During a recent conversation with Pastor Melchor Gabitano at Bethany Christian School he informed me of the activities of the school football team or soccer as its called in the Philippines. I was to say the least shocked and stunned at this revelation no pun intended Pastor. Football has been of lifelong interest to me both as a player in my younger days and as a supporter to date. Up until he informed me of Bethany Schools involvement I had never witnessed any interest in the game around the town on my numerous previous visits to Talakag or the Philippines for that matter.
On our return to the UK to attend our daughter’s graduation from Stirling University we visited a very dear friend of ours Meriam Hunter nee Quilang a native of Cagayan de Oro now East Kilbride in Scotland and I happened to mention Bethany Christian School and their wish to obtain football equipment. That’s when the miracle happened Meriam contacted her friends in East Kilbride which is located in Lanarkshire an area steeped in football history both past and present and within a few days she called me back to tell me she had obtained a collection of football strips as well as boots etc. I was overwhelmed when I saw what she had managed to gather in such a short time. The principal donor to our football cause is Paul and Debbie Kinghorn who run East Kilbride Rovers and East Kilbride Youths Team as well as individual friends.
Our initial reason for visiting Meriam was due to her informing us that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer last Autumn 2008. Due to us preparing to travel to the Philippines we never had the opportunity to visit her at that time. It was with trepidation that we journeyed to Scotland from our house in the North East of England to see her. Fortunately Meriam had already had the chemotherapy treatment following her surgery and was recovering from its effects as her hair although still short had grown back. Meriam had gained weight as a result of her medication so we did not recognise her at first glance. During our get together we were able to catch up first hand with everything she had gone through since her diagnosis and we were truly humbled by her determination not only to fight her illness but to help others suffering similarly. Despite her condition Meriam does not think solely about herself but instead still thinks about others be it family, friends or strangers and has continued working at the job she loves with David Urquart (Travel) Ltd. http://www.davidurquhart.com/
The Philippine Football Association is now affiliated to FIFA and football is becoming more and more popular especially with satellite TV bringing live games direct from Europe.
Soon the Daily Record will be known all over Mindanao especially if Talakag Town is successful.
On our return to the UK to attend our daughter’s graduation from Stirling University we visited a very dear friend of ours Meriam Hunter nee Quilang a native of Cagayan de Oro now East Kilbride in Scotland and I happened to mention Bethany Christian School and their wish to obtain football equipment. That’s when the miracle happened Meriam contacted her friends in East Kilbride which is located in Lanarkshire an area steeped in football history both past and present and within a few days she called me back to tell me she had obtained a collection of football strips as well as boots etc. I was overwhelmed when I saw what she had managed to gather in such a short time. The principal donor to our football cause is Paul and Debbie Kinghorn who run East Kilbride Rovers and East Kilbride Youths Team as well as individual friends.
Our initial reason for visiting Meriam was due to her informing us that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer last Autumn 2008. Due to us preparing to travel to the Philippines we never had the opportunity to visit her at that time. It was with trepidation that we journeyed to Scotland from our house in the North East of England to see her. Fortunately Meriam had already had the chemotherapy treatment following her surgery and was recovering from its effects as her hair although still short had grown back. Meriam had gained weight as a result of her medication so we did not recognise her at first glance. During our get together we were able to catch up first hand with everything she had gone through since her diagnosis and we were truly humbled by her determination not only to fight her illness but to help others suffering similarly. Despite her condition Meriam does not think solely about herself but instead still thinks about others be it family, friends or strangers and has continued working at the job she loves with David Urquart (Travel) Ltd. http://www.davidurquhart.com/
The Philippine Football Association is now affiliated to FIFA and football is becoming more and more popular especially with satellite TV bringing live games direct from Europe.
Soon the Daily Record will be known all over Mindanao especially if Talakag Town is successful.
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