Another Team Philippines First

Team Philippines has been surprised at the generosity of the Bacolod community. Urban Board member Leo Arnaiz would say. “Welcome to Ilonggo hospitality.” But Sunday lunch was the most sacrificial and significant.

Team member’s Tonie Mark Arinal and Michael Quinlat’s families killed the “fatted calf ‘ for us. In a dwelling too small to fit us, and with resources too little to share, they provided us with more than we could hold. It did not seem like the feast would end. We started with rambutan and then rice, shrimp, crab, milkfish, clams, chicken, pork, roast duck, and finally Coach Onie’s favorite, brazo de mercedes!

This was the first time in the three years of organizing the Homeless World Cup Team that a team member’s family has invited us to their dwelling, served us, and fed us. It provides us organizers with a sense of gratitude and achievement. It also puts into perspective the art of sharing. An art perfected by the needy, and occasionally copied, poorly I may add, by the rest of us. They didn’t even ask for a receipt!

We will leave Bacolod with new family. What could be better than a relationship made lifelong, by roast duck. The bones sucked dry as we squat on our haunches in a hollow block dwelling, eating rice with our fingers and laughing with new Ilonggo friends.