Sports Eye
Mangaldan sportsfest 2012
By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.
AS of this writing (Friday), my town Mangaldan is still celebrating its town fiesta 2012. Four of the main highlights in the celebration were sports activities including a footrace, bikefest, shootfest and basketball exhibition games. And of course, the numero uno of the four is the annual bikefest, which in the last 19 years has become popularly known as “Werweran ed Mangaldan.”
Originally called “Mangaldan Cycling Grand Prix” with the late sports-minded Mayor Macario G. Ydia pioneering it, the yearly cycling road race was started on March 14, 1974 with much fanfare. The title was only changed to the Pangasinan word werweran, meaning “spinning”, after two decades of bustle orchestrated by three well-known and respected personalities of Mangaldan, namely Dr. Demosthenes Ydia (son of the late hizzoner Macario), Johnny Valencia and Adjie Cabrera in 1993. The objective was to make it jibe for the participants – to spin the pedals of their bikes. I believe the trio wanted to make it appear unique just as other provinces, especially in La Union, Ilocos Sur and Norte, have done. The other reason I know is they also wanted to preserve our own aged language through sports activities. And the three were successful. The Werweran is now a by-word among Mangaldanons, especially among cyclists, every time the Mangaldan town fiesta comes. It has become a newsy item for the local media. Mangaldanons say that without the Werweran bikefest, our town fiesta celebration would not be complete. They’re comparing the event to a local food fare called “Pinakbet” such that if a pinakbet is without eggplant, the chow is not genuine. That’s the short storied evolution of Werweran.
The footrace last February 23 was organized by a number of Mangaldan National High School officials. I was told that the event lured almost four thousand participants, a record in the province. But I’m sorry I was not able to get the official results due to my meeting with Palarong Media events’ chairmen that day. (This writer was asked to handle the table tennis competition to be held at RJ Bowling Lanes on March 10. I will compete in it as well because I’m the defending champion).
The bikefest was done on March 4 and the shootfest that commenced on March 2, culminated on March 4. The bike race, exclusively for amateur and ex-professional riders, was dominated by Pangasinenses. A youthful and unknown pedal-pusher from Sto. Tomas, Dominic Perez, emerged as the new champion of the annual event. (See related story on this page)
The shootfest dubbed as “2nd Mayor Herminio A. Romero’s Cup” was organized for the second consecutive year by sports-minded police Supt. Mateo Casupang, my town’s chief of police. According to Casupang, the president of the organizing Mangaldan Practical Shooting Association Inc. (MAPSAI), the ‘shooting contest’ attracted 215 contestants from all over Luzon, including the national team members. Baguio City came up with the largest delegation while Dagupan City and Alaminos City (Hundred Islands Practical Shooting Association) came in second and third, respectively. The events were all done at Jharrsel Firing Range in barangay Bari owned by Engr. Joey Aquino. This year’s guest of honor was Chief Supt. Manuel Barcena, Director of Intelligence Group. “The competition this year is Level 1, but because of the success of the occasion, there will be a third Herminio A. Romero’s Cup next year and the tournament will be elevated to Level 2 competition,” Casupang happily announced. The three events were a huge success because with the help of God and Our Lady of Manaoag no untoward incident happened.
As I’m finishing this piece (Friday afternoon), two exhibition games are in progress at the Macario Ydia Development Center with the Mangaldan Selection battling the 2011 PRISAA-UCAAP Inter-Collegiate Basketball Tournament champions University of Pangasinan-PHINMA Flames. The second and the main event features some movie and TV personalities, including John Mall, Joseph Betangcol, Jorros Gamboa and Gene Padilla and will be beefed-up by ex-professional PBA players Val David and Sta. Barbara-born Marlou Aquino and Christian Calagiuo against the Mangaldan LGU cagers. I hope to catch up and watch the skirmishes.
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood. “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil. ISAIAH 1: 15-16
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