Teachers want continuity in archery program

ARCHERY drew much curiosity among public school teachers.

This was also why Karen Abellar and Loreta Ortaleza, both Grade 1 teachers of Alaska Elementary School, wanted to volunteer as trainors and train with the Cebu Archery Club for the Cebu City Sports Commission’s (CCSC) grassroots archery development.

“I find it interesting. At first, I was curious. Now that we learned the basics, we found out na dili diay lisod. I am now eager to teach the kids what we have learned here,” Ortaleza told Sun.Star Cebu.

For Abellar, training in archery was a new experience.

“First we were taught to develop our postures and we were taught the right warm-up so that we can gather strength to draw the string. Babaye baya mi. Sa pagtan-aw at first murag lisod but dili man diay kay gitudlo-an man gyud mi sa proper nga techniques to shoot the arrow,” said Abellar.

But in the school they are teaching at, the teachers have the same problem—financial limits – which makes it hard for them to sustain the program.

“Wala nay problema ang interest sa mga bata sa sports. But in order to get the interest of the kids you need to give them something like snacks to encourage them and ensure the continuity sa sports program. Sometimes, I have to shell out from my own pocket. That would not be much though but the next thing we have to worry about is if we can continue,” Abellar explained.

Continuity is also what Sea Games gold medalist Dondon Sombrio was thinking about once they complete the Guinness Book of World Record attempt to have the largest archery tournament, which is slated in November.

“That is what I am trying to tell Edward Hayco (CCSC head). I want to do a follow-up after we do the Guinness attempt. I wan to have a Cebu Archery League where the participants of this Guinness archery will be competing. This is a series of tournaments that would eventually promote the sports. I want to have a Cebuano archery representative to the Youth Olympics or in some university games,” Sombrio explained.

Sombrio himself is trying to collect bows and arrows from his friends and finding foreign sponsorships while he himself is trying to improve a prototype for a homemade bow.

“We have identified three problems, First, the schedule of the kids. Two, their dedication and three, the equipment. I guess the first two can be arranged, since our teachers are very supportive that I even guess that we can draw more than 10,000 kids to join the competition in November.

The equipment is our biggest problem. Now I am trying to develop a new prototype. We will be using a PVC pipe but this time it would be better. I am calling my old friends who are now starting to donate old bows and arrows and right now I am also negotiating with two Korean companies to sponsor us,” added Sombrio.

The November tournament will be joined by players 16 years old and under, who will be shooting 8 meters to 50 meters.