To students and/or parents who’ve watched their children play in the Alaska cup, the name Hedcen is almost synonymous to football or soccer. That’s because for years, our school has dominated the game, rarely failing to get a place in the finals in every level every year.

This is the result of intensive efforts to focus only on one sport - the one which the school firmly believes gives Filipinos more chance of attaining international recognition than basketball - soccer. Yes, the school where I work at only has 1 sport (and no other) but the school owns it. Just ask all the other rival schools that has played against us.

I, unfortunately, grew up with a different game - basketball. And no matter how much I try to spread it’s appeal in school, my efforts always end in vain. But it’s not because the school does not allow it. It’s more because students do not fully appreciate the game - having been raised basically in just 1 sport.

Recently, however, Coach Juaqui, the head coach of the varsity team decided to engage in cross training to add some variety to the skills that the students have. Fortunately for me, his choice of sport to alternate with soccer is basketball. So now, after school, the varsity players head toward the subdivision’s covered court to play basketball.

The school provides the transportation to and from the court. The whole place is reserved so the varsity gets to enjoy the whole court without worries. And the best thing about it is that teachers are welcome to join! So now, after almost a year of not playing, I finally get to pass, dribble and shoot the basketball again! Woohoo!

At around 10 months old, Mateo’s hair has already grown way past his eyebrows. And now at 12 months old it’s way past his nose. This is why, after a few days of turning 1, we gave him his first haircut.

Now, before we’re judged as old-fashioned, know that andrea and i had second thoughts about the haircut more than once. For several times, we considered letting Mateo grow his hair long - even long enough to sport a pony, but because of pressure from grandparents and of course the obvious concern for hygiene, we opted to yield. He could always sport a pony later if he really wants to, I told andrea.

But since I didn’t trust myself to do the deed, I took charge of taking pictures instead. Andrea, on the hand, was more than willing to play the role of hairdresser… And so after almost half an hour of (experimental) cutting, here he is, all clean and trimmed. I hope!

before

after

One of the first toys we ever gave Mateo was a basketball. Yes, not those baby rattles or cars, but a miniature rubber ball. And he immediately took a liking to it. From then on, we always had a first choice of gift for him.

On his 1st birthday, we weren’t surprised to find out that many of his guests picked the same thing for him as a gift. Papu, as we call his granddad, gave him a football, on the other hand. Now he’s got several basketballs, a soccerball, and a football.

Here he is after trying out his new ball. He got his first tackle from dada, but still found the time to smile for the camera.