EQUALLY fascinating as the game Airsoft are the players.

In an after-game banter, two of the major personalities shared their thoughts and experiences with the game.

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Wo Rosete is the Public Affairs Officers of SMART Communications, one of the sponsors of the 233rd SOG, BCBC, SMART, and BAC Friendship Games.

Another sponsor and major force in the game, Baguio Country Club, was represented by the amiable Amboy Guevarra, assistant manager of F & B.

People get into the game for different reasons, and on different levels of passion. Mr. Rosete got into airsoft because of his mega-huge fascination with 20th century military history.

He says: “I’m such a geek, that not only do I read a lot about these, I even analyze the strategies and tactics employed, with matching maps and drawings! Anyway, playing airsoft allows me to understand these military conflicts better since I am able to achieve an approximation of what the individual soldier was going through while conducting an operation.”

His level of passion for the game varies in that it provides him a venue for fitness, for getting dressed “military style” and his “acting.” He provides a brief description for each role.

“Exercise and fitness: with your uniform and all your gear strapped on, plus your rifle, add to that the tropical heat, and the terrain, a certain level of physical fitness and preparation is necessary for you to be an effective element of a team. So, the night before a game I drink lots of fluids and load up on carbo. Perfect excuse to pig out on pasta and pizza! I quit playing basketball due to a bum knee and back, and airsoft is where I get my exercise.

“Gearing up: gearing up in camo military uniforms and gear is a lot of fun. I try to make my load up as authentic as possible down to the unit patches on my camp. I have eBay and my buddies in the military to thank for that. Modesty aside, in the words of Will Smith in the first installment of the movie ‘Men In Black’: I make this look good!”

“Then there is what I call my ‘Vic Morrow theory.’ The late Vic Morrow was an American actor who played Sgt. Chip Saunders in the TV series ‘Combat.’ When I was a tadpole, I used to do a lot of pretend play that I was Sgt. Saunders, I had a replica Thompsom machine gun, helmet, etc.”

During the hour or so that I was playing “Combat.” in my head I WAS/AM Sgt. Saunders. Up ‘til the time I got tired and put everything back in the box.

After which I was “Wo Rosete” again. To this day, every time I play, I am totally immersed in the mission at hand.

I am a navy seal rescuing a downed pilot held captive in the Mekong Delta, or I am a Special Forces operator tasked with snatching a Vietnamese intelligence officer in a small village near the Laotian border.

In short, airsoft is a great way of escaping the stress and realities of everyday life!

As for Mr. Guevarra, he agrees airsoft is a good way to exercise not only the physical body, but also the mind.

He says: “I used to play paintball before (2006-2007) for the adrenaline rush. In the same manner, I played airsoft for the same reason. It’s also a good cardio work out as it involves a lot of running. It’s also a good ‘mind game’ as it forces the players to think tactically and not just use bravado in every game.”

Playing airsoft gives much more than the physical workout, it has and continues to teach players lessons, which are applicable in everyday life. To Wo and Amboy, airsoft is more than just a game.

Wo says of the life lessons he has learned from Airsoft: “It has taught me patience. My prime motivation for getting into the sport was to continue learning the virtue of patience. I got into golf via the same route.”

One needs truckloads of patience just to get from point A to point B. If not, you make a lot of noise and movement in the bush, thus compromising your position. You end up getting yourself and your teammates “killed” by the “enemy.” Factor in my height and weight, then you have a challenging task right there.”

Amboy agrees with Wo on this point and says further: “I have learned the virtue of waiting and weighing every move before acting on it. Like during a game, one cannot act out of impulse alone, he has to weigh it with present tactical conditions before deciding on the best plan of action. In life, one cannot be acting completely on impulse alone. Planning as well as having a good exit plan is needed to succeed in all endeavors.”

It is a lifestyle.