JUST SCROLL DOWN. NOBODY WANTS TO READ THE ARTICLE ANYWAY. ;D ;D ;D
I ADDED SOME CAPTIONS FOR YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE.
Wednesday, February 16, 2005
Lock and Load: The Airsoft War Games
By Stephen Capillas
WHAT promised to be yet another dreary day at the newsroom was somewhat dispelled when Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro top reporter Liza Amarga told this writer about the invitation extended by a group called Airsoft for what was supposed to be some rifle-shooting activity set last Feb. 13.
Initial reaction to the invitation bordered on reluctance at first because of this writer's plate-filled of activities for that coming week--stories to cover, appointments to meet and (last but not least) TV shows to catch up to.
Also the utter lack of familiarity with weaponry outside of the Star Wars and Marvel/DC comic book universes made this writer somewhat hesitant to dive straight into the current "trip" of an increasing number of city residents who outgrew these fantasy tales but certainly not the fascination for gunplay of the small and long arm variety.
And so it was that Cagayan de Oro Airsoft Group President Kenneth Marlowe A. Tan dropped by to personally extend the invitation to this writer a few days before the schedule and for want of something better to do, this writer accepted.
Then Tan advised to bring along a heavy jacket, a cap, some gloves to cover up and denim jeans as protection for the war games they would hold.
On hearing those words I nearly blurted out "Ay shacks" but managed to restrain myself because I thought we're shooting at inanimate targets and not at each other. Yes, Amarga again managed to jerk my leg.
Still this writer managed to console himself with the fact that no one had been reported dead as a result of war games--then again if someone died they would have probably buried the carcass by now.
Not cheap
And so it was that this writer arrived 30 minutes late from the agreed upon time of 1:30 p.m. I managed to pack whatever clothing for protection against what they assured were the pellets to be used in the war games.
It was this sense of anxiety that the writer went to the office and was told by Sun.Star Superbalita people that Kenneth Tan would return at 2:00 p.m. for the pickup. He came clad in a white shirt, desert camouflage fatigues and combat boots which made yours truly woefully ill-equipped.
If there was any discomfort felt I tried not to show it as we went to the Limketkai Center where more of these war game participants waited prior to proceeding to their chosen site at the grassy, yet fully cemented Fil-Estate Subdivision in Barangay Camaman-an this city. This writer rode on board Tan's dark blue and silver Mitsubishi Pajero unit.
Along the way there was small talk about the Airsoft group and how it was first showcased on a local daily. If I remember it right the article, which featured the group was entitled "Weekend Warriors."
Tan said Airsoft-Cagayan de Oro started out sometime in 2000 and that two years later the group won the national Airsoft championship tourney participated in by other Airsoft groups in Manila, Cebu, Davao and other parts in the country.
"The War Games is open to most everyone, including women though here in Cagayan de Oro there are only a few women participants. In fact my girlfriend and I join in these war games so it's not exclusively for men," he told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro.
Tan also explained that initially their admission fee so to speak amounts to something like P2,000 though they are open for payment on installment basis.
Easy target
What is expensive is the firearms to be used for the war games, Tan said, with some of these weapons priced at the 9,000 range. Clearly this form of recreation doesn't come cheap.
Still, Tan said the war games offers men like me the chance to relive those memories of playing soldiers in the World War II era. "Like being boys again," he said. And unlike those first person shooting video games like Call of Duty, you can't simply unplug and walk away.
And so we arrived at the site along with several other participants--all male and fully clothed with either desert or--ranging from professionals to college students for some weekend war games that promise to be fun at least for them.
Admittedly wearing a purple jacket on a very warm Sunday afternoon is uncomfortable enough but being made to wear a black ski mask, a tough green plastic mask with goggles and almond brown thick gloves is downright inconvenient.
Now I knew why Darth Vader acts the way he did; all that black armor and helmet is enough to make one grumpy as hell. But then again despite the stylish look Batman doesn't have the most comfortable uniform either.
Good thing I didn't take a photo of myself since the purple jacket made me look like a terrorist. And since I looked like one I was an easy target for the professional war game troopers who had no trouble "taking me out" so to speak when the games began.
In fact I was "taken out" twice--the first as the fatigue-clad war gamers scampered like rabbits on the hills and I was walking along the street like someone out to buy a popsicle when bam!--I was hit in the chest area.
Mask things
It didn't even sting and I was still standing (gosh). One of those war gamers--a stocky chinito-looking guy--advised me to raise my arms and shout "Hit!" so I won't be a walking turkey shoot.
Then the war gamers took a short break and someone shouted "Oh sige game na!" and the war gamers ran off to the grassy portion topped with concrete culverts.
This time I managed to walk a few steps forward lugging this rifle I don't even remember what brand and was about to fire when one of them hit me on the face.
Now I know why they made me wear those mask things--again it didn't hurt. Still it was no less embarrassing as one of those war game participants asked me in surprise "Natira ka na (Are you hit)?"
Then the war gamers took the hint and asked that I take photos instead and this time it was easy. While they took turns shooting at each other with rubber pellets they were game enough to pose (hence the uniforms) and gave this writer something to take shots with.
No camera? No problem as Airsoft Vice-President Jose Antonio Que generously let me borrow his digital camera complete with long range-focus. "Just shoot away, maraming load yan (It has plenty of load)," he assured this writer.
And so shorn of the heavy rifles I took those shots and the participants were only too happy to oblige. It was late in the afternoon when we finished and some snacks later we headed home.
Before the wrap-up I would like to thank some of the war game participants who were amiable enough to allow me to join in on last Sunday's shoot fest.
These are: Steven Teddy Tan, Dennis Obial, Jose Antonio Que, Jedd Lasmarias, Patrick Castulo, O'Neal Mistula, Dwight Cabeta, Oliver Lawrence Cabert, Linus Pagusara; Armi Tagusan, Rene Alagadan, Omar Jayson Vallejera, Emerson Nerona, Bong Casiño, Russel Garces, Nelson Sia, Emanuel Castrodes, Jun Ralloma, Lordan Suan, Ramon Pernia, Romel Cutar, Karl Eleazar, Bernard, Kenneth Marlowe A. Tan.
The Airsoft officers are as follows: Kenneth Marlowe A. Tan, President; Jose Antonio Que, Vice-President; Kenneth Tan, treasurer; Nelson Sia, Secretary; Romel Cutar, technical officer.
For more information call 0922-4213699 or 723185 and look for Kenneth Tan or 8573601 and look for Dennis.
FRONT PAGE OF SUNSTAR SUPER BALITA-FEBRUARY 15, 2005 w/ the HEADLINE, "ULITAWO GIBASTED NAGHIKOG!"
FRONT PAGE OF SUNSTAR CAGAYAN DE ORO FEBRUARY 15, 2004
"Makapose nga...Nandyan lang pala ang cameraman eh.."
(anyone who can guess who this is will get a price from me!)
PIX W/ THE PRES. (SPORTS SECTION-SUNSTAR FEB. 15)
(malas ang wa naghubo sa mask)
;D >:(Mga Pare i am one of CAG member i started 2001 na mag play. Pero mukhang dami na new members ilan na lang ang kilala ko like Emcas, Kenneth, jam yun lang ata kita ko sa pictures na medyo kilala ko pa. What happen to intsik,matoy, toytoy, jason and others. i remember the davoa days and cebu natin ang sarap na check point pa nga kami mga tunay na militar sa bukidnon kala nila tunay dala namin mga armas. I hope i can go back dyan an play with you guys. By the way kilila ako nila emcas, Jeff, toy toy as "Tagalog" kasi tagalog ako kung kausapin ko sila ngayon im with the socom east Warrior na codename ko i hope you can visit our site ganda pictures don hehehe!!! regards na lang mga tol!!!! 