10/09/2026
More Than Pickleball: One Community, One Purpose 🇵🇭
How Rod and Merwynn brought 170+ players together to compete, connect, and give back — embodying the values that BRKADA stands for.
You don’t have to be part of the same barkada to share the same heart.
Before The Picklr Sterling, VA officially opened its doors, its brand-new 10-court facility hosted its very first tournament. More than 170 players showed up for a day of competition, friendship, and, most importantly, giving back.
Behind the event were good friends Rod and Merwynn, whose dedication to bringing people together reflects something BRKADA deeply believes in: community is bigger than any one group, and making a difference starts with people who care.
As Tournament Director and Pickleball Ambassador, Merwynn spent countless hours planning and preparing for the big day. But seeing the courts filled with players cheering each other on, competing with sportsmanship, and supporting a meaningful cause made it all worthwhile.
“The medals will eventually sit on a shelf and the scores will be forgotten, but the lives we touched, the friendships we strengthened, and the difference we made together will last far beyond that final point.” — Merwynn
The tournament supported ANCOP — Answering the Cry of the Poor, a charitable organization associated with Couples for Christ that helps underserved families through initiatives such as education, housing, and community development.
It was more than a pickleball tournament. It was an opportunity to turn a shared passion into something that could positively impact the lives of others.
And that’s where Rod and Merwynn’s story connects with BRKADA.
Their actions reflect the very values the BRKADA community hopes to inspire: bringing people together, building genuine connections, supporting meaningful causes, and using our communities to make a difference.
Because you don’t need to wear the same logo, belong to the same group, or live in the same place to believe in the same mission.
One Barkada, Wherever We Are
Rooted in the Filipino meaning of barkada — a close-knit circle of friends — BRKADA envisions a community that reaches beyond the pickleball courts, across the United States, and all the way to the Philippines.
Whether we’re in the DMV, California, or Manila, our locations may differ, but the values that connect us remain the same: bayanihan, friendship, compassion, and the belief that we can accomplish more when we lift one another up.
Rod and Merwynn’s tournament is a reminder that this spirit already exists in communities everywhere. BRKADA isn’t here to claim it as its own. We’re here to celebrate it, connect with it, and encourage more of it.
Because when people come together for a purpose greater than themselves, something special happens. Friendships grow, communities become stronger, and the impact reaches far beyond the final point.
You don’t have to be in BRKADA to live the BRKADA values. You just have to believe that we’re better when we show up for one another.
🇵🇭 BRKADA: Your crew. On and off the court.
Play together. Give together. Grow together.
