KAWIT, CAVITE – One hot morning in September, this writer shot former Cavite Rep. Gilbert Remulla.

No, it was not triggered by a criminal intent, and, yes, he was unscathed and still standing, the orange spots on his vest still visible from a distance.

It was for a good cause – and fun – that journalists battled lawmakers in a paintball tournament called “Target Hope” on Sept. 26 at the Global Gutz arena of Island Cove Hotel and Leisure Park in Binakayan, this town.

Organized by the resort owners, the activity aimed to raise funds for Gawad Kalinga, a housing project for the poor of the Couples for Christ. “Through this initiative, Island Cove will either build a shelter or help sustain and develop the food productivity program in one of Gawad Kalinga’s sites in Cavite,” said Lea Remulla-Mate, its external relations officer.

Target Hope also launched the largest paintball field in the country, with an area of 8,000 square meters.

Team activity

“Paintball is an ideal team activity because it fosters cooperation and strategic thinking,” Remulla said in a statement. “It is not every day that you get an opportunity to witness such an interesting group of people compete in a team sport like paintball and for such a good cause.”

Remulla, the spokesperson of the Nacionalista Party and Island Cove’s managing director, was with the tournament team of government officials who included Representatives Sonny Angara, Mujiv S. Hataman, Miles Roces, Joel Villanueva, Ben Noel, Timmy Chipeco and Danilo Fernandez.

The team of media practitioners had Rudy Liwanag of Manila Bulletin; Ferdie Pajarillo, Ann Corvera, Fernan Nebres of Philippine Star; Rizal Reyes of Business Mirror; Yushin Chuang of Studio 23’s News Central; and this writer.

Some Gawad Kalinga members also took the challenge. They were Edgar Purificacion, Durick Pichay, Mandy Orallo, Felix Doydora, Emilio Oquinena, Patrick Amoyot, Marc Sebastian and Norman Dumdum.

Rules of the game

The rules of the game are simple: Eliminate opponents by hitting them with paintballs shot from an air-powered gun. A player wears a protective gear to ensure safety, and is eliminated when hit once on the body or head, or twice on the arms or legs.

The journalists were declared champions after winning two out of three rounds.

Cash donations amounted to P10,000, Mate said. Seedlings and fruit-bearing trees, such as banana, mango, santol, rambutan and durian were also received.

“Island Cove has committed to develop 500 sqm of land for the food productivity program in the Gawad Kalinga Cavite Alapan site,” Mate said. It would send 20-30 staff volunteers to help in the planting, she added.

“It was a very fun tournament,” Remulla said. “I think every body turned out very happy, I think our sponsors are also very happy, and I think Gawad Kalinga will also be very happy from the proceeds of this project.”

Spirit of fun

Remulla said he didn’t mind media people shooting the lawmakers. “It was all in the spirit of fun,” he said.

“We are hoping that there will be more interest in it. It may not be in a paintball tournament, it may be in other forms, but we’ll definitely try to contribute some more to very good causes.”