After flat out week that was all too suddenly finished, we were up at 6 on Saturday morning and into the minivan driving back to Cagayan De Oro airport, right around the same time that we later learned Manila was feeling the full force of mother nature.
In the week we had been in Bayug we had all grown very close to Brian’s family and Big Bangs Philippines and we had to keep our goodbyes short to avoid “accidently” extending our trip. Turns out it almost happened anyway.
It wasn’t until past …

Day 3 of the school camps was at the Tambo school.  This was an opportunity to throw the rookies from Big Bangs Philippines and Australia into the deep end, and let them lead the groups at several points throughout the day.
I never get tired of running basketball camps… seeing every single kid smile, watching their eyes light up, seeing them finish up their sessions yet continue to play the games and run the drills we had taught them only a couple hours before…
At Tambo we managed to take care of …

The 2nd school we visited on the program was Bayug Elementary which was just a short walk from “Aunty’s” house where we were staying, in the village where Brian grew up.  Just in case anyone wasn’t awake and focused for the day our first challenge began before we arrived at the school which was to cross a 100m wide river on a narrow swaying wooden bridge. Everyone was concentrating so hard on keeping their own balance that Damian was left at the end of the line to carry all the …

Amazing. To be back in my home country, as a member of The Big Bang Ballers, was truly a life- changing experience. What’s more, it opened my eyes to the challenges and rewards of international development. The feeling I got from the moment we touched down in Manila till the moment we arrived back in Australia can only be described as a roller coaster of emotions. It was to be the first time that the Big Bangs had the privilege of playing basketball and running programs for school kids in …

On the second day of our expedition to the Philippines the crews from Big Bangs Australia and Big Bangs Philippines found ourselves packed into a Jeepee (a long, windowless, makeshift jeep capable of carrying up to 15 people) heading to Bantai Bata. Bantai Bata, literally meaning ‘Taking Care of Children’ is an institution for formerly abused, abandoned and now rescued children. On this day, we came to deliver much-needed bags of rice as well as small gift packs for each child containing candy, jelly cups and soap. All we wanted was …

It’s incredible how quickly time flies when there’s a lot of work to do… in just over a week, 5 of the boys from Australia will be flying to Bayug, Philippines, to run camps for 5,000 kids in 6 days.
That’s a lot of kids, and not much time…
The schedule is packed, our donations are being finalised, and all the boys are eagerly awaiting the trip, especially since this will be the first time all bar one of us is going to meet our Big Bangs Philippines team, who have proven …

MEDIA RELEASE
BIG BANGS LAUNCH FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN
YOUNG AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR NOMINEE PIERRE JOHANNESSEN AND THE BIG BANGS ARE LAUNCHING A MONTH-LONG CAMPAIGN TO RAISE FUNDS FOR BOTH LOCAL AND OVERSEAS PROGRAMS
Wednesday 19 July 2009
The BIG BANG BALLERS, an international NGO founded by former Australian Youth
Ambassador for Development and current Young Australian of the Year Nominee Pierre Johannessen, are today launching their national campaign to raise $11,000 by 11 September.
The BIG BANGS is an international NGO, using the game of basketball to tackle youth poverty and social disadvantage.
Having originated in Bangladesh …

Not a day goes by that I am not filled with pride at the work the Big Bangs continue to do around the world.
From Julien going head to head with the politics of basketball in Pakistan, breaking down social barriers and standing up for everyone’s right to play the game they love, all the way to the Philippines, where a an entirely new family of Big Bangs is nurturing kids and sponsoring a championship team, whose charity work is only just beginning.  Brian’s enthusiasm and drive in his native home …

On the 15th of July Big(STAR)Bangs Philippines launched into action by hosting its first Philippine Outreach Program. On a bright and glorious day set amongst the open fields of the riverside town of Bayug (my birthplace), screams of laughter and fun broke an otherwise quiet and slow afternoon. Big Bangs had arrived.
The Philippine Committee, headed by Mary Joan Abitago-Clavite, with the help of many dedicated volunteers, enjoyed the brilliance of the sunshine with local kids and treated them to snacks remixed with fun and games. It signifies the start of …