Game day

The Philippine Azkals played with the 2011 MLS champion LA Galaxy yesterday at the Rizal Memorial Stadium. My friends and I excitedly made plans to watch it together when it was announced, then they released the ticket prices which were just too steep. So we'd resigned ourselves to watching it on TV instead.

Fast forward to lunch time yesterday, my son's school director sent me a text message saying co-parent Mr. Dan Palami (Azkal team manager) was giving each Raya Razkal (that's what they call the players of the school's football team) 2 tickets each. At first I was hesitant because it was raining, but then I realized that this was a once in a lifetime chance to see David Beckham play! And so we found ourselves taking the train to go to the stadium.

The game was scheduled at 7:30 pm, but we were in the vicinity by 6:30 -- which was a good thing because the line going to the entrance was already long. When we were finally ushered in it was around 7:15, and you could feel the electricity in the air.

Look how sweaty my boy is

It was a pleasant surprise when we found out that we got good seats, plus the kids' friends and classmates were just seats away! They played and ran around while their parents focused their binoculars and cameras on Beckham.

The kids having fun tooting their vuvuzelas

Getting ready to do a corner kick

In the end, the LA Galaxy won 6-1, but this is one game Philippine football fans will not soon forget. And for me, being there and watching it live made the sweaty commute and the long lines worth it.