Official Opening of Drop in Center and Payatas FC 1st Year Anniversary

This is the exciting update for the Fair Play for All Foundation. Just a couple months ago, the foundation celebrated their one year anniversary. The celebration included the long awaited official opening of the new drop in center located in the heart of Payatas and home to Payatas FC and the FFA.

I was honored to be given the opportunity to experience and be apart of the opening ceremony. Much like opening ceremonies in businesses and companies, the day represented the official start to a new beginning and a true first step forward. Though Roy and Naomi’s hard work, dedication and persistence had started long before the opening, this day was a special moment to everyone involved. It signified the birth date of their vision already in motion and their mission already making progress.

For me, it was a true privilege to experience the day that included an award ceremony for the players of Payatas FC for their performance and commitment to the sport and to their team. The feeling of camaraderie and teamwork that united an entire community truly filled every moment. It was also nice to play in a little friendly match between myself teamed up with Nate Burkey versus the Payatas FC kids. We even lost to little developing players, who displayed wonderful skills and fierce determination.

The ribbon cutting for me truly made me feel a sense of pride and appreciation for what Roy and Naomi have done. It made me realize their willingness to share such a significant day with others. They reminded me that such a momentous ceremony for the drop in center was just a small piece to the work they do. It showed us all that the center will remain only a physical structure that is incomparable to its meaning. To them both, the kids of Payatas, and the entire community the safety, the education and the care they provide will remain at the very core, and no ceremony can ever outshine their sweat and tears poured into their work.

Check out the Fair Play For All Foundations News Letter below and Stay connected with all that is going on with their organization.

At the moment Naomi Tomlinson has been nominated for the UK’s “Charity Women of the Year” Award for her work with Tripple E, the Fair Play For All Foundation and Payatas FC. Please stayed tuned for more on her amazing journey.

For the latest updates on Naomi and Roy please visit their blogs for upcoming events, volunteer opportunities and ways to support the FFA.

Typhoon Sendong Charity Match: You’ll Never Stand Alone

When tragedy strikes, it’s effects reach far beyond it’s immediate surrounds. The spirit of a nation is most closely tied to its effort to support it’s people. On December 16th the Philipines was shook by yet another typhoon this season. Its blow to the country hit far deeper than the Mindinao Region. Its impact effected people across the world and the cries for help were far more evident as the voices within were too moving to ignore. Contributions have been in the works and collaborations with companies, organizations and individuals have collectively contributed to the relief efforts. But much more can be done.

For football fans in a country where football is rapidly growing, it is important that we develop the game and the beautiful sport in the proper light and for the good of all people in this country and abroad. When typhoon Sendong hit, the wheels started turning and people from the football world really jumped into “relief mode.” Talks of a charity game had spun and soon enough, the date was set.

On January 7th, the Azkals Alyansa will showcase a charity match against International De Madrid at 4pm Rizal Memorial Stadium. The match will proceed after a Celebrity match that will commence at 2pm. All proceeds for the matches will go to relief efforts of typhoon Sendong.

What can we do as Footballers and Football fans to contribute to the effected lives devastated by such a horrific natural disaster? At the very least, if you are in the area, purchase a ticket at Ticket World and come out to Rizal Memorial Stadium on January 7th to be apart of a very special night.

The Football community will gather for not only a competition or a match, we will all gather for the consideration for life and the appreciation for others. We often times find ourselves faced with the question of whether or not to help, and if so,  how? For this special night the answers are clear. Our love for the game and our compassion for life go hand in hand. If we can some how find a way to continue on this path, football in this country will surely reach its potential.  Be apart of the night, be apart of the contribution and be apart of not only the growing sport, but the growth of a nation: Stronger and United.

Learn this song and join the thousands to gather at Rizal Memorial Stadium on January 7th.  For more Event Information Visit: Ticket world For more information on the Relief efferts Visit: Redcross.org.ph

*IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND THE CHARITY MATCH, PLEASE CONSIDER DONATING TO THE RED CROSS HERE

*For our twitter followers out there, lets “trend” the following topic: #SendongCharityGame Show your support and contribute to “Passing the Word Around” It is important to know that even though physical and monitary contributions might not be possible, that power of our voices can go a long way.

Special thanks to the LBC Foundation, Philippines Red Cross, and the ABS CBN Foundation. The Spirrs Newtork is a proud supporter of charitable foundations that bring about change to the life in most need.

Typhoon Sendong battered the Mindanao region and left the entire nation as well as the international community shocked and grieving following the grisly aftermath that included a terrible death toll. As a nation we have a chance to stand as one with the victims and let them know they are not alone. Football is said to be more than a sport. It transcends borders, languages, beliefs, and cultures. And now, it will provide badly needed relief to the thousands and thousands affected by Typhoon Sendong.

“Dili kamo nag-iisa” is more than a football match. The match’s title is an amalgam of Bisaya and Tagalog and is meant to show the strength of unity and purpose that if one of us suffers, then we all stand together to care for one another thereby being far stronger. “Dili kamo nag-iisa” is to date the most meaningful football match in our nation’s history because it is organized to raise funds for the victims and let them know we care. The match will be between a joint team of Azkalsand other footballers and Internacional de Madrid, a Spanish league side, will be played on Jan. 7th at the Rizal Memorial Stadium at 4pm.

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) has been chosen as the main beneficiary for the monies raised from this event and the LBC Foundation are working with the organizers to maximize collecting and distributing donations.

 

Smokey Mountain: Using Sports to Enrich Life

Last weekend I was invited to visit Smokey Mountain. For those of you who are not so familiar with Smokey Mountain, it is Manila’s largest dump site consisting of over 2 million tons of rubbish. It’s name was derived from the fires created from decomposing waste, making it one of the world’s most volatile garbage dump sites. For the normal citizens of Manila this dump site is a necessary function of society which gives the city an outlet for its waste and garbage, but for the 30,000 people who inhabit the horrific spaces in and around the dump site, it is called home.

When we approached the site, it was clear that we had entered a industrial area, a vast open space fit for only trucks that carried container cargo or heaping amounts of trash. Through out the main roads, you can see a glimpse of people scavenging for the valuable debris fallen from passing trucks. As we entered a small entrance way, it was evident that the shacks were built on top of, amongst and around a mountain of trash. Much like a village built upon a green grass hillside, this village was built upon  a windy path, except the soil, the ground and all forms of foundation had been built upon garbage. As we pulled over and exited the car, the reality of the location hits you very hard. From behind the tinted windows of the car out to the open air, the color of garbage, the movement of people, the sounds of bottles, cans, and paper, the overwhelming stench, and the powerful smog that almost burns your eyes was an immediate punch to my heart.

Only after my senses had neutralized and the realization of the situation had subsided, was I able to regroup and focus on the day ahead. I was introduced to Dominic Uy, former PBA star, current sports commentator and one of the founders of Mighty Sports and I was explained the fun filled day to come. Several months back, Dominic and Mighty Sports had came to Smokey Mountain to repaired a Basketball Court. With it’s mission to enrich the live of those less fortunate through sports, Mighty Sports saw the important role that such a basketball court would play in a community built upon a pile of trash. With activities that could teach, challenge and motivate the community, the organization created a place where people could escape the harsh realities of life. Upon completion of the court’s restoration it has been reported that more people played basketball and soccer throughout the day and it is said that crime amongst community had dramatically went down.

Might Sports Mission: 1) utilize sports as an avenue to develop the youth from grassroots in building their character to become responsible citizens of the country; 2) become a professional organization in pursuit of excellence in promoting sports through specialized and focused events with integrity and social responsibility; and 3) organize and support events that promote character building, values formation and integrity to its participants.

After I played a round of pickup soccer with the local children, the kids from WE International in collaboration with Futbol Funatics ran an exciting and invigorating Soccer Clinic. It was so wonderful to see the love of the game spread throughout the community. From the kids who participated to the elderly onlooking there was a sense of curiosity and a sense of unity where for a brief moment in the day, children and adults could detach themselves from collecting trash and collectively have fun learning and experiencing the passion for the sport.

I had the great opportunity of meeting Trina Santo, Community Relations leader at We International Philippines. Their recently launched project aims at collaborating with partners, to provide a holistic approach to reversing the cycle of poverty in the Philippines. With a new facility built besides the newly refurbished basketball court, together with Mighty Sports, We International is able to provide the necessary first steps toward creating a healthy learning environment for the development of kids in Smokey Mountain. It was truly an honor and a privileged to be apart of such a day, where two organization sharing a common goal to create change in the lives of children through sport and education, came together and brought so many smiles to so many people.

I also had the chance to meet  husband and wife, Avery and Candice Del Rosario, Co-founders of Futbol Funatics. It was a pleasure to see them at work and coaching together. It truly showed their commitment to teaching to the sport and most of all their commitment to social responsibility. This stellar group of organizations really inspired me along with the many new faces, friends and children I had the pleasure of meeting and interacting with. I only hope my presence brought to others just a faction of what I gained from such an inspiring experience.

Special thanks to Paolo Cagalingan at Mizuno for inviting me to such an event, and extending his company’s social responsibility beyond just sponsorship, and Thank You to my girlfriend Cooper, who’s continual support for non profit work and contribution to charity work inspires me and motivates me to bring about change in the lives of other.

The Spirrs Network is a Proud Support of Mighty Sports, We International Philippines, and Futbol Funatics. Please visit the websites below for more information and ways you can contribute.

Kicking Out Cancer: I Can Serve Foundation Football Invitational

From September 19-24th the I Can Serve Foundation held a football invitational tournament to raise breast cancer awareness. The three teams selected to play in the charity showdown included Global FC, Kaya FA and the Philippine Azkals. There was much hype around the fixtures as Team Azkals finished their most successful World Cup Qualifying run in the county’s history and both, Kaya and Global had been preparing for the upcoming UFL Cup. With the excitement around the highly anticipated match ups, it was easy for fans to see the invitational as a Kick-off competition to the new UFL Cup and League Season. But to recap and bring things back to perspective, the round-robin style tournament was a friendly showcase for a very important foundation: The I Can Serve Foundation.

The games were a mere spectacle, to the larger cause. The heavy hitters, the Most Valuable Players and the Top Goal scorers of the tournament had to go to the foundation that made it all possible. The I Can Serve Foundation is an organization that promotes early breast cancer detection, that helps women with breast cancer and that provides for breast cancer survivors.

The ICANSERVE Foundation provides hope and help to women with breast cancer. It promotes early breast cancer detection through high impact information campaigns and community based screening programs. Its network of cancer survivors light the path for women with cancer towards total healing.

As one of my first games with Kaya FC, I was proud to have been apart of something special and something meaningful to kick start my role on a new team, in a new country. If you take a look around the Spirrs Network and notice some of the charities I have had the chance to experience and promote, you’ll be able to see that soccer can be used far greater than just a entertaining sport. It has the quality to unite and promote change in peoples lives. I hope we can remember how important the sport is to the world, and somewhere behind the magnificent goals, there are plenty of other goals we can accomplish.

The Spirrs Network is a Proud Supporter of the I Can Serve Foundation and I am proud, on behalf of the KAYA Football Club to bare the “I can Serve” Logo on our jersey. May it remind us, every time we step onto the field, there are larger causes and bigger goals in life.

For more information on the I can Serve Foundation, Please visit their website at www.icanservefoundation.org

To read similar stories of the Spirrs Network’s commitment to Breast Cancer awareness Check Out Past Post on my buddy’s Race for Awareness  http://soccerpirrs.com/charity/triumph-for-first-time-tri-athlete-the-ultimate-race-to-raise-awareness/

“Triking” to Payatas

For my very first trip out to visit the new location of the Drop in center for the Fair Play for All Foundation, I had quite the travel experience. Day started with a short cab ride to the Ayala MRT Station, followed by a crowed rush-hour ride to North Ave. Once I was off the train, I jumped into another cab to St. Peter’s Church on Commonwealth Ave, where I met up with FFA’s Co-Founder Naomi Tomlinson. We then hopped into a Jeepney that took us to another Jeepney before reaching our destination. For a new commuter, that single leg, one way journey might have been a bit overwhelming, but for a daily experienced commuter, that is not much at all. In fact my taxi rides could have easily been substituted with Jeepneys without a problem.

So, after a long day of cleaning and preparing the house for initial renovations and remodeling, it was time to wash up. We jumped on a fully loaded Trike and road to the next town over to shower up and head to lunch. By “Fully-Loaded” I meant the Trike was filled with Five passengers plus the driver. Barely hanging off the back of this trike with a large bag flying off to the side, I held on with a tight grip pressed up against the driver. Though I almost bounced off, it wasn’t until later that I understood why we were in the best seats on a trike.

After cleaning up, it was time to get back and have some food. Way into the afternoon now and hungry as ever, we began our trek back home, or should I say, “trike” back home. This time we had the awesome opportunity to sit in the side car. It wasn’t until that moment I realized how tiny the space actually was in there. We packed 3 adults in the little egg crate cart and proceeded on the bumpy ride. This was just one of the highlights of the day and it was quite the experience to have traveled out to Payatas to lend a helping hand to a very special organization, all the meanwhile, getting to really experience the city and the country’s culture.

Couldn’t ask for more from a wonderful day to Payatas. Yes, the return journey include: 1 trike, 2 jeepneys, 1 train, and 1 taxi. The only thing I didn’t get to try that day was a Boat and a Bus ride. Perhaps next time I will get those in as well. Until then, stay tuned for more travel stories.

Hammering Out the Old Drives New Hope: FFA’s New Home

Today I had the very special opportunity to not only take a look what will become the Fair Play for All Foundations new home, I had the chance to help with it’s initial construction. In actuality, it was really more like it’s “deconstruction.” When I was told that the foundation had finally found it’s first physical location after a grueling search for the right place and size, I was more than excited to see it. I was told it needed a lot of work, so I didn’t know what to expect. When I finally had the opening in my training schedule to see it, I set up the time to take a tour and help with it’s initial handy work.

The first time I met the founders of the FFA, Roy and Naomi, I knew they had started something quite special and when I first had the chance to meet the players they “coached,” I knew they were making real changes to the lives of the children in Payatas. From that point, I really wanted to make the effort to help and assist the foundation in any way I could. As I am still learning about what the organization does, what it stands for and who they help, I felt the need to see it for myself and try to absorb more of what the it does.

So my day began by simply having to get to Payatas, which was an adventure in itself. I woke up nice an early and jumped in a cab to the MRT, taking it to North Avenue. This was my very first time taking the train by the way, and the excitement of working commuters overwhelmed the morning travel. The train cars were packed. When I arrived, I jumped into another taxi to St.Peter’s Church to where I met Noami, and we took a Jeepney to the foundations new home.

Before getting to work, Naomi kindly took me on a tour of Payatas showing me the village and the dump site,  as she guided me through the daily happenings of the locals. When we arrived at there, we walked through the gated family-owned property and through the back entrance of the new home. The space opened into a large kitchen, and first floor of the Center to-be seemed quite spacious. We proceeded to the abandoned dimly-light second floor and started to calculate what was to be done for the day.  It was very apparent that there was plenty of work to do, as the space was unoccupied for years and signs of damage, wear, and neglect were evident.

To others, such a daunting task of cleaning up, renovating and rebuilding a home to this extent, might seem impossible and even worthless, but to Naomi and Roy, they saw it’s great potential in becoming a refuge and a relief for broken children in Payatas. For them nothing seemed too daunting or too difficult, in the light of rescuing children from their daily struggles and impoverished conditions. Thier passion, drive, and motivation becomes most powerful when they spoke about their plans for the new drop-in center and it really inspired me.

Today, we purchased a hammer and began the initial demolition and clean up of the second floor. Getting our hands dirty was quite the understatement and I was glad to be a part of every second of it.  I believe we accomplished enough for the future carpenters and cleaning crews to come in and make sound design decisions and take the second step of this process to another level. I am truly excited to help in the next stages and I can not wait to see it’s final product. From the hopes and vision of something special, it is now up to everyone’s efforts to make the dream become a reality.

Please stay tuned for updates on the progress of the New FFA Drop-In Center!

For the latest updates on Naomi and Roy please visit their blogs for upcoming events, volunteer opportunities and ways to support the FFA.

Please be sure to Follow Me on Twitter @LextonMoy to keep undated with all that is going on with the Philippine Azkals, Kaya FC, and my experiences living in Manila and Traveling Asia!

Update from the Boys of Payatas FC

So, the News Letter from the Fair Play for All Foundation is finally out!

Check out http://www.triplee.org.uk/news_1_4.html

Click on the link to read up on great things the Foundation is doing and how the boys of Payatas are making a big impact on life through the game we love.

For more Information on the Fair Play For All Foundation please visit their Facebook page HERE. Please be sure to Click “LIKE” and share the link with with rest of your Soccer Pirrs.
For the latest updates on Naomi and Roy please visit their blogs for upcoming events, volunteer oppurtunities and ways to support the FFA.

Fair Play For All Foundation – Philippines

This past Saturday, teammate Nate Burkey, member of the Philippine Azkals and I had the most wonderful soccer experience, that truly brought us back to some great childhood memories. August 20th marked the opening competition for an unlikely group of footballers here in Manila.  For the past six months a group of children from Payatas, Manila’s lastest garbage dump site, have been meeting once a week to do something most normal kids take for granted. For the children of Payatas, education, health, hygene, and support are scarce and many look to the darker sides of life to find drug induced glimpses of joy. Each week they are given the oppurtunity to meet in a safe enviorment where the harsh daily grind of scavenging acres of rubbish seemingly disapears for at least a couple hours, and the joys of being children again comes to visit them in the form of a Soccer Ball.  The love, support and care provided to the small percentage of Payatas children come from a group of passionate people that formed the Fair Play For All Foundation (FFA).

The Fairplay For All Foundation works to empower the street children of the Philippines. Registered in the UK and funded as Triple E (registration number 1141362), Fairplay for All (FFA) runs football teams in Kasiglahan and Payatas as a way to develop the community and raise awareness through football, after the rise in popularity of the Azkals, the national men’s team of the Philippines. Payatas… is the largest dumpsite in Manila where tens of thousands of people live scavenging for things to sell, recycle and even eat.
 
With just their first soccer competition underway, the organization will look to expand their work beyond the sport to reach what is at the heart of the problem amongst this growing population plagued with poverty.
FFA is also opening a drop-in centre for street children in order to assess their situation on a case-by-case basis. Providing for the nutrition of street children, to break drug dependency (particularly rugby), basic education will continue their learning and provide a platform to assess their situation. With a fully qualified and experienced social worker we will then look to provide full-time residential care, education sponsorship, or micro-financing depending on the reason for the child being on the streets. As such, FFA looks to enable, encourage and empower street children and raise awareness of the poverty of communities to promote Fairplay on and off the pitch.
 
On Staurday, Payatas FC finished 9th overall in the Under 13 age bracket, out of 33 local team from around Manila with an impressive 3-1-1 record.  With loves, and support from volunteers, other teams and local bystanders the boys of Payatas displayed a performance guided by pride, brotherhood and teamwork. The Fair Play For All Foundation not only gave them a means to enter the integrated communtiy through friendly competition, they gave them a place for growth, education, happiness and a true family.

 

The Spirrs Team is a Proud Supporter of the Fair Play For All Foundation and Co-Directors Naomi Tomlinson and Roy Mooore. I had the great pleasure of meeting Naomi and Roy, along with broad member Jacques Palami, dedicated members of their volunteer team, and each one of the valued members of the Payatas FC U13 Team.

 

For more Information on the Fair Play For All Foundation please visit their Facebook page HERE. Please be sure to Click “LIKE” and share the link with with rest of your Soccer Pirrs.

 

For the latest updates on Naomi and Roy please visit their blogs for upcoming events, volunteer oppurtunities and ways to support the FFA.

Please be sure to Follow Me on Twitter @LextonMoy to keep undated with all that is going on with the Philippine Azkals, Kaya FC, and my experiences living in Manila and Traveling Asia!

Race to Deliver

Recently, I had the great opportunity to participate in an amazing charity run. When I was in High School I was first introduced to a wonderful nonprofit organization called God’s Love We Deliver. Not knowing much about seeking volunteer work and new to different opportunity available in the city, I was excited to get started. The first projects involved decorating holiday food “bags” used in the distribution of food to people who are too sick to cook. At that time, I understood that people were given meal and that our decorated bags would give them a sense of personal connection to the food they were receiving as apposed to the anonymous plain white bags. Although decorating bags was a good introduction to the organization, I felt there was more to do. Soon, I found myself preparing food and helping with morning pack-outs. I ultimately felt closer and more connected with the service being provided, being on location and feeling the energy and the passion God’s Love staff and volunteers had to offer. To me it a one step closer to the great mission of the foundation: To improve the health and well-being of men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS, cancer and other serious illnesses by alleviating hunger and malnutrition.

When I found out that I would be in the country for the annual Race to Deliver, I knew I had another chance to be a part of sharing and spreading the organization’s mission alongside thousand of other passionate staff, volunteers, supporters and new supporters. This year, I wanted my family to get involved as well, so I recruited my parents to join in the fabulous run/walk/stroll through New York’s Central Park. The 4mile course proved to be a great family event; excited men, women and children united to raise money and more importantly raise awareness for such a great organization.

For those wondering why we finished the 4 mile run in 1hour and 15 minutes… I have to admit we actual walked really slow. Big thanks to my parents and girlfriend for participating in a fun filled day and supporting God’s Love!

The Spirrs Team is a proud supporter of God’s Love We Delivery. We will continue to help and promote volunteering in anyway possible.

  • Please visit God’s Love We Deliver’s website for more information, HERE.
  • Please participate in Next Year’s Race to Deliver. Click HERE for more info.
  • For information on other Fun events, Click HERE.

How to Help?

    • To contribute by donating Click HERE.
    • To become a part of an exciting and growing Volunteer team, Click HERE.

Triumph For First Time Tri-Athlete: The Ultimate Race to Raise Awareness

Spirrsblog.com Recap Oct 23, 2010

Over the last several months, the Spirrs Team has been closely following the progress of a very moving story.  It is a journey that begins with a young man’s determination and drive to win a simple bet.  This seemingly lighthearted wager, began with a marathon completion and soon turned into an Iron Man competition with over $100K on the line.

Brian Kuritzky, a 24 year Securities Analyst from New York City, decided to run the New York Marathon in the place of a friend was injured days before the marathon. Having strolled through the 26. 2 miles, Kuritzky found himself looking for more of a challenge.  After stirring up some controversy about athleticism at work, a few coworkers placed the big bet on Kuritzky: whether or not he could complete an Iron Man Competition. Openly knowing that he has not swam nor biked even a fraction of what is required in an Iron Man and knowing others train for years for such an event challenge, Kuritzky openly accepted the wager with under a month to train for the 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike and 26.2 mile run.

BK as many of his friends call him, would say this is “Not probable but possible.” To many who do not know BK this daunting task not only seems physically and mentally impossible, it is a foolish and arrogant wager. But those who are close to the soft spoken soccer player, know this challenge goes deeper than the money or proving people wrong.

We often hear of similar stories of people doing great things and accomplishing the impossible, but we often overlook the journey behind story.  By the way, BK not only completed the Iron Man having trained in a 25 meter lap pool and borrowing a bike from a local Bike shop, he beat the wagered time of 16 hours by 30 minutes.  What is so moving about this story is not how BK overturned NY’s financial high rollers, but what drove him to take on the bet and what drove him to complete it.

Nine years ago, BK lost his mother to Breast Cancer. Ever since, his determination and will to help the Susan G Komen Foundation became a mainstay. Always looking for another opportunity to raise money and raise awareness, BK has gained a lot of supporters as his quest to “Find a Cure” continues to grow. The Spirrs Team is a proud supporter of Brian Kuritzky and the Susan G. Komen Center. We will continue to follow BK’s powerful story and shed light on the great things accomplished through determination, drive, passion, hope and love.

WHAT’S NEXT for BK?

  • Ping Pong for a Cure January 30th @ NYC’s Spin Table Tennis Club… Click Here for more info.
  • Running the Stairs of the Empire State Building with a Weighted Vest?… Click Here of more info.