Mindanao quake victims show biggest heart in Batang Pinoy
Published Oct 29, 2025 05:30 pm
Their houses were shaken; the streets in shambles.
Even their lives upended. The Davao "doublet" earthquake may have invoked fears and worries to many.
But not to the members of the Mati City Sepak Takraw team.
When the pair of powerful tremors jolted Davao Oriental on Oct. 10 — a 7.4 magnitude in the morning, followed by a 6.9 magnitude in the evening — the players thought their dreams of playing in the 2025 Batang Pinoy would crumble too.
THE MATI CITY Sepak Takraw team, mentored by Cris Vincent Olvida, beams with pride during the 2025 Batang Pinoy in General Santos City.
But their will and determination stood firm.
Their participation in the premier grassroot event of the Philippine Sports Commission was never in question. Head coach Cris Vincent Olvida said the team never really considered backing out — a decision that would seemingly be easy for a team that isn’t really expected to be among the top contenders and, for one, still feeling the crippling effects of the quake.
Olvida, along with his Sepak Takraw team, were eager to fight. Not solely to win, but to show that they are the most resilient of all.
"The earthquake did not dampen our spirits. This was an opportunity for us to represent Mati City. We will fight, no matter what," said Olvida in Filipino.
But the coach, who also served as a teacher at the Mati National Comprehensive High School, admitted that it wasn’t easy to come into the tournament after what had happened to them.
THE PLAYERS trained for months before the pair of strong earthquakes struck their hometown early this October.
Mati City may have not been damaged as much as Manay in Davao Oriental or Bogo City, Cebu, when they were hit by a separate 6.9 magnitude earthquake, but the trauma it left to his young players is hard to overcome.
"It was a traumatic experience for them. We were in our class. We remembered Cebu, and we thought this might be as strong or devastating," he said.
Caleb Acera, the 15-year-old member of the team, vividly remembered the moment the earthquake was felt at their school.
"I was really afraid because we were at the canteen when it happened. It was really powerful," recalled Acera.
At that point, their lives also froze. The supposed in-house training of the team was suspended. And they never got to touch the rattan ball for two weeks. The covered court where they usually train cannot be used due to the fear of it collapsing anytime.
DESPITE FALLING short in the secondary boys action, the players will return to Mati City with much lesson and confidence.
And even when they finally got the chance, they found themselves training on the complex where some of the evacuees were temporarily taking shelter.
"The buildings had cracks. Other ceilings went off. It wasn't safe at all," said Olvida.
"We had no other option but to go to the complex, but we had to share the venue with the evacuees. It was tough for us," echoed Acera.
But the competition in Batang Pinoy was simply fierce and unforgiving. Acera’s team lost to Biñan, much to the disappointment of the young player.
"We prepared for months. This is painful," he said.
But for his coach, seeing the fire and the fight from his players have already made them winners. And while they may come home without any medals, they have proven well that resilience comes handy in the bigger game called life.
They may have lost shelter, some their livelihood or other material things, but they found something inside them that will continue to hold firm: their will and determination.