UP intern Cheska Marie D. Geli takes a ride on a flying saucer with Derek Ramsey.

Image model and actor Derek Ramsey is also making himself known in the world of sports, aside from his mainstream entertainment career. He engages in sports to keep his body in top shape.

At present, he is a member of the Philippine Frisbee team that has competed in different Asian countries like Taiwan, China, Indonesia and Hong Kong. The team also competed in Brazil and in Australia for the world championship.

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He is an athlete who gives a hundred per cent of himself in every game. Because of his competitiveness, he led the Philippine team to win the 2008 Manila Spirits Frisbee Championship. While he certainly doesn’t look like his moniker of “Kabayo”, he matches the running skills of a horse when it comes to his favorite sport.

Last February, he went through a surgical operation for a knee injury which he acquired from playing Frisbee. A few months after receiving the “go” signal from his doctor, he visited Cebu to play for the Ultimo Abri Tres, the third Cebu Ultimate Frisbee Tournament.

Q: How do you find the Frisbee Tournament in Cebu?

Derek Ramsey (D): Frisbee is my favorite sport. It’s really one of my passions. It’s really nice to see that it is expanding throughout the whole country. It’s my first time to play here in Cebu. I can see that there are a number of players like In Manila. It’s really amazing. I hope there are enough numbers so that we can have national tournament.

Q: How do you find the teams in the Visayas?

D: I haven’t played my first game yet but while watching the games here it looks like they have the skills. I’ll find out later after my first game. I played all around the world but it’s nice to see that here in the Philippines 99% of the players are local.

When you go to Shanghai or different parts in Asia, they are mostly expats (expatriates). Here in the Philippines it’s all Filipino.

Q: How many years have you been playing Frisbee?

D: I’m going on my sixth year. I hope it I can still continue because I just had surgery on my knee.

Q: What can you say about the development of the sport in the Philippines?

D: Amazing. It’s so fast.

Q: Do you have any idea when it was introduced?

D: I think 2000 or 1999. Even back then there was only like 3 to 4 teams and most of which are expats. I joined in 2004.

Grabe yung craze at competition talaga. (The craze and competition is really wild) There’s like a thousand players in the Philippines.

Q: Why do you think people like playing Frisbee?

D: Because when you think of Frisbee, it’s not only an intense sport. It’s a Frisbee culture when it’s all about friends and the game is based on honesty and spirit unlike other sports when you have a referee. You get to hang with people on weekends. It’s a nice way to create new friends.

Q: So most of your friends are Frisbee players?

D: Yes Actually. Most of my close friends are ultimate Frisbee players.

Q: Do you always make sure that you’ll attend Frisbee tournaments?

D: Yeah, when they told me that there’s a Frisbee tournament in Cebu. I’m here to experience the competition in Cebu and compare it to Manila but Manila is the main hub.

Q: Is this the only reason why you came here?

D: Yes. I want to play a little disc. It’s my first time to come back in the field because I wasn’t allowed to play because of my operation. I also wanted to see players from Cebu, Dumaguete and other provinces in Visayas.

Q: How does Frisbee differ from other sports?

D: I used to play PBL (Philippine Basketball League), used to play soccer. It’s a combination of footwork, the eye and hand coordination. Parang pinaghalo mo yung basketball, football and any other outdoor games. (It’s like you mixed basketball, football…) You need a lot of resistance, kung hindi mo kayang tumakbo, hindi ka magexcel sa (if you can’t run, you won’t excel) Frisbee. If you don’t have stamina patay ka sa Frisbee (you’re dead meat). I love to run, When I’m in the field, it feels like I can run all day.

Q: Aside from you, who are the other stars who play Frisbee?

D: The Eigenmann brothers. Reema Chanco, she’s in the Philippine team with me. Brent Javier also plays Frisbee.

Q: You are also part of the Philippine Ultimate Association?

D: Yes

Q: What do you usually do?

D: We have competitions all throughout the year. PUA is the governing board, the one who organizes tournaments. We have an international tournament, the Manila Spirits, which is a very big tournament and the very much favorite tournament in Asia.

We have teams coming from Japan and Spain. It’s a competitive tournament. This tournament in Cebu is what you call a fun tournament. Everybody loves to play hard and to win but mostly to have fun. The Spirits is more competitive, that’s the best of the best. In a way, it helps the Philippine team compete for abroad.

Q; Do you do clinics in schools?

D: We do. We are actually planning to do some teaching in Clark. They want us to go there and teach. I’m all for that if I get invited to teach in schools. I really want the sport to expand.

Q: At what age can you start?

D: You can start at any age. My nephew is 3 years old and they are playing already. What’s great about Frisbee is that you can practice anywhere and bring a disc anywhere. Basta may kasama ka, ok na! (As long as you have a buddy, it’s a go already) That’s how Frisbee can be addicting. We have a wide range of players from different ages, backgrounds and capabilities.

Q: What should be the attitude of a Frisbee player?

D: Basta maganda ugali mo, di ka pikon. Kahit sino pwede dito.

(As long as you’re a sportsman, and you don’t get pissed easily. Anyone can play this sport.)