Star-studded Bugallon bikefest

By Jesus A Garcia Jr.

WET days are over and outdoor sports like cycling, football, baseball, lawn tennis, among others, are now in full gear. Organizing cycling events, which is my forte, will be reactivated again and the next will be held today November 29 in Bugallon town in conjunction with the celebration of its town fiesta. Dubbed as “Pogi Pangasinan Bugallon Cycling Challenge,” the 160-kilomter road saga is my 189th assignment since March 14, 1974. The sports-minded father of Bugallon, Jumel Anthony Espino, his dad, Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr., and Pangasinan Liga Federation President Pogi Espino, will sponsor the cycling challenge that will be participated in by top guns in Philippine cycling. Former Tour champions Baler Ravina of Asingan, Guimba, Nueva Ecija pride Joel Calderon and Manila ace John Mark Galedo already confirmed their participation.

And as of this writing (Thursday morning), 35 other well-known figures in Philippine road racing including some current and erstwhile members of the Philippine national team came to my house to register. Among them were Ronald Oranza of Villasis, Mark Julius Bonzo of Sual, Joshua Cariño of Mangaldan, Jan Paul Morales and Jerry Aquino, Jr. of Makati City, Rustom Lim, Oscar Rendole and Rey Martin of Guimba, N. E., Felipe Marcelo of Aliaga, N. E., Lucien Llyod Reynante of Muntinlupa City, George Oconner and John Mark Camingao of San Mateo, Rizal, Ronald Lomotos and Allen Villanueva of San Felipe Zambales, Ericson Obosa of Manaoag, Dominic Perez of Sto. Tomas, and Rudy Roque of Dinalupihan, Bataan

I’m limiting the number of contestants to 60 to avoid traffic congestion along the route that will start and end in Bugallon. It will run through the towns of Labrador, Sual, Alaminos City, Bani, Bolinao, back to Bani, Agno, Mabini, then back to Alaminos City taking the Don Pedro Braganza boulevard, then back to Sual, Labrador and Bugallon. The cyclists will be flagged off by hizzoner Jumel Anthony. Handsome cash prizes, trophies and medals await the winning riders and the event will be aired live over Aksyon Radyo Pangasinan 1161 AM khz, headed by Violy Valdez Ferrer.

Unknown to many, Bugallon already produced an Asian cycling silver medalist in 1983 and gold medalist in 1981 SEA Games in the person of Edgardo Pagarigan of barangay Bolaoen. Unfortunately, the dusky Pagarigan succumbed to an unknown disease years back at the young age of 49. He was my protégé and my teammate during the 1977 Tour of PICCA when we handily won the team and individual championships with Pagarigan winning the eighth and final stages that started in Bugallon and ended at Rizal Memorial Track and Field Stadium.

There are three special ‘summit’ prizes at stake, courtesy of Cong. Leopoldo N. Bataoil and Engr. Rodolfo “Boy” Dion.

I’m predicting it to be a fast-paced race from start up to the finish.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He has chosen as his own inheritance. The Lord looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men. From the place of His dwelling He looks on all the inhabitants of the earth; He fashions their hearts individually; He considers all their works. PSALMS 32: 12-15

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