The never-ending national cycling furor

By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.

THE 2010 political battle is over and a few days from now President-apparent Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III will be proclaimed. Come June 30 we’ll have a new president, the 15th after Emilio Aguinaldo.

Yes, despite the reported kinks and obstacles that the first automated elections encountered, observers say it was generally peaceful and successful. But of course typical political losers and chatterers say there were cheatings, especially in the presidential and vice-presidential fights.

Well, I will give it the benefit of the doubt. But what is most important now is that there will be a change. Let’s give Noynoy a chance.

The elections may be finished, but it’s the other way around in sports. In swimming, badminton, billiards, equestrian, cycling and the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) versus the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), the furor is remains. We are just six months away from the Guangzhou Asian Games but the feuds between our sports leaders remain unresolved. They don’t want to sit down and settle their differences for our country’s sake. Instead, they are filing court charges against each other. A real sign of disunity.

Take for example the cycling gaffe. Three years after the fighting started, we still don’t have a clear idea of who the real leaders of the federation are. Mikee Romero claims that he’s the authentic president of the national governing body called PhilCycling because his group is being recognized by POC, the umbrella organization of all sports associations. But Romero’s group is not being recognized by Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the world governing body. It’s the faction of Tagaytay City chief executive Bambol Tolentino that is recognized by UCI. But unfortunately, Tolentino’s group is not recognized by the POC. Now you can see the confusion here. If you remember the SBP-BAP squabble, this is a similar problem in the field of cycling.

Our national cyclists are the ones most affected by this rift. Three of our local cyclists, Mark Julius Bonzo of Sual, Irish Valenzuela of Mapandan, and Alfie Catalan of San Manuel are in the national squad under the camp of Romero. In the Tolentino bloc, five of our best cyclists who are representing the national road lineup are Arnel Quirimit of Pozorrubio, Sherwin Carrera of San Fabian, Ericson Obosa of Manaoag, Renato Sembrano of Mangaldan and Marites Bitbit of Malasiqui on the distaff side.

Nakakalito, as described by cyclist Blandino Caguioa, a San Carlean now based in Houston,Texas. Caguioa is following the issues of Philippine cycling through the internet.

When will the conflict end? I don’t know. But to me, these cycling leaders should put a heavy premium on delicadeza to solve the problem for our country’s sake. If this squabble is not solved, especially with the Asian Games just around the corner, it will surely be the downfall of Philippine cycling, just like what happened to us in basketball. Period.

* * * *

Having a dialogue with former PNP chief Hermogenes Ebdane, Jr. is not new to me. Last Monday, I and 22 other media people from Pangasinan led by Jun Velasco and Pangasinan Press Club president Allan Sison motored to Candelaria, Zambales to attend the victory party of the governor-elect Ebdane at the town plaza. The venue was jam-packed with spectators. We enjoyed the affair, with different bands playing on stage, and stayed there up to the late hours of the evening.

Morning after the event, there was a press conference hosted by Ebdane, also the former DPWH and DND secretary. It was held at his big, beautiful and elegant house. It was also attended by three scribes from Pampanga. A lot of questions were asked, especially about his plans for the province of Zambales. Of course, we also talked about sports. He said he’s giving priority to develop mass-based sports that could be reached and developed by the common people. And because his other half Alma Cabanayan is from San Nicolas, Pangasinan, riders from Pangasinan will surely be involved. I believe it will be done.

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