Wet and wild witnesses to Philippine football history

Earliest birds at the grandstand of the Rizal Stadium for Sunday's World Cup Qualifiers match were the father-and-son pair of Victor and Vince Jallorina. They stepped into the arena at 11 a.m., when the gates opened to let spectators in. Ahead of them were the hundreds of security personnel, ushers, medics, and hawkers of snacks and drinks. "Masaya lalo na't first time ito mangyayari at masusundan pa," said the elder Jallorina, who bought two upper grandstand tickets so his son could watch the game live at the stadium where they frequently have football practice sessions on Sundays. His son is in the fifth grade, plays football at his school and often attends sports clinics. It was the first successful attempt of the Philippine men's national football team to qualify for the World Cup since 2002. The next home game will be on July 28 also at the Rizal Stadium. Also among the early arrivals were 55 kids from Payatas in Quezon City. They play football courtesy of the sports program of the Mango Tree House, a shelter that cares for underprivileged children. They were seated at the white bleachers section with the booster squad that kept spectators animated with chants and drumbeats despite the heavy downpour. It was their first time to watch a real football game. "After the game, the Azkals did a lap of honor and when they got to the Kaholeros section of the stadium, the kids were all jumping and screamed louder when the members of the team waved in their general direction, if it was possible their screams got louder... hugs were all 'round," said Naomi Tomlinson, shepherd of the Payatas kids. During the opening ceremonies, another group of underprivileged children had prominent roles. Street children from Tuloy sa Don Bosco were the player escorts of the Philippines and Sri Lanka national teams. Local organizing committee chairman Bonnie Ladrido said the kids are in the FIFA for Hope programme and learn how to play football from the Don Bosco religious brothers. Spectators at the bleachers did not budge even if it the dark clouds over the stadium let loose their loads of rain. Some heeded the news reports advising them of afternoon rain showers. Mark Rodriguez of Kamuning, Quezon City heeded the raincoat advisory but he brought only one piece, which he let his girlfriend use. "Yeah! Masarap maligo sa ulan. Okay lang mabasa kasi enjoy naman sa magandang laro ng Azkals," Rodriguez said. Behind the goals, the accredited press photographers brought out their rain gear. Only the ends of the telephoto lenses were peeking out of their raincoats. For many minutes there, they looked like special operations soldiers seeking targets in a wet tropical jungle. The game went on during the downpour. From the grandstand and bleachers, it looked like the players were even enjoying playing football in the rain. At one point, Azkals goalkeeper Neil Etheridge dove and slid several feet to make sure the ball went away from the goal. The rain quickly washed away any mud that got on the players when they dove for the ball. At half-time, GMA News Online overheard a lady at the covered grandstand said with cheer, "Isang libo isang goal." The score then was two-nil. She got an upper grandstand seat that cost P2,006. By the time the match ended, the pro-rated cost to the lady of every goal made went down to P500 apiece. When Ian Araneta was sent to the Azkals bench to change his underpants, curious looks and giggles came from the ladies. Unfortunately for them, opaque glass was blocking their view of Araneta. Contrary to the advisories sent out before the match, the restriction on cameras was not strictly enforced. There were easily at least a few hundred spectators there armed with cameras. When the match ended, all the cameras where drawn out and the spectators clicked away to their heart's content, to capture for posterity the fleeting moments of football history they saw with their very own eyes. - JVP, GMA News