Tour de Plaza mulled

By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.
WE recently directed the Jun Ebdane Tour of Zambales last December 30 to fete the former public works and highways secretary in his home province.

It was another successful and memorable event. For sure, the Zambalenos have discovered a new and exciting sport which, according to Sec. Ebdane himself, would be replicated several times nationwide this year, 20l0.

Judging from the thousands of cycling fans who watched the 6-hour tour that traversed l3 towns and one city, I am sure, as Mr. Ebdane observed, cycling will become a favorite sport in his province, next only to boxing.

I am grateful to our 75 cyclists who took part in the Jun Ebdane race because they displayed sportsmanship in the first order. And they were jubilant as shown by their wide grins after the awarding that took place at the Candelaria town plaza.

Thank you, Sec. Ebdane, for your support to cycling.́

Earlier, Mr. Ebdane had planned on staging a nationwide tour reminiscent of the Tour ng Pilipinas of yesteryears. But some powerful force intervened to stop him from aspiring for the presidency. Maybe, its God’s design that he first start as governor in his home province of  Zambales. He intimated to this columnist that so long as there are significant occasions in Zambales that provide the opportunity to stage a cycling event, he said he will go for it.

Our cycling sportsmen are so grateful to Mr. Ebdane that they are planning to hold a tour in his honor gratis et amore. They said they have found a true patron in him who not only provides the funds but the moral support, encouragement and inspiration to our cyclists.

Now enters Congressman Rodolfo “Ompong” Plaza. His handler, Boy Morales, told me yesterday that he will pick up where Mr. Ebdane left. He will sponsor a series of races in selected provinces in the country. Matindi but Boy assured me, the congressman seems all for it.

Whether tours like these are vehicles for winning elections, the fact remains that the races are played with established rules of the sport that the best performing cyclists are familiar with. The game is fought fair and square.

Our cyclists in Pangasinan are looking forward to “Tour de Plaza”, the province-by-province races carrying the Plaza cup.

Sana mag dilang anhel si pare Boy Morales for mulling a great idea — a series of cycling races nationwide. If politics is played this way, I am sure many sportsmen will begin to adopt it as a new campaign strategy, one that glorifies athletic skills and Philippine sport in general.  When that happens, a new brand of politics is the offing  – as a promoter of sports.

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