Central Visayas’ best young booter is also valedictorian

TAGUM CITY, Philippines – It is rare for a student-athlete to excel both in his studies and his chosen sport and 13-year-old Joaquin Luis Buyco admits it is not easy.

Buyco, a striker for the Central Visayas elementary football team, did not only graduate from Grade 6 as the class valedictorian but he was also named as Don Bosco Technology Center’s (DBTC) Athlete of the Year and Footballer of the Year in the elementary.

His advice to his fellow student-athletes? “All it takes is discipline,” said Buyco, who is also celebrating his birthday today, May 2.

Buyco said balancing his studies and his football was never easy and that he has to set his priorities and stick to it. He makes sure he studies once he gets home on Tuesdays and Thursdays from football practice which happens right after school from 4pm to 8pm And, 7 to 10 am on Saturdays.

The 13-year-old achiever added he also does some reading after eating his snacks and lunch instead of resting or mingling with his classmates.

“Pero lisod kaayo kay makakita kas imo mga classmates nga nagduwaduwa, naa jud mga temptation.”

(But it is hard because you see your classmates playing around, there’s a lot of temptation).”

Buyco aimed to be the class valedictorian but the sports awards he received were a surprise.

“I didn’t think I would be the Athlete of the Year and the Footballer of the Year because there are so many good players on the team,” said Buyco adding it was nice he got the awards because it means “all my sacrifice and hardships paid off.”

Buyco had been the third honor from Grade 1 to 3 and moved up to being the valedictorian in Grade 4 to 6.

He also started playing football in his first grade and was named into the varsity team in his fifth and sixth grade.

The incoming seventh grade student said he doesn’t mind giving up so much of his time for his studies and football nor is it preventing him from going out and having a good time with his classmates and friends.

“They allow me to go out sometimes but I prefer staying home because I need to study.”

His family supports him by going with him during his out-of-town games and making it a family outing.

The lawyer or doctor aspirant credited his football for enhancing his discipline but he said he first learned it from his parents.

He also commends his coach, Joselito Bono, whom he said has also done a lot to get him where he is today.

“He pushes us because he sees the potential in us,” Buyco said.

Buyco also tried his hand in archery when he was in the 4^th grade and even made it to the top 10 during the Batang Pinoy. However, he opted to stop in the sixth grade because he said aiming for three goals was already too much for him. He said that he will take up the sport again in his seventh grade.

As reward for his extra-ordinary achievement, Buyco said he will be given his very own laptop for his studies.

Buyco will be playing in his last Palarong Pambansa as an elementary student and he hopes to continue making it to the varsity team so he could once again represent Central Visayas in his secondary years.

“I am kind of sad that it is my last this year because I have so many good memories with the team,” Buyco said.

For his brithday wish, Buyco said he hopes that his team will end as the back-to-back champions of the Palarong Pambansa elementary football. But more than that, he also wishes that the whole CVIRAA delegation will end up as the overall champions. – Rappler.com