SINGAPORE - A Filipino volleyball player was given a special token by the Ministry of Education Singapore for his honesty after he returned valuable items he found inside the rest room at the Republic Polytechnic here during the 9th ASEAN Schools Games.
Kenneth Culabat, a member of the Philippine boys volleyball team, found a wallet and Samsung S6 cellular phone inside the restroom situated near the volleyball court where the Filipinos were scheduled to play a pivotal match against the host country.
Culabat immediately secured the valuables and gave it to his coach and had it turned over to officials of the organizing committee as the PH team was busy preparing for the match.
Apparently, the wallet and the cellular phone were owned by a Singapore volleyball player.
Culabat’s act was greatly appreciated by officials from the Ministry of Education, especially by the Divisional Director Student Curriculum Chen Kee Tan.
“Great character,” Tan said.
“Sarap lang sa feeling. Nasuklian ang ginawa ko,” said Culabat as he received the Nila mascot replica as token of gratitude from the Singaporean player.
Tan also expressed her appreciation toward Philippine Sports Commissioner Charles Raymond A. Maxey for the great character and honesty Culabat has shown.
Culabat, 18, a Grade 12 student at St. Benilde International School in Calamba City, said he had to return the valuables to its rightful owner the moment he saw the items left inside the comfort room.
Playing in the meet for the first time, Culabat said he did not expect to gain attention and appreciation for his kind action.
But Culabat made sure he and the rest of his teammates were not distracted from the game, which the Filipinos won in four sets, 23-25, 25-16, 25-16, 25-19.
Philippines Chef-De-Mission Rizalino Jose Rosales was quick to heap praises on Filipino students here, who he said had embibed the value of honesty.
“We are just showing the character that we, Filipinos have,” Rosales said.
Maxey, for his part, said Culabat’s kind act makes him even prouder to be a Filipino.
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