The move to restore the famed Philippines Smokey Mountain baseball field to its former glory is snowballing.
Members of the community and neighboring areas are seeking help in fixing the condition of the field, where kids in the community can play baseball.
Recently, use of the venue was taken over by the City of Manila
According to officials of the Philippine Amateur Baseball Association, the areas was taken over by City Hall workers.
And with no formal agreement with the community, turned it into a temporary holding area for impounded vehicles from around Manila.
Since 2010, the non-government organizations, the Jaycees and International Little League Association of Manila have been developing the field for baseball activities for kids.
“The community is appealing on the use of the field. And many of our stakeholders are helping out,” said PABA secretary general Pepe Munoz.
Munoz said the community needs to work closely with the barangay and school authorities in order for the field to given the proper care it needs.
Their appeal has already reached ears of Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso, according to supporters of the Smokey Mountain baseball community.
The mayor said all the vehicles will be immediately removed and the field returned to the community, which has named it the “Field of Dreams.”
Among those seeking help in restoring the field are members of the Smokey Mountain Senior League Softball Team that competed in the 2014 World Series in Sussex County, Delaware.
Team Philippines, led by coach Manny Llave, made it to the semifinals, and his entire group of players are pitching in to help in the cause to put the field back in shape.
Smokey Mountain is the depressed area in Tondo. It is a community built on top of what used to be a mountain of trash.
The place is now a housing project for the urban communities in Tondo.
