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During my stay in El Nido, Palawan, I have been blessed to meet some very interesting people. They were what I call “the characters that make up my El Nido story.” This post is about some of them.

Every morning I would have my coffee while walking along the beach. I, with my coffee, my friend Jem with her hot choco, would walk the stretch of the front beach, stopping once in a while to talk to locals & foreigners alike. Each & every morning, we would come across this group of kids playing beach soccer. What caught our attention is that everything was improvised. Those kids used an old worn-out volley ball instead of a soccer ball. They wore their rubber slippers instead of proper rubber shoes. They didn’t even have a goal; just invisible designated goals. But they didn’t mind; just enjoyed this sport they love the most.

We call him (the boy in yellow shirt) ‘Keme-Keme’ for that is what he would yell before the start of every game. He’s a goalie, and a good one at it, I should say. I asked him once what ‘keme-keme’ means.

“I don’t know ate,” he answered with a shrug & a shy smile on his face. “I just repeat what I saw on TV.” Good for him, I thought to myself.

One time their ball went so far it landed on the waters. So I went and pick it up. As I was walking towards them with the intention of returning their ball, they started chanting.

“Ate! Ate! Ate!” inviting me to join the game. They all had this hopeful look on their faces. Well … what’s a poor girl to do?

I obliged, of course. With my best effort, I kicked the ball with my toes. Big mistake! It was too painful I cringed in pain. They all rushed to me asking if I was okay. Then ‘Keme-Keme’ gave me a tip. He said I should hit the ball with the curve of my sole & not with my toes. Good tip … in retrospect. So, with a sigh, I kicked it one more time. I was successful (somehow) but it still hurts. I turned to him with accusing eyes.

“Doesn’t it hurt you?”

“It does … still,” he replied with a nod. “I just try not to think about it.” Actually, his words were … “Tinitiis ko lang ate.”

Awww … that’s dedication is you ask me.

I just wish that somehow someday, those kids would get the appropriate training they need to make it into the real league.

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