by Justine Marie Bernardo

“Football is like life - it requires perseverance, self-denial, hard work, sacrifice, dedication and respect for authority.” 

                         This quote also implies to any other sports or any other things we do. We can’t have everything. We can’t have all the good things in life. Well maybe, there are some that can make us happy but it can also lead to awful one. We also can’t have all the bad things. There will be time that you have to give up, you have to focus, and you have to work it out so you make it. There will come a time you will face defeat, when you have bowed your head though it hurts. There is a need to wait for the win, when it's your time to smile all loud and proud to everyone.

                            It’s strange when a sport team that you’ve just recently recognized makes you feel the tightness of their bond. It feels like you’ve known them all though you’ve just met one of them. You’ll feel the cooperation and their love for what they are doing. Just like the FUTBULakenyos.

                           Just a short description for our lead characters, FUTBULakenyos is a football team in Bulacan. These people represent the pride and glory in the field of football in the province. They are the champion in the first ever season of the Central Luzon Football League (CLFL) wherein they never got defeated by their opponents which are Pampanga Football Club, Tarlac Football Club, and Lighthouse Amihan Football Club from Olongapo. Though with a great unblemished victory, the depressing truth is, the FUTBULakenyos remains underrated. Most people in Bulacan don't know them or just recognize them as the football varsity players from Bulacan State University. As the campus journalists surveyed the familiarity in FUTBULakenyos, two out of ten persons are the ones who know that there are existing football players in Bulacan. And the worst part is, FUTBULakenyos were not able to get funds from Bulacan State University in their previous games. They are the only ones who provide their needs for their games. But then, these people don’t mind and care. The important thing for them is, to bring home the Championship Crown for the other Bulakenyos to realize that they are existing.

                               The campus journalists interviewed some of the players and asks them what they know about each other after all these years.

                            “Magkakarugtong na kasi ang mga buhay ng mga ‘yan eh. May bonding talaga,” as Berto Lopez, assistant coach of the FUTBULakenyos explained the reason why the team stays undefeated.

                              Michael Panelo, 19, the right winger and midfielder of the team, learned football since elementary but stopped in highschool and continued in college. He also admits that one of the reason for joining the football team is because of scholarship grants. He also believed that FUTBULakenyos can make it to the nationals because some former players made it into the nationals. When asked what his advice is for the aspiring football players, he said, “Manuod muna. At kung gusto mo na talaga, isapuso mo.”

                             The unification that keeps the team together is the true value of sports. They never fought nor see each other’s weaknesses, rather helping and doing it together so that they can face every challenge of their lives.

                         Berto Lopez said as advice, “Nandyan lang naman ang football para sa lahat. Pero kailangan may oras para doon. Dapat may talent at may puso sa paglalaro.”

                         “Just train hard! Get outside of their comfort zone in playing and be one of us... proud Futbulakenyos,” as Mr. Emmanuel Robles advice to those people who want to be a part of the amazing FUTBULakenyos.  




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