Except for Jert Yao, who previously competed in several International (Football) Championships, the rest of the team were “FIRST TIMERS” so to speak. Hence we can only pray and give our best and enjoy the competition.

Our flight to Vancouver was a very tiring one especially if you have a player who was “air-sick“ all through out the flight. And you can just imagine taking 3 Airplanes before reaching our destination: Mackenzie British Columbia. Once we stepped out of the plane, the air was freezing. We were able to meet our Japanese counter-parts at Prince George Airport where we still had to travel by bus for another 2 hours. We were supposed to enjoy the sightseeing on our way to Mackenzie hoping to see big bears and other animals but sad to say, everyone was asleep.

My watch says 7 p.m. when we arrived at Mackenzie but surprisingly, the sun was still smiling and it was equivalent 3 p.m. Philippine time but their time says it was almost mid-night. How can you sleep with the sun shining in your face? Anyway, the meeting place was at Kin Hut where the foster parents were waiting, eager and ready to fetch us. Jules, Paolo and I were together in one foster home while Jert and Kenneth shared another. Our Parents were billeted at Alexander Mackenzie Hotel, well, the only hotel they have, together with the rest the Japanese and Indian delegates. Our first day was spent touring around Mackenzie. Roland Abraham Sensei has everything prepared for us. Our first stop: the Marfee Lake. It was beautiful, enchanting and lovely and would you believe this is the only lake I have seen with white sands! And the water was really cold or should I say, freezing. The mountains behind the lake were still covered with snow and all of us enjoyed the picture taking. Then we went to tour the Fire Department where they showed us their technology and even demonstrated how high the water in their firetrucks reach tall building and trees in cases of forest fires.

We were all tired and hungry especially when you were given watermelons for diner. The next day, we were treated to a Chinese restaurant for lunch. I really missed the rice and “ulam” for a meal. I don’t think I would be able to compete with only watermelons in my stomach, would you? Come afternoon, we practiced at the gym together with the Japanese players and we saw that they were really good in kata. So we just showed theme our piece especially in kumite and Viola! “Natakot lahat sila! After the practice, nobody wanted to approach us because “magaling daw kami”. Everybody was talking about us Filipinos including the senseis because they saw in us the potential for winning.

Then the competition day came. We thought we would not compete for Kata because did not even practice kata so we were all stunned when they informed us that we will be competing for KATA! So the “Bahala na” system was enforced. Surprisingly, we won 2 Silvers (Jert and Paolo) and 2 Bronzes (Kenneth and me). Everybody was surprised. Imagine first-timers with no practice at all for several days.

The much-awaited day came. The KUMITE. We were all nervous but confident that we will win. So finally at the days end, we bagged 3 GOLDS courtesy of KENNETH, PAOLO and yours truly. Jert’s match was a tough one because he was only 13 years old competing with the 14-17 year old level. But he managed to pull through and won the SILVER.

We head back for home with the experience we won’t be able to forget for the rest of our lives. Truly, as Shihan Veguillas once said before we left for Canada, “you will be a changed person after the competition”. Yes Shihan, you are right!