The Unsaid Side of Lost Kids

Growing up, I was that curly-haired kid who often stood out not just for my looks but also for the challenges I faced. Bullying was a part of my childhood. I was called names and teased relentlessly. But rather than letting that hold me back, I found comfort in the friends I surrounded myself with. They were my support system and together we’d play outside, forgetting the harshness of the world for a while. One of my greatest passions is basketball. From a young age, it captivated me. I started playing as a child, and my love for the game deepened when I turned 13. I was fully committed practicing regularly and practicing my skills. Basketball became more than just a sport. it was a way to escape my troubles, a source of joy, and a path toward discipline and teamwork. I played consistently until I was 17, and those years not only make my game more advanced  but also taught me passion to the game. Now at 18, I stand tall and consistent. I’m ambitious and focused on my future. My exp...

 What are your hobbies? What are the things driving you to your passion? What makes you happy when times are down? For me, the answer to all of those questions is sports. Sports give me the drive to perspire and give me the drive to live life to the fullest. Ever since I was a child, I was a sporty child. I took soccer and won a few medals, and I also took up basketball, and I also won a few medals too. I also took on mountain biking and joined races. Ever since, i was built by sports, I was from the sport, and that sport was in my blood. The passion for winning came next. I was more than happy to achieve things that I thought I could not do it. Sports gave me a second life; when I play, I forget the things that bother me. Every sweat I drop to the ground is my effort paying off, and that makes me happy and satisfied. When I'm mentally tired, sports are there to catch me from the problems that pull me down.   Every medal gives me the drive for glory to achieve. Sports gi...

Volleyball is defined as a sport where a net separates the two teams of six players. And under set rules, each side attempts to score points by putting the ball on the court of the other team. It’s basic and common knowledge, it’s a definition for everyone. But what is volleyball for me? Volleyball taught me a lot and brought me to different aspects of this world. Growing up, Basketball was my first sport and it was because of cultural and peer pressure. In a typical Filipino household, a son is expected to play basketball because this gives the father a sense of achievement and it ensures a father-son bonding for a life time. I was able to reach “Inter-Barangay” levels of leagues when I was still playing but a specific moment ignited my love for Volleyball. One cloudy afternoon, I was having a moment for myself in a multipurpose court in our local barangay.  At that time, I was watching strangers play Volleyball and I felt a spark in my heart and eyes that I never experienced in p...

STEFANO VILLAFLOR Mind and Body, two different things yet interconnected with each other-If someone were to ask, Why do I try so hard? Well. I am someone who believes in the power of discipline, hard work, and pushing my physical limits to the max. But in a deeper meaning, I was bullied. I was not ashamed or become depressed of it, it became a MOTIVATION for me to change knowing other people find my physical structure as a weakness for me to find solution to. Like Socrates have said "It is a shame for a man to grow old without seeing the beauty and strength of which his body is capable" what started as a simple "gym" hobby turned into a passion for achieving the greater good and the future of my fitness. Over the years, I have learned that my progress is not all about lifting weights-it is about persistence, mindset, and embracing the change. Yes it was hard at first but when you get used to it, its "fun". The FUN where you put your work in with all your a...