Meanwhile, our sports community, who in their best capacity, was in action in lending assists to numerous victims of the calamity. Thus, numerous athletes from across teams and leagues joined forces in giving their best possible aid. They proved that they will give their all not just in competitions, athletics, and games but also in helping the whole country.

Let us witness bold stories of our Filipino athletes that made efforts to contribute to the recovery of our fellow Filipinos after such catastrophes.

Ho, Valdez, and the Volleyball Community 

Though Philippine volleyball is still on the sit-out and may not resume in the following months due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the volleyball community delivers joy and aid with relief efforts extended to those who were affected by typhoon Ulysses in the past month. 

On a social media post by Gretchen Ho, athletes from BanKo Perlas, Creamline, and members of the Spike and Serve Philippines Inc. are shown packing hundreds of relief goods for families affected by the typhoon.

“Together we rise. Volleyball community pooling in donations from sponsors,” she wrote adding that the family packs will be sent to six different locations in Catanduanes, Bicol, Rizal, Tuguegarao, and Marikina.

Among those who participated in the relief efforts centered in the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan were volleyball stars Alyssa Valdez, Nicole Tiamzon, and Bea de Leon.

Valdez and Ho were part of the Volleyball Community Gives Back, a group that was established in 2013 after Typhoon Yolanda which consisted of players doing charitable programs during times of adversities. 

Moreover, donations in that time are collated by the players and the organizations have already been sent to areas like Marikina, Albay, Catanduanes, Tuguegarao, and Rizal.

Philippines Football League (PFL) Players

The football community could not also bear to stand by without helping those in need. After a successful league, some players from the Philippines Football League (PFL) lead in the fundraising to help survivors of super typhoon Ulysses last November.

“The PFL family will be auctioning off some of their most treasured possessions (kits, boots, and goalkeeper gloves) to raise funds for the victims of Typhoon Ulysses. Check out the PFL Facebook page regularly in the succeeding days for all the items that you can bid on. Bid winners will be informed via a private message,” wrote the league in its social media posts.

“Thank you to our PFL players for stepping up and helping out in their own way,” posted the PFL on its official Facebook account. 

The year’s PFL individual awardees, Anthony Pinthus, Bienvenido Marañon, and Stephan Schröck, among the reigning champion United City FC, were several players who first put up their jerseys for auction.

Followed by, Maharlika Manila FC’s Anton del Rosario, Mendiola FC’s Hamed Hajimehdi, and Azkals Development Team’s Jarvey Gayoso have also placed their jerseys for auction to donate.

Indeed, these players are sacrificing their valuable jerseys just to extend relief operations to the typhoon victims. The whole community, not just the football community, was touched by their heartfelt effort to lend a helping hand.

Olympic Bound Boxer Irish Magno

Illongga and Olympic-bound boxer Irish Magno puts up a fundraising activity about last month that intends to bring aid to the people affected by Typhoon Ulysses. 

In her Facebook post, she calls boxing enthusiasts to support her program entitled, “Boxing Class for A Cause,” which is placed in her hometown where she is also currently training for the Tokyo Olympics.

The admission fee was at 100 pesos which all proceeds will go directly for donation.

“Gusto ko po talagang makatulong sa mga biktima ng bagyo. Naisip ko po na mag-conduct ng class, hindi lang po ako makakapag-share ng kaalaman ko sa boxing, makakatulong pa po ako sa mga naapektuhan ng kalamidad,” the 29-year-old pride of Janiuay, Iloilo said.

She also shared that the idea was from her and Raynald Ardiente, owner of the FitStart Gym.

“Yung fundraising po is idea ng may ari ng gym. Bale nagsabi po siya sakin na magconduct kami ng boxing clinic para po yung macollect na pera yun po yung idadagdag sa mga nasalanta ng bagyong Ulysses,” Magno expressed.

The program has served also as a training ground for the Iloilo pride. In addition, the boxing tutorial was the third time which Magno conducted and is open for all ages.

San Miguel Beer’s June Mar Fajardo 

San Miguel Beer big man June Mar Fajardo has thought of the simplest way of extending aid to fellow Filipinos affected by the typhoon.

Through his Facebook account, Fajardo launched a donation drive which was through his gaming page, AHOSgaming.

Using G-cash, a virtual wallet application, Fajardo gave 500 pesos to 20 random people, a total of 10,000 pesos. He required people who wanted to be received the money to send a photo of their vicinity as proof and their respective G-Cash accounts.

“Magandang gabi po sa inyong lahat, alam ko po mahirap yong pinagdadaanan ng iba nating kababayan na nasalanta ng bagyo kaya gusto ko po makatulong kahit konti. Magbibigay po ako ng P500 pesos ngayong gabi sa 20 random ka tao na nasalanta ng bagyo. Ang kelangan ko lang po ay picture na magpapatunay na apektado talaga sila sa bagyo at Gcash account,” said the 6-foot-10 Fajardo, who is currently recovering from an injury that time. 

Fajardo wished that the small amount he distributed to certain families can help them in a way.

“Sana makatulong po yon kahit papaano. Kung kaya po natin tumulong, [tulungan] po natin yong mga kababayan natin na nangangailangan,” wrote Fajardo.

“Pasensya na kung hindi ko nabigyan lahat. Ingat po tayong lahat and God bless,” added the 6-foot-10 Fajardo.

In these times of calamity, many athletes have proven themselves, they are not just MVP’s, awardees, and known players on the hardcourt but also off-court. They found ways not just to excel in sport but also to touch lives and help people as much as they can.