I played badminton last night with by bestfriend Grace's churchmates. It was fun! Those guys who were already around their 30's to 40's were so great to play with. Your arms will really hurt trying to stop those kills and smashes from coming through. We get to play for around an hour and a half. For a badminton addict like me, that's quite bitin...but that's okay. It's better than no badminton at all. The best thing was it didn't cost me much. The contribution just summed up to 25 per person.

I get to play at that new court. Well, actually I don't know if that's still new but it sure is a new find for me. I usually play at SurePlay along Araneta Ave. just a few blocks away from my office. I pay 50 bucks then I get to play for as long as I want. They have this 6 am-5 pm play-all-you-can promo from Mon.-Fri. The only disadvantage is I have to take half of the day off from the office so I can play. If I want to play at night, I have to find some playmates or else its gonna cost me 200 per court per hour. At least, if you're playing doubles or more, you get to divide the rates.

Back to that new haven! For those of you baddicts who want to try it out, the court's name is Power Play. It's located near D. Tuazon (Quezon Ave. before Welcome Rotonda if you're from EDSA). Just Turn right on that street near Caltex (I think?). It costs 150 on cement courts per hour. The taraflex courts cost 200 bucks. But they only have 5 courts (3 taraflex, 2 cement). Sureplay has 8 rubber-painted cement courts. Another court along Araneta Ave. just across SurePlay is Prokennex. I also play there at times. Prices are the same as SurePlay only that their courts are on wood. They have 12 courts (4 taraflex, 8 wooden courts). If you prefer a little more privacy, it's good to try Prokennex...though the CR is quite stinky...but for those less smell-sensitive...you'll survive. Plus, after every game, you can check out Sky Grill (todo promotion na ito). Their food is good and affordable. This place became my officemates' official hang-out and gimik spot. If their not busy, you'll find them happily chatting over a couple of beers and crispy pugo. Well, this posting is quite too long but I just can't help but talk about badminton. We're planning to play again later with Grace's officemates at Power Play. Iyon nga lang wala silang Gatorade...Activade lang hehehe!

Grace and I had this sudden crave for Gatorade. Before, we used to be contented with refilled mineral water bottles. We were afraid to try out Gatorade because according to forums, it costs a fortune if you're gonna buy them at the playing courts. But when we found out that it only costs around 30 bucks (and even lower at the grocery store), we had this sudden addiction to Gatorade...hehehe!

And of course, the sudden addiction to badminton! I'm not the sporty type. I couldn't even hit the ball right when I played volleyball during our sportsfest. Kaya binangko na lang ako...but all of a sudden I'm so perked up with this badminton thing. It all started as a fitness regimen...okay, it all started as a fad we want to join in...so off to Toby's to buy a racket! The minute I got that credit card, I bought a pair of racket, shorts, shirt and shoes...oh, wait! Towels and socks pa pala...o di ba? But we only bought the cheaper rackets...others cost up to 3,000 bucks...sayang naman if ever we realize na hindi pala namin gusto.

So there, with all the gear and equipment ready, we headed for the court. The first try was hilarious. We would take water breaks every 10 minutes. We spent around 80 bucks just for mineral water. But it was great. We had so much fun we did it all over again. Soon we were playing almost everyday. A week wouldn't be complete without badminton. It came to the appoint that we even took half the day off from work just to play. Talk about badminton maniacs! Hehehe!

The thing with badminton is once you've tried it, you surely will like it:

1. It's easy to play...Super dali! All you have to do is hit that feathery thing called shuttlecock over the net. A couple of practice and you'll learn the right swing and of course be able to control the shuttle to hit open spots.

2. All you need is a racket...It's simple and only requirement. Rackets can costs from 200-1000+ for newbies. But if you prefer a more professional racket and you have a bigger budget, you can try the high end ones which range from 2,000-13,000 bucks. Sa outfit naman, just plain shorts and shirts or jogging pants for the conservatives...hehehe! If you're the stylish one, you can try tennis skirts or skorts. This won't cost much unless you prefer sporting a Nike or an Adidas. The shoes? Just make sure it has a good foot grip so you won't slip and it cushions your feet well so you won't suffer from back pains. Although there are badminton shoes...a good old pair of sneakers can still do the trick as long as you're comfortable.

3. It's a good bonding opportunity...For long time friends who haven't seen each other for a long while, this is a great opportunity for a reunion. It's healthier rather than downing San Mig Lights in Morato, Malate or Libis. Unless you plan on doing that after the game. For the family, perfect din. The guys I've played with last night, were mostly couples. Some of them even brought their kids.

4. The rules are easy to understand...All you have to do is google it then read. It is very easy to comprehend and apply. Plus, if you're playing with experts of the sport, you'll learn a trick or two.

5. "May laban tayo dito!"...This is according to Grace, who is a far better sports expert than me. She's an ultimate sports enthusiast and a frustrated athlete. Her frustration was she didn't take her sports skills seriously. But I tell you, if she had, you'll surely see her wearing a wreath there in Athens. She's the one who told me that badminton is an Asian sport. The fact is it's Indonesia's national sport...it's like basketball for them. If we Filipinos would only take badminton as a serious sport, we have a big chance in excelling in it and even earn ourselves the much coveted gold medal and international recognition. I believe so. We're both hoping that this sudden outbreak of badminton mania would pave the way for budding athletes to come forward. With everybody having interest and passion for this sport, we could have a handful of badminton players in the coming of years. Let's keep our hopes high.

Well, that's quite a long talk about badminton. Actually I can go on and on about it. Grace and I are even planning to upgrade our rackets. It would be our second upgrade if ever. The first one that we bought was a set of Nassau that costs 600 PhP Then we both switched to Yonex Isometric 20 which costs around 1,200 Php a piece. We're both eyeing a Yonex Carbonex or Muscle Power which would cost us around 3000PhP or more a piece. We still have to save on that. But our ultimate dream is to own an Yonex Armortec 800 which is around 13000 PhP...Wow! Mas mahal pa raketa ko sa cell phone kapag nagkataon...hehehe!

Isang lathalain mula sa pamosong Friendster Bulletin Board ang pumukaw sa aking kuryosidad. Isang liham na naglalaman ng damdamin ng isang banyaga ukol sa mga Pilipino. Nang mabasa ko ang sulat, nalungkot ako. Nasaktan. Naiinis. Dahil ang laman niyon ay masasakit na salitang humahamak sa ating pagkatao.

Kung susuriin mo ang mapa ng mundo, makikita mo ang 7,107 pulo ng Pilipinas sa Timog-Silangang Asya. Sa paligid nito ang mga Asyanong bansa tulad ng Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Japan, China at marami pang iba. Kung mag-aaral ka ng kasaysayan at iyon eh, kung nag-aaral ka nga, matatandaang ang grupo ng mga unang taong nanirahan sa ating bansa ay mga Malay, Arabo, at Tsino. Ang pakikipagkalakan ng mga Tsino sa ating bansa ay nag-ugat noong mga panahong mga taong Tabon, Ita at mga katutubo pa lamang ang ninirahan sa ating bansa. Kaya naman bago pa man dumating ang mga Español, mayroon na tayong wikang ginagamit. Tinawag nating bathala ang mga diyus-diyosan, lakan, sultan at datu ang mga pinuno ng bawat kaharian. Sa madaling salita, mayroon na tayong nabubuong kultura bago pa man tayo sakupin ng mga taga-Kanluran. At ang kulturang iyon ay kulturang Asyano.

Kung matatandaan, ang ugat ng relihiyong Islam ay nakatanim sa Asya. Bago ang Katolisismo, Islam ang pinakamalawak na relihiyon sa bansa. Sa katunayan, malaking bahagdan pa rin ng mga taga-Mindanao ay nananatiling Muslim. Ang ilang paganong relihiyon at paniniwala ng mga katutubong unang nanirahan sa ating bansa ay galing at impluwensiya ng mga karatig nating bansa sa Asya. Kaya naniniwala akong bahagi tayo ng Asya sa kultura man o sa pisikal na kaanyuan.

Ang Pilipinas ay isang Third World country. Nangangahulugan na ang Pilipinas ay isang mahirap na bansa. Subalit ano nga ba ang batayan para maging 1st world, 2nd world, 3rd world, 4th world or out of this world ang isang bansa? Sino ba ang nagbigay ng mga klasipikasyong iyan? Hindi ba at ang mga bansa sa kanluran?

May isang kandidato sa pagkapangulo ang minsang nagsabi na ang Pilipinas ay isang mayamang bansa. Hindi mahirap ang Pilipinas. Bagkus, mayaman ito sa napakaraming bagay. Hindi kayang sukatin ng exchange rates, GNP, per capita income, at kung anu-ano pang per ang yaman ng ating bansa. Hindi ito nasusukat sa bilang ng gusali sa Makati at Ortigas, o sa bilang ng mga shopping malls o sa laki at liit ng growth rate. Ang yaman ng ating bansa ay makikita sa bawat pulo nito. Sa bawat kabundukan, karagatan at kapatagan. Hatid nito ang biyaya ng kalikasan na sapat upang tugunan ang lahat ng ating pangangailangan. Kailangan lamang nating maging masipag at matiyaga.

Isipin niyo, kung hindi mayaman ang ating bansa, bakit lubos ang paghahangad ng maraming bansa na sakupin tayo? Bakit ganun na lamang kung leegan tayo ng Amerika? Sinisipsp nilang parang linta ang ating mga kayamanan. Dahil doon lamang sila magaling. Ang magkamal ng kayamanan ng ibang bansa. Kaya mahilig sila sa mga digmaan, sa mga industriyalisayon at kung anu-ano pang pagbabalatkayo. Madaling sabihing para sa kapayapaan o para sa ikauunlad ng buong mundo ang tangi nilang hangarin. Pero kung susuriin, sino ba ang higit na umuunlad?

Kung naghihirap man at dumurumi ang Pilipinas, iyon ay dahil na rin sa kanila. Sino ba ang nag-iwan ng tone-toneladang toxic waste sa Subic? Sino ba ang nagpatayo ng mga naglalakihang pabrika? Sino ba ginawang base militar ang ating bansa?

Kung kawalan lamang din ng sariling kultura ang pag-uusapan, hindi ba't wala rin namang taglay na kultura ang mga puti? Ano ba ang kanilang wika? Hindi ba't nagmula lamang iyan sa Inglatera at Europa? Kung nais nilang isipin na makapangyarihan sila dahil sa pera nila, nagkakamali sila. At kung sa palagay nila ay ang kayamanang iyon ang nagbigay sa kanilang ng karapatang laiitin at alipusatahin ang ibang bansa, ito ay isang malaking kamangmangan.

Wala silang karapatan dahil wala silang alam. At mananatiling walang alam hanggang hindi nila lubos na nakikita at inaamin sa sarili nila ang mga kahinaan nila. Maganda at mayamang bansa ang Pilipinas. HIndi lamang dahil sa taglay nitong likas na yaman kundi dahil sa mga taong naninirahan dito. Narinig niyo? Mayaman tayong mga PIlipino. Maganda tayo. Kaya huwag nating hayaang hamakin na lamang tayo. At huwag nating sayangin at ipanakaw sa kung sinu-sino ang ating kayamanan.

Imulat ang mga mata, minamaliit tayo ng maraming bansang may baluktot na katwiran at hangal na pag-iisip. Ipakita nating mali sila. Hindilamang sa salita kundi pati sa gawa.