Life Principles in this blog:
- The World is a Mirror
- Courage is not being fearless, it is facing the fear and taking action anyway
- Be of service without wanting anything in return
I don’t know why my nerves were getting to me. Was it because I am an inexperienced motorbike driver, driving uphill through mud and ducking under mango tree branches? Was it not knowing where the tennis court was and getting lost several times on the way there? Or was it that I was showing up to a new court and not knowing anyone there?
When you are a white-skinned American that is wobbly on a motorbike and driving through the rural province roads in the Philippines, you stick out like a broken string on match point.
And the locals noticed as I trekked back and forth, back and forth. I had to ask three different people for directions. Speaking basic English, they tried to help by using a finger and pointing in a direction. Well, that didn’t help either as the spider web of dirt province roads and dead ends was leaving me lost.
What did help, fortunately for me, was a local by the name of “Raul.” A man who I will probably never meet or see again, but one who the universe placed in my path as a reminder to help others without asking for anything in return.
At a dead stop on my motorbike, particularly dumfounded and ready to give up on finding the court and just going home, a man on a motorbike pulled up beside me, introduced himself, and said “Follow me sir.” Driving through roads that don’t look like roads, he led me right to the tennis court which was 10 minutes away.
I never would have found the court if it wasn’t for Raul. I tried to offer him some gas money but he would not accept. Kindness was his mission objective.
…..
The first glance of the court left me speechless. It was perched up on a hill in the distance, with a beautiful royal blue roof and lushy green surroundings.
But, walking into the court, I felt my slight nerves come up again. I didn’t know any of these people except for one, Jake, who I had met and invited me a few days earlier.
With anxiety, in my experience, the best thing to do is to face it head on. Move a muscle to change a thought. Smile, ask questions, move your feet. Be respectful and kind, the world is a mirror. After all, there is, and was nothing to be afraid of. These were some of the friendliest people I’ve ever met.
This was a special event, the Grand Opening of the Bugho Tennis Court, a new covered tennis court in the small town of Bugho, Moalboal, Cebu, Philippines. From what I gathered, the court was built as a joint effort – to meet the passion for tennis of the local tennis community, and with a government assistance provided by the local vice mayor/government grassroots mission. A generous and noble mission, the court is also public, although you need to pay a very small amount to play – 40 pesos (less than a dollar.)
Immediately the tennis players greeted me and welcomed me, smiling, asking lots of questions, both about my tennis level and my country of origin (USA).
The court was made out of tan-colored dirt, similar to what you would see at the beach. And the court, being brand new, still needed a little bit of love to properly season the court.
As I was playing my first match, paired with a Swiss man named Gary and against two Filipinos (Lito and Jake), others were showing up, prepared for a full day of tennis, spectating, and socializing. Gary and I ended up losing the match 8-6, but this wasn’t about winning and losing, it was about making new friends.
After a few matches, with me as a spectator, a priest showed up to lead the party in the “blessing of the court.” With his holy water in secured in a plastic bottle, he spritzed the spectators and the court, and read a few heartwarming prayers.
For food, it was a Filipino delicacy – Lechon, a full barbequed baby pig. Crispy skin on the outside, with delicious fatty meat and ribs on the inside. Side dishes were plentiful, although I did not recognize any of them.
One item that I was munching on, thinking to be mushrooms, someone suspiciously asked “Oh, you like THAT?” After a dubious pause and my blank stare, he explained that they were “internal goat organs.” For me, it’s best to stick with the lechon next time.
Although, I don’t drink alcohol, the locals made sure I was welcome to partake in drinking beer with them, which I kindly declined. But for them, it wasn’t about getting drunk, it was about socializing and having a good time. And their drink offer was more about trying to be hospitable and welcoming their new foreigner friend.
…..
As my time at the Bugho tennis court was ending, I was asked to partake in one more match. This time a featured prime time match, to be countered against two of the best local Moalboal Filipino players, Ray and Jake. After beating me earlier, I was getting an opportunity for lighthearted revenge on my new friend Jake.
Jake, a young man, has a big hard-hitting game. But, he can be vulnerable to unforced errors – if – and a big IF, you can stay in the rally long enough to get past his laser forehands. And his partner, Ray, is a seasoned vet, with strong tactics and groundstrokes, and the mental experience to exploit weaknesses.
My partner was to be Jet, a Filipino with good volleys, a solid overround game, and great doubles teamwork. The best thing about him was his positivity, an often overlooked aspect of winning tennis. When you miss a shot you have to put it behind you immediately so you don’t mess up your next shot. He kept saying, “Sorry partner, lets get the next one,” or “we can do this, keep fighting!”
Despite being down 6-3, Jet and I were able to make some adjustments (good teamwork), and mounted a comeback to win 8-6. All while playing in front of a crowd of 50 people cheering us on. It was amazing.
…..
The important lessons learned here, for me, are to treat others with kindness and respect. Not just because that makes you a good person, but because the world will reflect back to you whatever you put out. And be a good person, a good community, with no expectation of wanting anything in return. That’s true service. That’s what the Moalboal tennis community transmits.
Cheers to all my new friends in the Moalboal Tennis Community, for doing something positive for tennis both on and off the court. And to Raul, my brief friend for helping me find the court where I could have this unique experience.