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| Coach Ruben goes to Zambales to teach basketball to the young beneficiaries of the Bangkarunungan program. |
They
say that one man can make a difference. But what more if two passionate
and big-hearted individuals join forces to help the less fortunate? The
results can even
be greater and create a bigger impact in the lives of the people they
touch.
That’s what happened when two Mang Inasal
Gawad Pilipinoy awardees fused their advocacies to reach more people. Gawad Pilipinoy Awards is the leading
Pinoy branded quick service restaurant’s recognition program for
the country’s modern-day heroes; individuals who use their skills and
passion to be of service to others.
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Hoop
Dreams founder Ruben Lanot II (right) partners with Bangkarunungan’s
Teacher Adrian Cobardo to bring basketball lessons to kids of Zambales.
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When
this year’s awardee, Coach Ruben Lanot II, heard the story of the Gawad
Pilipinoy’s first honoree, Teacher Adrian Karl L. Cobardo and his
advocacy, he immediately
reached out to him.
Cobardo, a teacher by profession, is the founder of
BangKarunugan, an advocacy which aims to cultivate the love of
reading among children. He provides free and accessible education to the
people in Zambales, which he and his young volunteers travel to via a
bangka (boat).
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Coach
Ruben and his team successfully carried out an outreach activity in
Sitio Nagbayugan in Zambales, in partnership with Bangkarunungan’s
Teacher Adrian. Both are Mang
Inasal’s Gawad Pilipinoy modern-day heroes.
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Meanwhile,
Coach Ruben is a tireless and dedicated basketball coach, who fulfills
his passion for the game by inspiring kids to love the sport and make it
an instrument
to improve their lives. He founded “Hoop Dreams,” providing aspiring
basketball players the skills, drills, right values, sports equipment
and apparel they need for the game.
“I was impressed by Teacher Adrian’s program of teaching kids in far-flung areas in Zambales through
BangKarunungan, so I asked the Gawad Pilipinoy Awards’
staff how I could reach him. After that, Teacher Adrian and I started
talking about how we could collaborate,” explained Coach Ruben.
The result was a joint outreach activity with the beneficiaries of
Bangkarunungan from the adjacent sitios of Nagbayugan, Sampaloc and Kinabukasan in Zambales.
In
the first week of October, Coach Ruben and his contingent left Manila
in the wee hours of Sunday morning for Subic. Upon reaching their
destination, Coach Ruben’s
team met up with Teacher Adrian and his volunteers. The combined group
proceeded to take a trip to Sitio Nagbayugan, a place situated at a
stretch of beach only reachable via one-hour boat ride.
When
they arrived, several Nagbayugan residents ran towards the shore to
meet them. About 60 kids, with ages ranging from four to 16 years old
were introduced to
Coach Ruben, who instantly established a rapport with the kids.
The
entire morning was spent with a story reading session with Teacher
Adrian, followed by Coach Ruben’s basketball clinic, peppered with talks
about the importance
of observing discipline, camaraderie and sportsmanship in the game.
“This
is the first time that the kids experienced something like this – an
entire coaching session in basketball. It is definitely a new skill that
they can use.
And I am grateful to Coach Ruben for initiating this partnership with Bangkarunungan,” said Teacher Adrian.
Coach
Ruben’s team gave hygiene kits to the kids, and also brought shoes and
jerseys donated by students from schools where he works as basketball
coach. There were
also bags of rice and noodles distributed by Coach Ruben’s group to the
parents, who watched the activity.
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About
60 kids participated in the joint outreach activity led by
Bangkarunungan’s Teacher Adrian Cobardo and Hoop Dreams’ Coach Ruben
Lanot II, both of whom are Mang Inasal’s
Gawad Pilipinoy awardees.
“This
is definitely a start of something good as we plan to establish another
advocacy – the Sole Dreams – where my team and I will ask for donations
for sport apparel
and shoes while Teacher Adrian will identify the schools where we can
bring the donations. We will definitely come back here,” shared Coach
Ruben.
The
day ended with big smiles from the boys and girls, as well as their
parents, as they went home with new skills, knowledge, and donated
goods.
“Masaya
po kami na naranasan po naming maturuan ng tamang paglalaro ng
basketball. Binigyan din po kami ng bagong sapatos at damit na taos puso
po naming pinagpapasalamat
(We are happy to have experienced being taught how to play
basketball the right way. We also received shoes and clothes, for which
we are truly grateful,”
said Narciso Pisakilyo Jr., one of the youth at the outreach activity.
Teacher Adrian concluded the activity with a wish: “Sana po kami ni Coach Ruben ay patuloy na maging bangka para mas marami pang mga bata ang mapaligaya
(We hope that Coach Ruben and I will continue to be a ‘boat’ so that we can make more children happy),” he said.
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