Through the Filipino-American Basketball
Association (Faba), Ken Mendoza has taught many young adults valuable life
lessons on basketball courts.
Faba is a non-profit organization, in the
Washington, D.C.
area, offering basketball programs and other activities designed to develop
sportsmanship in teens.Though Mendoza
has a full-time job with the U.S. Postal Service, Faba is where his passion
lies.
“It was my vision to unite all of the
basketball players in the metropolitan DC area,” said Mendoza.
Mendoza and Faba have succeeded in keeping
members from involvement in street gangs, alcohol and drugs – a well documented
concern in the DC metropolitan area. “It’s difficult to raise a child here,
especially teenagers,” said Coy Garrido, a Faba parent. “It’s so easy for them
to go to a mall, loiter, and then before you know it, they’re gang members.
Next thing you know, they’re doing drugs. With basketball, they can be
healthy."
Through Faba, Mendoza
has helped local youths find heritage, culture and roots to preserve their
unique identity as Filipinos-Americans living and thriving in the U.S. Like Mendoza, the organization
promotes the highest ideals of fellowship, athleticism and fair play by
providing recreation, fun and competition.
Mendoza strives to instill the value of respect
for teammates, coaches, referees and opponents; a respect that he hopes will
transcend the game and impact how the members treat their parents, teachers,
classmates, and colleagues. During one game, Mendoza saw one of his players speak rudely
to her mother. He spoke with the player privately after the game, and then
afterwards, the mother came to him and thanked him profusely for what he had
done. “I’ve never known anyone that has done something like this,”
said Leo Montalban, a Faba parent. “Ken is the first person I’ve known that is
really doing something for the kids and the community.”
Since the majority of Faba members were
born and raised in the U.S.,
many are unaware of their Filipino values and culture. Faba provides them with
the opportunity to learn about their unique identity as Filipino Americans by
talking about the Philippines,
Filipino traditions, and even learn to speak in Tagalog. Mendoza instills a sense of cultural identity
when the members get together.
Through his perseverance, he has sparked
a keen interest for the Philippines
among the members of Faba and provided these young adults with the dream of
someday visiting the country and learning more about the place their parents
call home.
Mendoza teaches what he believes to be one of
the most valuable lessons in basketball and in life; the value of dealing with
both winning as well as losing.
“When I was growing up, I did things that
I could never be proud of. I’m now doing this for our youth, for our
community,” said Mendoza.
“The lessons they are learning now can and will come in handy as they walk
through life and its complexities,
because in life, you do not always win. Sometimes you win. Sometimes you lose.”
For members of Faba and their parents,
what Mendoza
has given them is truly priceless and beyond measure. To these kids and
parents,”Tito Ken” or “Coach K” is a modern-day hero who keeps his game simple
and real. “ ( Reprinted with permission from ‘Geny’s Heroes: Ken Mendoza,’
Philippine News, May 31, 2006)
@9PTCA = ***
The 6th<D> Annual Feed
the Hungry Golf Tournament will be held on Saturday, August 5, 2006 at the
Pleasant Valley Golfers Club Richard Jones Park at 4715 Pleasant Valley Road in
Chantilly Virginia, 20151 with over a hundred golfers expected to take part in
the tournament which aims to build much need classrooms in Masbate
Province in the Philippines. Contributions according to organizers
are tax deductible.
According to tournament committee
chairman Larry Pacis, it will be a Shotgun Start at 1:30 pm with the
registrations slated to begin as early as 11;30 am. Fees will be $85.00 for
early registrations and $100.00 for those who register on the day of the
tournament. It includes 18 holes of golf where golf carts will be
provided as well as practice range balls and a 2 for 1 golf coupon.
Golfers will be offered a choice of an
American Buffet Lunch or Filipino buffet with lechon. Golfer’s guests are
welcome where adults will be charged $12.00 and children $6.00.
Giveaways will also be one of its attractions. The tournament will be
played with the Callaway Handicapping System in Class A, B, and Class C.
$5.000.00 will be offered for the Putt for Dough with great Raffle and
lots of door prizes.
The Philippines’
surge to prominence in international sports competitions continues with three
young girls doing the honors in San
Diego California
recently. The Philippines
improved on its best performance in the Callaway Junior World Golf
Championships by winning three division titles in the age-group competitions.
Dottie Ardina and Mia Legaspi sustained their form to rule their respective
classes, while Cyna Rodriguez completed a stirring come-from-behind victory in
her side of the event. Congratulations!
301-839-5375 *Email: fasbreakpoints@aol.com
