Bayambang: Proposed cycling capital of PH

By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.

PRIOR to the staging of the First Gerry Lacuesta Memorial Cup, Bayambang Mayor Ricardo M. Camacho announced his plan to promote Bayambang as the cycling capital of the Philippines. His two reasons:  1) Lacuesta, the man who pioneered the fabled Tour of Luzon considered then as the first multi-stage bicycle race in Asia (1955) recognized by the world cycling body Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), was born and raised in the town. 2)  By staging races a year, he’s very confident that the town will someday produce national winners or international riders.

In fact he has already started to realize that dream by holding an LGU bikefest last February 23, the first of its kind held in Pangasinan, if not in the entire archipelago, and the Lacuesta Cup last March 16. Lacuesta, born in Barangay Hermosa, made heroes of Pangasinan cyclists like Rufino Gabot and Gonzalo Recodos of Laoac, Mamerto Eden of Mapandan, Edmundo de Guzman of Lingayen, this writer, Samson Etrata of Binalonan, Teodorico Rimarim of Basista and Modesto Bonzo of Sual.

“Cycling has become a national institution epitomizing the strength and vitality of our people and instilling in our youth self-confidence in their capacity for greatness. It has also become an effective promoter of tourism, trade, culture, civic cooperation and social discipline,” Lacuesta once said. Personally, without Lacuesta I, too, would not have received any accolade in my life in the field of sports. It was he who inspired me to go out there and win races for Pangasinan.

One might think that Camacho’s vision to make Bayambang the “Cycling Capital of the Philippines” is a long shot since Bayambang is not a cycling crazy town today unlike my hometown Mangaldan (that already produced three national winners). But I believe it can be realized. It may take time but doable. If Mangaldan and other towns succeeded in promoting this sport, I don’t see why a bigger town like Bayambang (with 77 barangays) cannot flourish in Lacuesta’s sport. It’s really all a matter of determination and that’s what the sports-minded town’s head Camacho has today. In fact, another cycling event is coming on March 29.

Our friend Salter Han who was one of the organizers of the March 16 race is now planning  to stage a four-day Region 1 bikathon to be held this summer or after the rainy season, still in connection with the town’s 400-year founding anniversary celebration.

“Cycling got my heart and I have to continue to hold this sport not only because of its popularity in the province but because the father of Philippine cycling was from this place,” said Camacho during the February 23 race awarding ceremony. “We’ll try to hold it regualrly,” he added. Great!

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My heartfelt congrats to our two young local basketball players Valerie Mae J. Mamaril, 14, and Mark Lester A. Castillo, 15, both studying at the Pangasinan National High School in Lingayen for being selected to to undergo a weeklong training in US along with fellow dribblers from other parts of the country. Mamaril is a member of the 3×3 basketball Pangasinan squad that won the gold medal in the 2014 Batang Pinoy finals while Castillo took the bronze. All their expenses will be shouldered by the Philippine Sports Commission under the program of the U.S. Department’s of Educational and Cultural Affairs  and the U.S Embassy here.

Likewise my congrats to the LNU Dukes under the tutelage of head coach Angel Gumarang for bagging the second spot to enter the semifinals in the ongoing Panagbenga Festival Invitational Cup being held at Easter College in Baguio City. La Finns Scholastica of La Union topped the elimination round with five wins sans loss and shared the twice-to-beat incentive with Dukes in the semis. Mabuhay po kayo.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool shall swallow him up; The words of his mouth begin with foolishness, and the end of his talk is raving madness. ECCLESIASTES 10: 12-13

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