BY WAYLON GALVEZ
Three members of the water polo national team players have finally completed their five months of training at the Philippine Air Force boot camp at Fernado Air Base in Lipa City, Batangas.
Adan Gonzales, McGyver Reyes and Abnel Amiladjid are now officially Airmen Second Class.
“Sobrang saya na finally naka-graduate na kami. Sa kabila ng hirap at pagod, masayang masaya Airmen na kami,” said Gonzales yesterday in a phone interview.
“Ang hirap ng pinagdaanan namin sa training, kung kami nga na mga atleta na, sanay sa training pero nahirapan talaga, what more yung mga ibang kasama namin na civilian tapos pumasok sa military.”
“Pero sa kabila ng hirap at pagod, masaya kasi natapos namin and finally eto graduate na kami, makakapiling na namin ang mga pamilya namin,” added Gonzales, who is excited to be reunited with wife Camille in Paranaque City.
Gonzales, Reyes and Amiladjid are members of the silver medal winning squad during the 30th Southeast Asian Games here last year, the first podium finish for the water polo national team in 10 years.
Aside from the three, two other water polo athletes are also in the military as Romark Belo and Maui Valdez are with the Philippine Navy, and have been at the frontline since the coronavirus pandemic in March.
Reyes, for his part, said that during the five-month training, they had no contact from the outside world as any form of communication was prohibited and that no visitors were allowed.
That, he said, was the toughest part.
“As in totally wala… no cellphone – so walang calls and internet. Hindi naman puwedeng bisitahin kami, talagang yung buhay sa kampo training lang, kain, tapos balik sa quarters,” said Reyes, who is from San Pablo City, Laguna.
“Siguro that part ng five months of training, yun ang pinaka-mahirap na part, especially sa panahon now na may pandemic, hindi namin nakakamusta yung mga pamilya namin.”
“Kaya nung finally naka-graduate kami, ang sarap pakinggan ng boses nung mga mahal namin sa buhay – ako yung parents ko. Actually naka-video chat ko, and very happy na ok sila,” added Reyes.
Amiladjid said that they also were reunited with their water polo teammates since they were allowed to join the online practice session.
“Nakaka-miss din sila. The last 10 years sila mga kasama ko halos araw-araw training lang ginagawa namin then competition. Tapos biglang nabago lahat para sa amin… sa ating lahat actually dahil sa pandemic,” said Amiladjid, who hails from Davao City.
