Sports Eye
Losing a good cycling-friend
By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS — AFTER 19 days in the state of California, I’m backed in Fort Worth where I’m temporarily based and where my twin daughters Raina and Raisa reside. I left California with a heavy heart having been generously hosted by my town mates in San Jose, Santa Clara, my daughter Jereza in Daly City and my cycling friends in the sunny, cool city of San Diego led by Gerald Valdez from Sual and Wilmac Macayana from Bayambang.
It was in the afternoon of March 14 in San Diego during a get-together with my Filipino cycling friends at the house of Macayana when Mrs. Tessa Caguioa Tuates, one of the members of Dagupan City Cycling Club (DCCC), called, crying, and told me that the guy they loved so much Ricky Diocares, the president of DCCC, suffered a massive stroke before the official start of the 52.5-kilometer managers’ category event of the 2nd Ronda Alaminos bikefest. She said he succumbed at a nearby hospital in the city despite efforts to revive him. Tessa, still in the state of shock, was unable to give me more details of the incident, but being there in Alaminos during that fateful time, she said she saw it how Ricky fought the battle of his life until his last and final breath. I decided to call my son Jazy, being the race director of the race, to get more information and he confirmed that our diminutive friend Ricky, 43, who loved cycling and running so much had died.
My cycling mates in San Diego were also shocked by the news. Macayama recalled a similar occurrence in nearby Orange County in 2012 when a Filipino rider named Rodolfo Sunga from Pampanga collapsed after finishing the ‘fun run’ in Irvine, California. Jericho Salvador, a Filipino San Diego police officer who joined the event confirmed Macayama’s account. Fortunately, after six months of intensive care, Sunga recovered, and is back on his bicycle again. However, I am told he has to have his regular check-up in three days. His friends said he owes his survival to the advanced medical technology in the US. They also recalled what happened to three-time cycling champ Manuel Reynante in 2013, who unfortunately died. May God bless Mauir’s and Ricky’s souls.
Honestly, I don’t know much about Ricky as a cyclist and a marathoner. What I knew about him was, he was a dedicated and hardworking husband who organized countless bicycle races in the province especially in Dagupan City. He was very friendly, courteous, outgoing, understanding.
For sure, he will be sorely missed particularly each time a bicycle race in staged in Pangasinan especially where his group mates are competing.
May you rest in peace Ricky. Your family, your relatives, your cyclists and your friends love you so much. Your kindness and love for cycling will long be remembered.
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.” Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?’ Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” JOHN 18: 36-37
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