Titans Baseball Club - Philippines

"Build it and they will come..." is the reverberating voice behind the popular film Field of Dreams (Kevin Costner, James Earl Jones, Ray Liotta. Universal Pictures. 1989) where a visionary farmer pursues his dream of a baseball diamond.

Although the setting for the film's story takes place on the Idaho farmlands, it's message is clearly far-reaching. Several thousand miles across the pacific, visionaries have cultivated their dreams on ballfields in the Philippine archipelago.

Barely three years old, Titans Baseball is already the foremost organization for adult baseball catering to amateur and recreational players nationwide. With its vision and program, the club continues to take Philippine baseball to unprecedented heights by providing a continuous environment for both competitive and recreational play at the adult level.

Yet the impetus to play would not be there were it not for the playing fields the club continues to take pride in. These parks are a testament to what can be accomplished with so much as a spark of passion for the game.

Foremost of these is Marist Field in Marikina City, the country's version of Cape Cod, which serves as the major hotbed for adult baseball today. While it may not have the bleachers and grandstands so accustomed to in spectator sports, it does provide an atmosphere of coziness and proximity essential to popular participation.

Currently the home of the Titans Series, Marist has excellent drainage that allows it to weather all but the heaviest of continuous downpours. Unfortunately during most of the dry season, much of it remains brown with only patches of grass due to inadequate maintenance. There is also a drawback in terms of field dimensions with both outfield corners less than 250 feet down the lines.

Upwards of Marikina valley, one finds the Ateneo Diamond at Loyola Heights. Generally speaking, there is little more than an infield to speak of as the outfield dimensions cater more to softball dimensions and the terrain makes one prone to injury. Despite such drawbacks, the field is generally well maintained during the dry season.

Some 25 kilometers southwest of Manila lies the pristine and lush greens of the Alabang Country Club Field. Although the infield leaves some dirt to be desired, in terms of overall field conditions and atmosphere, Alabang is hands down the best in the country. The grass is just second to none especially when well maintained. The major drawbacks would be the cost and accessibility to the general public.

Then you have the world-renowned and historic Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium. Already outdated in terms of international standards, Rizal is roughly the equivalent of a minor league ballpark in the United States, with its half-moon across the stadium spectator stands. Nevertheless, the park carries with it a tradition that dates back to the days when U.S. major league teams graced the country. Embedded on its outfield walls are the names of several world-class players who went yard back then. It also served as home of the prestigous Manila Bay Baseball League until its demise roughly three decades ago. Just being there gives you that eerie feeling.

Outside of the National Capital Region, one need only to look at Canlubang Stadium some 50 kilometers south of Manila, once a baseball hotbed and breeding ground of local talent. At its present state, the park is barely more than a template of its original, with a lack of funding for maintenance cited as the main culprit. There is much to be desired and the potential to resurrect Canlubang is out there given that the general landscape and infrastructure are intact.

Suffice it to say, there are other playing fields worth noting across the country but have yet to be graced by the Titans Baseball experience, leaving a future full of possibilities.