TOURNAMENTS are finally flooding in, but let's step back and consider the uncertainties and challenges athletes faced during the protracted pandemic break, forcing deferral to all sporting competitions. After his prolonged hiatus, THE BEDAN HERALD interviewed Edwin B. Romero (II-BSBA MM) of the football team in his long-awaited return to the field.

Uncovering the Sport

Discovering your passion is the first step towards pursuing them and you will probably need to put in a lot of time and effort. The 22-year-old athlete revealed that football was not his first sport. “Basketball player ang father ko noong kabataan niya, kaya ang nakahiligan ko laruin is basketball,” he said. He attempted to join but after observing several of his friends playing football, he unexpectedly became interested in it. One step at a time, Romero was able to start his journey toward football. 

A Decision to Halt

COVID-19 definitely took a toll on everyone as games were timed out.  Athletes were forced to refrain from playing since the games required team and players’ interactions, and social distancing measures were strictly enforced. “Tumigil ako maglaro sa rason na nagkaroon ng pandemic and siguro dahil rin sa depression,” he stated. Quitting then made him feel desolated because football was his outlet and stepping into the field helps him clear his mind. Romero was able to work at a fast food restaurant throughout the pandemic which made him come to terms with life's realities. "Sobra ‘kong na-miss ‘yung mga panahon na naglalaro lang ako and nag-aaral," he added.

Coming Back Home

Change is inevitable they say, and it is true when looking at different aspects. For him, life has taken many different turns, reaching a point where he needed to remove something from his life that he once loved. However, change being inevitable may also be viewed positively, because when the player received the news that the school is finally opening its campus for face-to-face classes and that contact sports restrictions were lifted, he was able to try again. “Sobrang sarap sa pakiramdam na nakakalaro kana ulit sa sports na mahal mo talaga,” he said. Currently, their team is preparing and looking forward to the upcoming season of the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA). 

Ten years passed since he started playing, yet Romero still strives for his passion for football. He may have had an up-and-down path, but it only shows how much he loves the sport. And for the people who are also in the midst of uncertainties, he encouraged them to do the things they love right now so they won’t look back and regret it in the future. He continued by advising people to keep pursuing the things that bring them joy. “Wag matakot na mag take ng risk, wag matakot magkamali. Dahil sa bawat pagkakamali ay may kapalit na lesson na pwede mong gamitin para mas maging matibay ka pa sa mga pagsubok na haharapin mo sa hinaharap,” he said.