Corona Virus Disease-19 Situation Report

By now the COVID-19, which has reached the pandemic level, has greatly affected everyone all over the world. The quick scan and survey of the latest Global Situation Report 54 (PDF) released by the World Health Organization as of March 14 at 10 AM:

- 153,527 Confirmed cases
- 5,733 Deaths
- 144 countries, areas and territories with cases

You may visit this interactive map of Novel Corona Virus (Covid-19) Situation.

And in the Philippines, the total number of reported cases went up to 144 with 12 deaths. The Department of Health seeks public cooperation. In a press release, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III stated:

 “Now it is our turn to do our part in mitigating the spread of the disease. The DOH earnestly asks for everyone’s cooperation. Our front line health workers and medical personnel are risking their safety to respond to the needs of the public, all we ask is for you to do your part: practice preventive measures, go on strict home quarantine if you are experiencing mild symptoms, and help halt the spread of fake news. The success of our measures to contain COVID-19 is hinged on your participation. We will get through this together,” the Secretary added.

“At this most trying time, our strongest weapon as a nation is Vigilance, Preparedness, and Solidarity. We are seeing these values at play now as DOH is receiving an influx of support from individuals and organizations who are willing to render assistance in any way they can. Let this be a reminder for all Filipinos to step up to the plate and heed the call for cooperation,” 

It is important to be aware of the implementation of the "Community Quarantine" tomorrow, March 17, Monday. The Inter-|Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) adopts several measures when our country raised the |Code Red Sub-Level 2 of COVID-19.

Almost all events have been cancelled and the movement going in and out of the National Capital Region will be restricted and monitored closely. The Mayors of Metro Manila or NCR has issued a curfew to limit movement within the region. 

Let us all help one another. Stay home and do your basic health improvement regimen. Avoid crowded places. 

Pray.

As a (CFA) Football Player and a Parent (Part 2)

Let me continue where we left off.

From the scholastic football games, we now move into the club games.

Football Clubs and Academies 

Club games and practices are usually on a weekend. Usually. But not always.

When there is school, club meetings are limited to once a week to give way to academic activities and other matters like football. Yes, like football.

Come Summer time, it could be dizzying or tiring for the unprepared.

Since football clubs are literally everywhere, from Aparri to Jolo and in between the three major islands of the Philippines. Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao have got what we call the best football programs with Visayas boasting of Barotac as the country's football capital.

So yes, as a player of Cavite Football Academy, one joins the weekly training at the football field of Philippine Christian University-Dasmarinas. Every Saturday, from 8 AM to 12 NN, rain or shine (sometimes earthquakes and flooding), they play with their buddies.

                                                     
                                                 Video Courtesy of Mr Edric Luna

With several clubs forming different teams for each age groups: Under 7, Under 9, Under 11, Under 13, Under 15 and Under 17, a player is never to run out of teams and tournaments to play. For each team, there are tournaments for every reason and season.

It is surprising to find out the organizations you encounter for each tournament. There are Regional Organizations like Luzon Football Association, Cavite Football Association, North Eastern Luzon Football Association, Laguna Football Association and many more.

AFC Grassroots Day Celebration at Carmona, Cavite. 05.15.2019

Football Moms at the AFC Grassroots Day Celebration

In the club level, you have Kaya Football Club, Green Archers United, Ceres-Negros Football Club, Atletico-Diliman Football Club, Alab Football Club, JPV- Marikina Football Club, Imus United Football Club, Stallions-Laguna Football Club and yes... and many more.

Isn't it amazing? Football is very much alive in our country. And that's one of the reasons why our youth players, if left unguided, might get lost or burn out with all the tournaments and training they take part of.

For CFA Players

They have played in various tournaments like:

• CAFA Cup
• Xavier Cup
• Philippine Football Federation's (PPF) Festival of Football (FoF)
• PFF's U15 National Championships
• San Lazaro Cup
• Youth Football League
• Gilligan's Cup
• And many more

Football parents have learned to work around the schedule and pressure of watching and sending their kids to football games. Some parents have the old-school approach to the extent of taking the coach stance during games. Some parents choose to act like normal member of the audience: claps-shouts-use-phone-repeat-cycle.

After six years of watching football games, I haven't understood this one football rule: The Offside Rule.

AFC Grassroots Day Celebration 2019

And after years of bringing them to football games, me and my wife have met people who have become regular weekend companions. Slowly, we have become certified football parent: burnt skin, husky voices, achy feet and thrilled to be with our kids (di ba?).

Expenses

Fortunate we are for we are part of Cavite Football Academy, a sports program under the Provincial Government of the Province of Cavite. CFA provides our kids the following support:

• Coaching and training are all free of charge

• Pick-up points, transportation to and from training and game venues

• Football kits (light and dark)

• Food during practice and games

• Five kilo of rice every two weeks

Imagine that?

In which area do we really spend money one?

Boots and more boots. For teenagers like mine, game day allowance is a must. Socks, shin guards too. Gas for car and food for everyone joining in the fun because you cannot spell fund without fun.

And that's what life is like for most of us football parents.

Thank you for taking time off to read. 

Dear Pro Football Philippines 2019

Hi everyone and welcome back to our blog!

If you have been following my writings and musings here, you know very well that our little online space is  still a baby. I started writing about football and for Cavite Football, officially, last January 1, 2019. I started with this post: Cavite Football Academy Blog Launch.

I got into "football" because my sons chose to play the game about five or six years ago.

And about last year, my youngest son represented our city and CALABARZON at the Vigan Palarong Pambansa. He got into Cavite Football Academy and I felt I could help the academy thru blogging.

And that's what got me into football.

Now that I've given you a backgrounder on why I have this space we can move on to my real post.

Dear Professional Football in the Philippines,

I've got questions. Lots of them. Hope you can find the time to read this.

Why? Why are we in such place? I am from a place where adolation is a dime a dozen. Maningko ang pagmamahal where I come from. I know I should never compare you with someone else. I know but please understand that we barely know each other. I can't help but wander.

How could it be this way?

Is it broken? Can we fix this? I want to. Let's try to work it out. I'm holding on. Yes I am that's for sure.

Who? Who can do it? Who can lead the fixing?

Does it need fixing? Or should we let it be?

Know what? Today, today I asked someone. I asked someone who I really think knows the goings-on. I asked him:

"Hi! May I ask for some enlightenment about PFF, PPL and football in general?

"How could the "licensing" issue be a big issue for PPL? 
At the heart of every sports event is the simple desire to "play"...right?"

It becomes "issue-ish" when other aspects of "play" is given more importance than "playing"

And his reply was simple, truthful (that's how I felt when I read it) and with hopelessness (hindsight to which I have no way of fact-checking)

"Sorry  really dunno"

And more questions are in my head now more than ever. You know what, Pro Football, I really think you're growing on me now. I think about you when I wake up. When I stare at my desktop its you I see. When I talk to my wife, I think about you. I imagine myself spending my afternoon weekends with you. I do my daily rounds of teaching, I can feel you. You're always on my mind.

At times, I'm seen by basketball, volleyball, chess and table tennis staring in space and I know they know. They just don't want to confront me. Even my best friend, sleep, nagdududa na.

Pro Football... are you viable in our country? And can the business side wait for a bit? Are we too-much-too-soon in terms of expectations? Can R.O.I. be the last one on the agenda? Please?

FIFA-PFF can you help? As in really help? Is it possible to tweak "some' policies to accommodate the situation in here? 

Don't you think the "Home-and-Away' format is just too much for the clubs to handle? Oh wait, a newbie like me can count money (although not as much). But I have the answer to that. Its too expensive for the clubs!

Can we forego TV sponsorship for now? Do you know any willing sponsors to pay astronomical amount of money for a low-rating TV show? Sorry Pro Football, I didn't mean to hurt you with that. I want to have an honest-to-goodness relationship with you. And I will tell you and ask you what you need to hear.

Can live streams like FB Live do the job for you? Twitter feeds, FB Shout outs and IG posts can help you as well don't you think?

Pro Football, can we start small? No telecast on TV but a social media trending might do the job right?

And the club fees, can we lower it down to something that's really affordable? Please?

Pro Football...how 'bout the most difficult part of this letter? Personalities in your arena.

Let me lay down my cards. I do not know anyone in the pro level. Let me repeat. I do not know anyone personally in the pro level. I have not met anyone from the pro level.

And so I cannot and should not, be partial. Pro Football...I.always aspire to be  impartial.

The owners have invested heavily in their teams. Hell yeah! 

They definitely are crazy in love about "the beautiful game". Of course!

I'm sure their wives have forgiven them a long time ago. Right millionaire husbands?

So why can't we give-in to their wants that are not otherworldly?

Philippine Premier League. Yeah, that's your name now. Sounds good. But it can only be better if you can stand the test of time. Some peeps would love to see you rise up.Some don't and some are playing the wait-and-see game. I don't blame them.

Pro Football, you've seen how the good times roll and you definitely would love to keep on rolling.

I would, cross-my-heart, love-to-see-pro-football-flourish-for-a-long-time before I die. 

Please PPL! 

Stay strong!

Like, strong strong!

Not the strong now but let's see.

Please stay strong!

With love and affection...

Sincerely,

Francis

Cavite Football's Wonderful Winning Ways

Cavite football has won and continue to find ways to get into podium finishes in the last two weeks. Interestingly, Cavite Football Academy is part of every conversation today because of the current success the program is having.

First on the list and the most recent, CFA Teams U11 and U13 win the season opener of the Speed Regalo Padala-Youth Football League at the Alabang Country Club last weekend, March 31, 2019. 

Green Archers United U13 YFL 2019

Green Archers United U11 YFL 2019

And on the same day the younger kids won their YFL matches, the CFA players from the Born 2004-2005 played and won the 1st Tanauan Cup Championship in Batangas.

And remember CFA winning the Philippine Football Federation Regional Championship for the U15? Look back into the post here.

CFA U15 PFF Regionals FoF Champions 2019

Congratulations to Cavite Football Academy! Let us all be thankful to all the people, office staff, coaches, parents and agencies supporting the program!