FEU-bound athlete uses badminton as escape

TAGUM CITY, Philippines – There will always be young sports-stars-in-the-making who use the games they love as a means to escape the harsh realities and temptations of their surroundings. 

Some do sports as a hobby. Others use it as a way of survival. A number of kids participate in them to stay away from detriments. 

The last of the three applies to 16-year-old Davao kid Thirdy Bacalso, who’s in Tagum City for the Palarong Pambansa 2015, representing his region in the secondary boys badminton tournament.

His relationship with the sport dates back 10 years ago, when, as a 6-year-old boy, Bacalso’s mother made sure her son would not be swayed by the negative habits of others who participate in illegal activities.

“Sabi nang mama ko, yung reason daw (para maglaro ng badminton), para maiwas sa mga masasamang bagay at maiwas sa bisyo at sa barkada,” Bacalso said. 

(My mom said I should play badminton  to could avoid vices and bad company.)

The kid instantly fell in love with the game. He adored the thrill, the competition, and the exposure that came with it. 

“Ang gusto ko po yung thrilling, parang may pressure po sa loob ng court,” he said. “Kadalasan po kapag ganon nangyayari, nakikilala ka ng mga tao eh. Syempre lahat ng tao gusto makilala eh.”

(I like the thrill and the feeling of pressure on the court. You also tend to get exposure and attention. Everyone wants that.) 

The Talomo National High School senior has won more than 10 competitions in his young, flourishing career. His first victory took place at his hometown in the Disudrin tournament at 9-years-old. Six years later, he won the Ming Ramos National Juniors Badminton Tournament.

Future Tamaraw

This academic season, he’ll be enrolled in Far Eastern University, playing badminton for the university.

“Feel ko po may iba pang mag o-offer,” he said, but the decision has been made. “Ang coach ko ang nagsabi mas maganda sa FEU.”

(I feel there will be other offers, but my coach said FEU is better.) 

“Kasi marami na pong nanggaling sa Talomo na varsity sa badminton tapos kinuha rin nang FEU,” said Bacalso, who will major in Business Administration, which he hopes will guide him to another goal he has in mind for his future: to open a restaurant.

(A lot of badminton varsity students from Talomo went to FEU as well.) 

Bacalso hopes to open a Filipino restaurant. 

“Feel ko po adobo,” he said when asked what will be the speciality of the place. “Filipino food kasi. Mga pancit.”

“Excited, pero kinakabahan,” Baclaso said on his expectations in FEU. “Kasi feel ko po, doon ko na ibui-build yung future ko eh. Kasi college na po yun eh. Iba na yun sa high school. High school puro kalokohan, pero sa college, feel ko po, binui-build mo na yung future mo doon.” 

(I’m excited and nervous at the same time. I feel that’s where I’ll build my future because it’s already college. It’s different from high school. High school has a lot of jokes and games, but in college, I feel, that’s where you establish your future.)

One thing that will help him make the transition is his mother, who will accompany him as he shifts locations. She’s the biggest reason why he became a badminton player all those years back, and continues to be his inspiration, along with his father, until today. 

“Kasi first, sa lahat, sila yung nang taguyod sa akin,” he said. “Sila yung nag suporta saakin, kaya hindi ka babalilawain yun lahat.” 

(They supported me, so I won’t just throw that away.)

And until today, he feels lucky that his mother made sure that he built an amateur career good enough to land a university offer rather than fall into a more harmful path. 

“Dalawang bagay nalang na-focus ko eh: pagaaral tapos badminton. Kaya naiwas ako, hindi na pinasok sa utak ko yung mga ibang extra-curricular activities.”

(I focused on two things: studying and badminton. That’s why I was able to avoid extra-curricular activities.) – Rappler.com