EDC sponsored Ormoc Soccer Team pose with EDC Consultant and Former Chilean Ambassador Roberto Mayorga (front row 3rd from right).Amongst the sea of yellow raincoats lined up under the chilly storm in Tacloban, energetic voices from small children chant what they hope would capture the attention of Pope Francis.

“Papa amigo!  Tacloban ‘ta contigo!” (Pope our friend. Tacloban is with you.)

The children were also wearing the colours of the Pope’s favourite Argentinian soccer team - another feat that they hope the Pontif would notice breaking the monotony of yellow in the crowd of people.

“Sana makita kami ni Santo Papa maglaro kasi malaking blessing yun para sa amin at para sa Tacloban,” said Jared Troy Reyes, a 12-year old boy who joined the Santo Papa Futbol Cup.

Though the Pope did not see them play, the 72 children who participated in the Futbol Cup were happy as the Pope smiled at them when he heard their chant.  They are even more

inspired now to pursue their passion for football knowing that the Santo Papa is also one big football fan.

EDC sponsored Ormoc Soccer Team with Ormoc Soccer Club coach Richie Cuizon (first left), coach Erwin Tumampo (2nd from right), and Team Succerroo coach Paulus Reyes (first from right).These kids, who are 8 to 12 years old, are aspiring soccer players from Ormoc and Tacloban trained and competed in the Santo Papa Futbol Cup last Jan 15-16, 2015 at the Bethel International School football field in Tacloban, Leyte.

One out of the six participating teams came from Ormoc and was sponsored by Energy Development Corporation (EDC).

Joshbel Carenea from the School of Excellence, Tongonan-Kananga, James Francis Horca from School of Excellence, Tongonan-Ormoc, and Jared Ezra Zamorano from Lim-ao Elementary School, who are from the partner schools of EDC, are first time soccer players.

With just one-day intensive training, they were able to hold their own and took pride in competing with the Ormoc Soccer Team making it to the semi-finals of the Cup.

Santo Papa Futbol Cup partner organization representatives with Guest of Honor Mayor Alfred Romualdez poses after the ceremonial kick – (L-R) Kevin Goco from Henry Moran Foundation, Nicholas Reyes from Team Succerroo, Ana Margarita Hontiveros from RTR Foundation, Tacloban Mayor Alfred Romualdez, Roberto Mayorga from EDC, Michael Reyes and Paulus Reyes from Team Succerroo.“Nakakahiya kasi di pa ko marunong.  Lahat sila marunong nang mag football,” said James Francis Horca, “pero ok lang kasi enjoy kami lahat.”

Ana Margarita Hontiveros of Doña Remedios Trinidad Romualdez Medical Foudation, organizer of the Cup, said the Santo Papa Futbol Cup is part of a larger psychosocial program for the victims of typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).  “We hope to uplift the spirits of public school children in Leyte and provide them a message of hope through football,” she said.

Former Chilean Ambassador Roberto Mayorga, now an EDC Consultant, was ecstatic when he taught the children the Spanish chant. 

“I am proud to be with the children and teach them this chant,” Mayorga said.  “I am honoured as well to be here in Tacloban to witness the Pope’s visit.  I am also very thankful that we were able to share what Calidad Humana is to the young children and remind them of the good values that they should practice through sports like discipline, sportsmanship, and fair play.”

EDC Consultant and Former Chilean Ambassador Roberto Mayorga talks to the Santo Papa Futbol Cup players about Calidad Humana.Roberto Mayorga is an advocate of the Filipino Calidad Humana. 

Calidad Humana is a deep and intuitive "concern for others" that comes naturally to the Filipino.  It is this concern that gives Filipinos strength in times of crisis and gives them a resilient and hopeful spirit.  It is this spirit that, Roberto Mayorga champions and would like to preserve and share, with the strong support of EDC and the Lopez Group.

“With the Football Program of RTR Foundation and the Calidad Humana project of EDC, we see future collaborations that will uplift and preserve the good values of the Filipino youth through football,” added Mayorga.

The Santo Papa Futbol Cup is led by Mission Tacloban, an organization created by the Doña Remedios Trinidad Romualdez Medical Foundation together with Energy Development Corporation, Team Socceroo Football Clup and the Henry V. Morgan Foundation. 

It is also supported by PASAR Foundation and the Olympic Village. (Story photos by Maria Fe Cajumban)

Scenes from the soccer competition Ormoc Soccer Team versus Team RTR from Tacloban.

Scenes from the soccer competition Ormoc Soccer Team versus Team RTR from Tacloban.

Scenes from the soccer competition Ormoc Soccer Team versus Team RTR from Tacloban.