Instead of dishing out dimes, Mar Villahermosa, who played for Bacolod-Master Sardines during the 2019-20 Chooks-to-Go MPBL Lakan Season, has been doing more than what he can do on the court.
Since the enhanced community quarantine took effect middle of March, the 31-year-old Villahermosa has been distributing relief goods to the vulnerable communities affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Unknown to many, the former San Beda player is a member of the Philippine Army so it is his duty to serve the country.
And doing it has given private first class the extra high.
“It feels so good that I’ve got to serve my country in this trying time. Lalo na yung times na namamahagi kami ng relief goods,” said Manok ng Bayan Villahermosa, who averaged 8.0 points in 16 games last season.
“Masarap sa pakiramdam na kahit papaano, may napapasaya kaming mga tao kahit sa simpleng bagay lang,” said Villahermosa, who is yet to see his family since March 16 as he has been staying in the Special Services Centre in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig.
Keeping him strong amid the loneliness is his wife and daughter who always make sure to call him.
“Thank God sa technology, I can communicate with my wife and daughter through messaging apps, kasi since day one ng ECQ, wala na talaga akong uwian,” added the six-foot scorer, who joined the Army in 2016 as a skilled personnel.
Without an existing contract, Villahermosa bared that he is already being courted by some teams. But for now, he would like to focus on the task at hand first in the Army.
“May mga kumakausap na sa akin pero focus muna ako sa Army, sa pagtulong sa ating bansa para malagpasan itong COVID-19,” the former San Beda said said.
Villahermosa vowed to be back in the fourth season of the MPBL, the second of five seasons Chooks-to-Go will back.
