THE PRESIDENT of the Mandaue-Japan Association Jesus Sanchez Barz wants the sport of gate ball to be included as a Physical Education (PE) subject in schools in Mandaue City.
Also known as Boy Barz, the barangay councilor of Ibabao-Estancia in Mandaue City said he has coordinated with Department of Education (DepEd) Mandaue division superintendent Virginia Zapanta regarding his proposal.
He said Zapanta welcomed the idea but advised him to endorse his plan to the DepEd central office in Metro Manila.
Barz said he wants to promote the sport since it is a good way of teaching the youth discipline, teamwork and perseverance.
Gate ball was discovered 60 years ago by Japanese national Suzuki San.
According to www.gateball.org.uk, gate ball is a mallet sport just like croquet. It is a highly-strategic, non-contact team sport.
The game is played on a rectangle of grass, clay, dirt, carpet or astroturf about the size of a tennis court. Each court has three gates and a centre pole. The object of the game is to score points by hitting balls through the gates then hitting the peg.
In Mandaue City, the game is played below the Mercelo Fernan Bridge at the Mandaue side.
The Gateball Association of Mandaue was established in 2007. It started with a small group of men and women aged 40 and above.
Out of 27 barangays in Mandaue, 24 are members of the association. An inter-barangay tournament is held every May.
Japan Gate Ball Association referees Donna Me Ferrio and Yoshihiko Ono said the sport helps develop good heath critical thinking among players.
Ferrio said the sport is not just for elder people. She said in Japan, teenagers play the game. REPORTER JUCELL MARIE P. CUYOS