Sports puts spark in this softball pitcher's eyes; smile in her face

One of the more interesting things I’ve witnessed during the course of covering the Palarong Pambansa this year is how the young athletes transform from “shy, barely-talking-barely-meeting-my-eyes” kids to smiling, energetic children when the topic turns to the sports they play.

Yesterday, I was introduced to 13-year-old Cristy Alvarez, a softball pitcher who hails from Negros Oriental, playing for the Central Visayas team. When we were talking about her and her family or how she had to work for a while just to get enough funds to go to training (more of this later), the young athlete was talking to the floor, her voice barely audible. 

I totally understand her. A hard, less privileged life isn’t something I expect these kids to attach positive feelings to. But, in time, and with the success they are bound to achieve, I wish they see things in a different light. That despite whatever challenges life had thrown at them, they were able to pull through.

Cristy, whose second time it is to join the Palarong Pambansa this year, told us that her parents work in the farm, doing things like cutting grass or planting. Her parents earn P150 each per day. That’s not an amount that could sufficiently provide for eight children (Cristy is the seventh child).

Determined to make it to the Palarong Pambansa whatever it takes, Cristy had to work for a couple of days, with her parents on the farm. She did it last year. She did it this year, again.

Cristy, without much enthusiasm, with the help of Coach Rizza, explained to us how Softball was big in their barangay, particularly in the Brgy Banban Elementary School where Cristy studies. Oh, by the way, there’s no electricity in their barangay!

Coach Rizza elaborated how hard it is for a poor student like Cristy to survive and thrive in a game like Softball. After all, it takes money to buy a decent pair spike shoes, bats, gloves, masks, body protectors, knee guards, and helmets. In fact, when Cristy came to Davao for the Palaro, her old spike shoes broke.

Cristy’s seemingly melancholic stance was suddenly erased when we asked her to demonstrate to us how she pitches balls to her opponents. She got up, stretched a little bit, and showed us—with a smile!—why she is one of the star players in the game.

As of press time, Cristy’s team had played three matches, all of which they had won. They need six more wins so they could take home the gold medal. I hope they win. Maybe that way we’ll see Cristy smile just a little bit more.