloween 2011

For Halloween in Woodside Gabi and Bela came as mummies. Patty soaked the strips of cloth in coffee, dried them and then twirled them around the two. Unfortunately, the strips slowly unraveled as the kids went around the village for trick or treat.

For Raya School's Pangangaluwa, were the students were encouraged to wear costumes depicting creatures from Philippine mythology, Gabi dressed as a dwende while Bela came as a Babaeng Puti.