MACBROS BURSARY RECIPIENT 2023: LIAM ROBERTSON
The 2023 MACBROS Bursary recipient was Liam Robertson. A long time camp attendee and coach, Liam is a hardworking, caring and thoughtful individual. He was a key contributor to the Sr. Boys basketball team this past year and displayed tenacity, toughness and skill on the court. Liam deserves to be celebrated for his academic and athletic successes over the past few years. He is coachable, a terrific teammate and consistently displays growth as an individual. Congratulations, Liam!
MACBROS BURSARY RECIPIENT 2022: KYE TINGA
The 2022 MACBROS Bursary recipient was Kye Tinga. The bursary goes to a Mark R. Isfeld basketball athlete who shoes dedication, respect, humility, academic success and leadership throughout their senior year. Kye was the definition of this bursary. He led the Mark Isfeld Ice to the AAA Vancouver Island Championship and a strong showing at the 3A Provincials in Langley. Kye had a stellar senior season and is looking forward to playing the St. Francis Xavier X-Men this upcoming season in USPORT Basketball. GOOD LUCK, KYE!
MACBROS BURSARY RECIPIENT 2021: Harriette MacKenzie
MACBROS Coach Harriette MacKenzie winning multiple awards following a terrific CCAA season at VIU!
Coach Harriette MacKenzie absolutely dominated the 2022-2023 CCAA Women's Basketball season. Her VIU Mariners won the National championship avenging their finals loss last season. Coach H took home VIU's Female Athlete of the Year, PACWEST Female Athlete of the Year and MVP at the National Championship. Congratulations on such a wonderful season!!!!
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MacBros Donate to Brooklyn Elementary Basketball Court
MacBros Basketball camp recently donated $300 dollars to the Brooklyn Elementary School PAC. The money will be used to help renovate and refurbish the courts at Brooklyn Elementary (formerly Cape Lazo MS). Both Ross and Ryan MacKinnon spent many hours shooting hoops in the outdoor courts where this money will help rebuild. Pictured is Coach Ross MacKinnon handing over the donation!
MACBROS BURSARY RECIPIENT 2019: THASKANI MTWALI
Each year, MacBros Basketball camps take pride in donating towards a bursary for a Mark R. Isfeld Ice basketball athlete who shows dedication, respect, humility, academic success and leadership throughout their senior year. This year, Thaskani Mtwali was the recipient of the $650 bursary towards his post-secondary education. Thaskani was a standout guard for the Ice basketball team this school year and is commended for his efforts both on and off the court. Thaskani has commited to Vancouver Island University next school year to study and play basketball for the Mariners. The entire Comox Valley basketball community cannot wait to follow the success of this fine young man. Good luck, Thaskani!
Basketball is back at BROOKLYN!!!
Basketball is officially back at Brooklyn in Comox! With the initiative of Mac Bros Basketball camps and the partnering with the Town of Comox, Gaglardi Academy school, and Comox Fire Department, this project got completed and is available for all to use. Hoop height is smaller (8 feet) and is great for youth players to work on their shooting! Check out the pictures!!
Basketball Court Renovation in Tublay, Benguet, Philippines
October 2015.
Over September and October, Ryan MacKinnon organized and planned a court renovation in a small barangay (community) outside of his current city Baguio, Philippines. With students and faculty members from his school they all helped paint lines, replace backboards and rims and donate basketballs to the local community. During a hot day, over 6 of Ryan's players from his varsity team and 4 colleagues put on their work gloves to help restore this communities court. A fun and worth while experience!
Summer Project 2015:
COMOX OUTDOOR BASKETBALL COURT
Both Scotty and I grew up playing basketball on our favourite court in Comox. The former Brooklyn Elementary on Noel Avenue played host to hours upon hours of us boys practicing skills and playing pick-up games with friends. It gave us a place to replay moves we saw on T.V. the night before and also a place to pursue our passion. It became a positive meeting place for us boys to meet after school and on weekends.
In the past few years it has been discouraging to see the court slowly deteriorate. The cement has cracked, backboard has been torn down and grass has grown over parts of the cement. It is a sad sight to see such a wonderful court fall apart. It is our dream this summer to pursue and help to try and rebuild the court. We want children from all over the Comox Valley to have a meeting place to play the best sport in the world. This summer we hope we can help kickstart this project and restore Brookyn court to its former glory.
BASKETBALL FOR BAGUIO: 2015
Ryan MacKinnon has been coaching basketball clinics in small communities outside of Baguio City in the Philippines. He has had around thirty youth basketball fanatics come to clinics to learn fundamental skills and receive basketballs. About once every month Ryan heads to Ampucao which is about an hour outside of the city. Ryan has said that it was a terrific coaching experience and wonderful chance to work with Filipino youth.
WE HAUL 2 PLAY: Philippines
Ross MacKinnon and two of his friends biked across Panay Island in the Philippines donating sports equipment to children in different communities. The six day journey had Coach Rusty towing badminton racquets, basketballs, soccer balls, volleyballs and any other ball you can think of along his 500 km journey. Each town or community that they passed through Ross and his friends would play games, teach skills and also give away equipment. Ross spoke to his trip saying, "It was a humbling experience and a terrific opportunity. The amount of joy and happiness that we saw throughout our journey proved to me how important sport is."
GENERAL SANTOS BASKETBALL CLINIC
In the hometown of Manny Pacquiao, Scotty and Ryan MacKinnon held a basketball clinic for over 50 youth. The three day clinic involved youth and aspiring basketball coaches. Scotty and Ryan taught fundamental skills, drills and games to 50 young and enthusiastic Filipino ballers. The four hour clinic focused on inspiring these players to fall in love with basketball. The passion and excitement we saw from those kids had us smiling for the rest of the day.
The next day Scotty led a coaches clinic for 25 coaches from the southern part of Mindanao. With a focus on guard play and post moves Scotty passionately yelled into the microphone for hours. It was a terrific day where basketball enthusiasts and intelligent minds came together to pass along their knowledge.
The next day Scotty led a coaches clinic for 25 coaches from the southern part of Mindanao. With a focus on guard play and post moves Scotty passionately yelled into the microphone for hours. It was a terrific day where basketball enthusiasts and intelligent minds came together to pass along their knowledge.
Dancing for Opportunity: Teachers Got Talent
Coach Scotty and Coach Rusty both teaching in Asia were able to spend a fun Christmas vacation together with family on Boracay Island, Philippines. While on the Island Rusty challenged Scotty to a Talent Competition at their prospective schools. Russ teaching at an Overseas Canadian High school in China and Scotty teaching at an International High School in the Philippines would have their students raise money to donate to under privileged kids if the students made the set donation amount, both brothers would have to put on a dance performance in front of their schools. Both schools made the amount, here are their charitable performances.
MAC BROS 2013/2014 FUNDRAISING GOAL
BIKING FOR BAHA 2012 RECAP
BIKING FOR BAHA
Our names are Scott, Sean, Ross and Ryan Mackinnon, four brothers from Comox Valley, British Columbia, Canada and we had the privilege of having the most inspirational grandfather we could have ever asked for. We idolized our grandfather Neville "BAHA" Munro. A basketball Olympian, successful lawyer, published author on Parkinson's disease, financial advisor and University of British Columbia Athletics Hall of Fame member. Neville Munro left a long list of accomplishments for us to marvel at. However that is not what truly inspired us. BAHA as we lovingly referred to him was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1987 at age 60. Parkinson's is a relentless disease that affects motor skills, speech and many other aspects of life. For the next 16 years of his life we watched in awe as BAHA fought with every bit of his gigantic heart to not allow the disease to affect his relationship with his family. He passed away at age 76 without ever giving up his will to live, learn and fight. Whether it was falling numerous times during a family basketball game, scraping himself off of the concrete with a big smile on his face and continuing to play or being able to withstand complete agony in his legs just to watch one of his grandchildren's sporting events. BAHA was more than a man to all of us, he was larger than life, he was our leader and our real life superhero.
In 1992, My Uncle Dave ( BAHA's eldest son) manufactured a bicycle for BAHA to ride with him across Canada. Because of BAHA's deteriorating body and health he was never able to do this. The bike has been sitting in Dave's massive garage for almost 20 years. We started talking about riding the bike across Canada in honor of BAHA during the summer of 2010. Splitting duties between riding BAHA's bicycle and our own three bikes, we are hoping to make the journey across Canada raising awareness and funds for another amazing Canadian and Parkinson's warrior Michael J Fox and "THE MICHAEL J. FOX FOUNDATION for PARKINSON'S RESEARCH."Our goal is to raise $1 for every kilometre the four of us rides as well as $1 for every kilometre Baha would have ridden, the distance and funds raised adds up to $40,075! The journey will start May19th/2012 and finish July 2012.
Our grandfather BAHA led without words, he fought without a body, his spirit and heart were so contagious we know it will lead us from the Pacific to the Atlantic!
To our guy BAHA! From the Bottom of our hearts this adventure is for you!
Your Grateful Grandsons,
Scott, Sean, Ross and Ryan Mackinnon
P.S. If you want more information on "Biking for Baha" please check out our website at www.bikingforbaha.weebly.com
In 1992, My Uncle Dave ( BAHA's eldest son) manufactured a bicycle for BAHA to ride with him across Canada. Because of BAHA's deteriorating body and health he was never able to do this. The bike has been sitting in Dave's massive garage for almost 20 years. We started talking about riding the bike across Canada in honor of BAHA during the summer of 2010. Splitting duties between riding BAHA's bicycle and our own three bikes, we are hoping to make the journey across Canada raising awareness and funds for another amazing Canadian and Parkinson's warrior Michael J Fox and "THE MICHAEL J. FOX FOUNDATION for PARKINSON'S RESEARCH."Our goal is to raise $1 for every kilometre the four of us rides as well as $1 for every kilometre Baha would have ridden, the distance and funds raised adds up to $40,075! The journey will start May19th/2012 and finish July 2012.
Our grandfather BAHA led without words, he fought without a body, his spirit and heart were so contagious we know it will lead us from the Pacific to the Atlantic!
To our guy BAHA! From the Bottom of our hearts this adventure is for you!
Your Grateful Grandsons,
Scott, Sean, Ross and Ryan Mackinnon
P.S. If you want more information on "Biking for Baha" please check out our website at www.bikingforbaha.weebly.com
SPORTS FOR SMOKEY MOUNTAIN
Comox Valley native and current UVIC student Jared Hendry’s vision and work ethic to achieve something special, should be commended. Jared applied for a scholarship that would fund him sending sports equipment to impoverished youth in a foreign country. Even though the application was denied! Jared has collected over 1000 sports balls, 500 jerseys and raised all of the funds necessary to ship the equipment to Smokey Mountain Philippines. Smokey Mountain is a garbage dump in Manila that is home to over 30,000 residents that live on scavenging the dump. Partnered with WE International Philippines, Jared will have all of the equipment delivered to Young Focus a Youth Centre in the heart of Smokey Mountain. MacBros Basketball camps would just like to commend Jared on his hard work, generosity and resourcefulness in setting up this project!
Batang Bata Basketball Clinic
Scott Mackinnon running the volunteer Batang Bata basketball clinic held at Brent International School Manila. About 90 Co-Ed participants ranging from 5-15 showed up for three clinic sessions and their first opportunity to play basketball in a real gymnasium. The energy and excitement these kids possessed was a thrill to experience.
LET THEM PLAY!
During the 2008 summer, Comox Valley residents and Scotty Mac Basketball Camp participants donated over 600 pairs of shoes to the Smokey Mountain project in the Philippines. These shoes were shipped over by Scotty Mac Basketball Camps and Comox Valley Youth Basketball Association where they were distributed to Smokey Mountain youth during a christmas party at Young Focus. Some of these kids had never owned a pair of shoes before let alone been able to play basketball in them. In 2009 inspired by WE International founder Ben Compton and his tireless efforts. The Mackinnon Family decided that they were going to have a basketball Shoot-A-Thon during the 2009 edition of the Scotty Mac Basketball Camps. Our goal was to fund and construct a self sufficient basketball court in the very heart of the Smokey Mountain garbage dump community. The court would provide the youth of Smokey Mountain with a positive social outlet, an opportunity to exercise, and the freedom to just be a kid and play, an idea that many of us take for granted. The court would also serve as part of an effort for WE International Philippines (NGO) to encourage and sponsor students from the dumpsite to abandon their daily work as child scavengers in the dump, and enroll in school. Our partnership in this venture includes Professional Filipino basketball players, Brent International School basketball players, and now participants in the Scotty Mac Basketball Camp. The idea was to send participants who were interested out into the community to collect donations, in return campers would promise to shoot whatever number of shots the Donor requested. With small aspirations and goals Scotty Mac Basketball Camp presented this fundraiser on the first day of the summer camp. To our joy, surprise and beyond any of our imaginations we are elated to report that the Scotty Mac Basketball Camps raised $3200 that will be used to fund this basketball court in Smokey Mountain. It will function as a community centre and social outlet for all youth in Smokey Mountain. WE can not express our gratitude to the Comox Valley for their undeniable generosity. WE are deeply touched by your efforts and contributions. WE International and Scotty Mac Basketball Camps have just received confirmation from the Barangay of Smokey Mountain that construction of the court has been approved and we can start construction within the next month. Updates, pictures and stories will be shared through this blog. Again thank you so much for your generous work, donations and help. It was much more than WE ever expected and can WE will never be able to express how much it means to these kids.
Thanks
Scotty Mackinnon
Thanks
Scotty Mackinnon
WE INTERNATIONAL: LET THEM PLAY!
The Philippines is a wonderful place, but it is also a developing country, and as such faces many of the challenges common to most developing countries. In my time living here, I have had the privilege of meeting and be inspired by several individuals who have dedicated themselves to helping the Philippines, and the Filipino people address the challenging issues that plague people in many areas of the country.
One such individual is Ben Compton, who has demonstrated to me a consistently unselfish, and caring nature. Ben and his brother Alex grew up traveling across Asia and the United States. Ben has lived in Thailand, Laos, Philippines, and China and has an M.A. in Counselor Education. After spending the initial part of his professional career working as a therapist, mentoring program coordinator, and foster parent with at-risk teenagers in the United States, Ben has spent the last 8 years working as a high school counselor, teacher, and basketball coach in international schools in Asia. Ben has a heart for youth, and a heart for the Philippines. I had the pleasure of meeting Ben at my current place of employment Brent International School Manila. Throughout the last 8 months I have had the privilege of watching Ben work diligently and relentlessly in providing the kids of the Smokey Mountain garbage dump community with an opportunity to have access to education, and a reason to hope. Ben’s devotion to the youth of Smokey Mountain, and our shared passion for the game of basketball, helped us develop a great friendship. I have never met a man who so selflessly gives up so much time towards such an admirable objective. Ben and I have talk on a regular basis about the goals, aspirations and objectives of WE International Philippines (the NGO that he founded here one year ago), and these talks have continued to inspire me.
Our mutual love of the brilliant sport of basketball has led us to develop an idea that allows for the game of basketball to serve as a focal point of a project to help those children living in the most extreme poverty. Our goal is to fund and construct a self sufficient basketball court in the very heart of Smokey Mountain garbage dump community. The court will provide the youth of Smokey Mountain with a positive social outlet, an opportunity to exercise, and the freedom to just be a kid and play, an idea that many of us take for granted. The court will also serve as part of an effort for WE International Philippines to encourage and sponsor students from the dumpsite to abandon their daily work as child scavengers in the dump, and enroll in school. Our partnership in this venture will include Professional Filipino basketball players, Brent International School basketball players, and hopefully, participants in the Scotty Mac Basketball Camp. This summer Scotty Mac Basketball Camps will donate the funds equivalent to five campers’ registration fees to WE International Philippines’ “Let Them Play!” fund. We hope to raise enough funds in the Comox Valley to finance this worthwhile project. Ben’s unselfish nature and commitment to make a difference in the lives of the children of Smokey Mountain he has enlightened my social conscience. The game of basketball has given so much to me personally, that it is a pleasure to have the opportunity to participate in a project that creates an opportunity for the game to give to others as well. If you have any questions about the “Let Them Play!” project, please feel free to contact me at [email protected]
One such individual is Ben Compton, who has demonstrated to me a consistently unselfish, and caring nature. Ben and his brother Alex grew up traveling across Asia and the United States. Ben has lived in Thailand, Laos, Philippines, and China and has an M.A. in Counselor Education. After spending the initial part of his professional career working as a therapist, mentoring program coordinator, and foster parent with at-risk teenagers in the United States, Ben has spent the last 8 years working as a high school counselor, teacher, and basketball coach in international schools in Asia. Ben has a heart for youth, and a heart for the Philippines. I had the pleasure of meeting Ben at my current place of employment Brent International School Manila. Throughout the last 8 months I have had the privilege of watching Ben work diligently and relentlessly in providing the kids of the Smokey Mountain garbage dump community with an opportunity to have access to education, and a reason to hope. Ben’s devotion to the youth of Smokey Mountain, and our shared passion for the game of basketball, helped us develop a great friendship. I have never met a man who so selflessly gives up so much time towards such an admirable objective. Ben and I have talk on a regular basis about the goals, aspirations and objectives of WE International Philippines (the NGO that he founded here one year ago), and these talks have continued to inspire me.
Our mutual love of the brilliant sport of basketball has led us to develop an idea that allows for the game of basketball to serve as a focal point of a project to help those children living in the most extreme poverty. Our goal is to fund and construct a self sufficient basketball court in the very heart of Smokey Mountain garbage dump community. The court will provide the youth of Smokey Mountain with a positive social outlet, an opportunity to exercise, and the freedom to just be a kid and play, an idea that many of us take for granted. The court will also serve as part of an effort for WE International Philippines to encourage and sponsor students from the dumpsite to abandon their daily work as child scavengers in the dump, and enroll in school. Our partnership in this venture will include Professional Filipino basketball players, Brent International School basketball players, and hopefully, participants in the Scotty Mac Basketball Camp. This summer Scotty Mac Basketball Camps will donate the funds equivalent to five campers’ registration fees to WE International Philippines’ “Let Them Play!” fund. We hope to raise enough funds in the Comox Valley to finance this worthwhile project. Ben’s unselfish nature and commitment to make a difference in the lives of the children of Smokey Mountain he has enlightened my social conscience. The game of basketball has given so much to me personally, that it is a pleasure to have the opportunity to participate in a project that creates an opportunity for the game to give to others as well. If you have any questions about the “Let Them Play!” project, please feel free to contact me at [email protected]
HOOPS FOR HOPE
Mac Bros Basketball Camp participants donate over 600 pairs of shoes to needy filipino youths in Smokey Mountain
Scott MacKinnon, former Highland Raider basketball star left the Comox Valley when he graduated to attend the University of Lethbridge. But he comes home every summer to be with his family - which includes his three brothers - and run Scottymac basketball camps for kids. Scott's camps started from his passion for the game, for teaching, and for giving back to the Comox Valley the good times and environment he and his brothers enjoyed, growing up in this community. Scottymac basketball camps were held this week at Aspen Park Middle School for 9-10 year old roundballers, and at Highland Senior Secondary for ages 11-15. The youngsters camp was at Aspen from 9 am to 3 pm, with operations moving to Highland from 4 to 9 pm. All of Scott's roundball campers were issued a sharp looking jersey, all with the number 45 on the back."The significance of the number 45 has two roots," Scott said. "The first number, four, is in honor of my grandfather, Nev Munro, who was a basketball player for the 1948 Canadian Olympic team. "The second numeral, five, is in memory of Nate DaSilva."DaSilva was a former Vanier basketball player who died in a single vehicle auto accident when he fell asleep behind the wheel on the way to play a game.
Besides the 12 hours of basketball camp a day, Scott is also busy with another passion, Hoops for Hope, one related to his work as a Physical Education teacher in the Philippines, at the Brent International School. Having completed his first year teaching at Brent, following his graduation in Kinesiolgy from Lethbridge in 2007, Scott noticed a lot of filipino’s lacked proper footwear, so he started collecting basketball shoes from friends and acquaintances, new, used, whatever."They were coming out on the basketball court just wearing flip-flops or whatever they had," said MacKinnon. "Enthusiastic for the game, the coaching, and to improve, but totally ill equipped. There's a real need there, and a real surplus here. Almost everyone I know has at least one surplus pair of used shoes, and people have been bringing in pairs of good, usable shoes all week. Now, all I've got to do is get them to the Philippines."For helping out, or more information about Scott, his camps, and Hoops for Hope, contact Scott at [email protected]
Besides the 12 hours of basketball camp a day, Scott is also busy with another passion, Hoops for Hope, one related to his work as a Physical Education teacher in the Philippines, at the Brent International School. Having completed his first year teaching at Brent, following his graduation in Kinesiolgy from Lethbridge in 2007, Scott noticed a lot of filipino’s lacked proper footwear, so he started collecting basketball shoes from friends and acquaintances, new, used, whatever."They were coming out on the basketball court just wearing flip-flops or whatever they had," said MacKinnon. "Enthusiastic for the game, the coaching, and to improve, but totally ill equipped. There's a real need there, and a real surplus here. Almost everyone I know has at least one surplus pair of used shoes, and people have been bringing in pairs of good, usable shoes all week. Now, all I've got to do is get them to the Philippines."For helping out, or more information about Scott, his camps, and Hoops for Hope, contact Scott at [email protected]
Scott's first impression of Smokey Mountain
I sent this email to my parents and my family about an hour after a day long visit to Smokey Mountain. In this email, in no way am I trying to downplay the serious problem that the residents of smokey mountain face. (disease, hunger, shelter, education etc...). They just taught me something today that i should be a lot more thankful for! I am sitting in my room right now honestly just thinking to myself how lucky i am to have such a wonderful family. Today was probably the most humbling experience of my entire life. An american friend of mine who i work with asked me to come along with him this weekend to go check out smokey mountain (tondo) where he has been volunteering and raising money for the last three years. smokey mountain (i know john took his immediate family their twenty years ago) is literally a garbage dump (the dirtiest garbage dump i have ever seen ) that thousands of filipinos call home. Bamboos shanty's lined door to door covered in mud, dirt, feces and garbage. Thousands of filipinos living on top of each other fighting each day to survive. Ten year old kids scrambling towards full dump trucks fighting to get the bottles and cans that fall off the truck.(this is their only source of income).I would love to try and describe the sights, sounds , smells and immense poverty that is situated their in more detail but i would never be able to do it justice I went to smokey mountain with expectations of sadness. Unhappy people, living unhappy lives. How could they be happy they have nothing! No Food, possessions, money. I was expecting to find people wallowing in the sadness that they ultimately deserve to wallow in.
But this is not the case in smokey mountain.... i was met with only generosity, smiles, laughs, handshakes, hugs!!! Kids, men, women, husbands, wives met me with questions, positivity , endless laughter and smiles that would warm your heart. I walked around bewildered wondering how people in these conditions could be so happy and positive. I participated in a soccer game where kids put rocks in plastic bags and kicked them around, forts built out of our waste housed little girls throwing parties (to which i was lucky enough to be the guest of honour). These people have nothing! I felt like crying but their was nothing to cry about. If i would have walked in a park in the picturesque comox valley would the people their have been any happier. I honestly do not know. i could not figure out how the people that lived on smokey mountain could be so happy. So i started to ask. The only resounding answer i got was family. Family they all told me! I began to realize just how lucky i was. Not because i have more money than all these people combined, not because i have an opportunity that they will never have. but because, like them i have a wonderful family that loves me unconditionally. We spoke of each others families, told stories, laughed about our hectic brothers, crazy cousins and funny aunts and uncles. They never wanted me to feel sorry for them. They never wanted a hand out , all they wanted was a relationship. An encounter where they could share stories of their fortunes, good times and triumphs which in the end was their families. And they wanted to hear about mine. grandmothers introduced me to their grandchildren, proud as can be. Older brothers watched as their younger brother made shot after shot on their broken basketball hoop mentioning to me that they taught him everything. I just began to realize how lucky we all are. To be able to have a family where hornby trips, camp david, nancy's place, basketball games, soccer games, wine and beer on any deck, swimming and rafting adventures, sing a longs, trips to richmond, shopping trips, cousins voyaging to boracay, and countless moments of laughter fill all of our memories.
My buddy richy (who i think hughie has adopted as his fifth son) told me in the vancouver airport before i departed for the philippines that he had never met a happier family in his entire life. i feel blessed that i am able to call myself part of that family and to be able to spend time with each and everyone of you guys. i guess all i really wanted to say is that i love you guys and we all should feel so lucky to have each other!!!!!!!!!!
Scotty
But this is not the case in smokey mountain.... i was met with only generosity, smiles, laughs, handshakes, hugs!!! Kids, men, women, husbands, wives met me with questions, positivity , endless laughter and smiles that would warm your heart. I walked around bewildered wondering how people in these conditions could be so happy and positive. I participated in a soccer game where kids put rocks in plastic bags and kicked them around, forts built out of our waste housed little girls throwing parties (to which i was lucky enough to be the guest of honour). These people have nothing! I felt like crying but their was nothing to cry about. If i would have walked in a park in the picturesque comox valley would the people their have been any happier. I honestly do not know. i could not figure out how the people that lived on smokey mountain could be so happy. So i started to ask. The only resounding answer i got was family. Family they all told me! I began to realize just how lucky i was. Not because i have more money than all these people combined, not because i have an opportunity that they will never have. but because, like them i have a wonderful family that loves me unconditionally. We spoke of each others families, told stories, laughed about our hectic brothers, crazy cousins and funny aunts and uncles. They never wanted me to feel sorry for them. They never wanted a hand out , all they wanted was a relationship. An encounter where they could share stories of their fortunes, good times and triumphs which in the end was their families. And they wanted to hear about mine. grandmothers introduced me to their grandchildren, proud as can be. Older brothers watched as their younger brother made shot after shot on their broken basketball hoop mentioning to me that they taught him everything. I just began to realize how lucky we all are. To be able to have a family where hornby trips, camp david, nancy's place, basketball games, soccer games, wine and beer on any deck, swimming and rafting adventures, sing a longs, trips to richmond, shopping trips, cousins voyaging to boracay, and countless moments of laughter fill all of our memories.
My buddy richy (who i think hughie has adopted as his fifth son) told me in the vancouver airport before i departed for the philippines that he had never met a happier family in his entire life. i feel blessed that i am able to call myself part of that family and to be able to spend time with each and everyone of you guys. i guess all i really wanted to say is that i love you guys and we all should feel so lucky to have each other!!!!!!!!!!
Scotty