Buhay na buhay ngayon ang diwa ng “Bayanihan.”
At hindi nagpapahuli ang sektor ng sports sa pagbigay ayuda at tulong sa mga nangangailangan sa panahon ng COVID-19 pandemic.
Kaya naman nagbigay ng matinding “assist” ang Pinoy Youth Dreamers (PYD), sa pangunguna ni basketball coach Beaujing Acot, sa mga frontliners sa laban kontra coronavirus disease.
“Even before this COVID-19 pandemic, we are already trying to help our friends in whatever way possible. We provide scholarships and conduct outreach and feeding programs. In PYD, we care a lot,” sabi ni Acot na binuksan ang basketball-oriented program na PYD pitong taon na ang nakalilipas.
“And with this worldwide pandemic which greatly affected lives due to the enhanced community quarantine, we feel it is part of our obligation to lend a helping hand not only to our friends in sports but to our frontliners as well.”
Bukod sa pag-organisa ng PYD kung saan maraming kabataan ang nakikinabang lalo na sa panahon ng baskasyon sa eskuwela ay nagsilbi ring head coach si Acot ng Makati Super Crunch sa Maharlikha Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL).
Sa tulong ng asawa niyang si Bliss, mga anak na sina Bailey at Baffy at mga kaibigan sa sports community ay nakapagbigay ayuda na ang PYD sa mga referee, technical crew at table officials.
Natulungan na rin ng PYD ang mga hospital workers, pulis, MMDA, barangay security force, construction workers at garbage collectors.
Ilan sa mga ospital na naabutan sa PYD Cares program ay ang East Avenue Medical Center, Rizal Medical Center, Mandaluyong City Medical Center, Santa Ana Hospital, Medical Center Manila,
Quirino Memorial Medical Center, Cainta Municipal Hospital, VRP Hospital, Philippine Orthopedic, UST Hospital, National Center for Mental Help, Ospital ng Paranaque, Quezon City General Hospital, Ospital ng Makati at Philippine Heart Center.
“The PYD is really fortunate to have friends in the sports community who are willing to share their blessings during this most trying time,” dagdag pa ni Acot, na dati ring coach ng University of Santo Tomas Tigers.
Personal na nagpasalamat si Acot sa tulong mula kina Vergara, Xavier Alumni Batch 92, Gary at Cathie Altuna (Abu Dhabi), Tan at Chinky Acot-Garcia (California), Andre at Marga Go (Purple Elephant), Ruel at Giselle Alvarez-Pili (PA Properties), Congressman Fidel Nograles, Paulo De Castro (MPBL), Coach Ricky Magallanes (USA), Jonathan David and Family (SR), Vino Veluz (Buddy’s Pancit Lucban), Paolo Orbeta (MPBL-Makati Super Crunch), Allan Castro (Xavier ’92), Mark Boceta (SOL ’94)-LA California, Alsim Tacud (BSA Pasig), Ron at Edith Torres (South San Diego), Carlton Sotto (SFN), Perry Maravilla (Malabon), Atty. Charlie Cuna (SR), Dennis at Emily Balajadia, Jason Tobillo, Oliver at Cristina Horsburgh (Papua New Guinea), Joel at Girlie Caluste (Bacolod City), Rissa Gesalem (Cebu City, Maynard and Jessa Marcellano (Singapore), Francis Tiu (Mang Yelo, Mr. Yelo at BBNC Tube Ice), Civil Defense Action Group (CDAG) at Team Network Fire at Rescue Department, Tess Concepcion, Nancy’s Delite, Harold Villanueva (JH Athletics), Eric and Mitch Concepcion-Reye at Lily Vergara.
Nakaagapay naman ni Acot sa PYD Cares program sina Harpinder Singh, Jocelyn Jacob, Coach Vengie Gabales at Coach Lito Jacob at mga volunteer na sina Coach Keno Bautista at Brian Ligtas.