By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.

(First of two series)

 

WHEN our former governor Oscar Orbos told me on the phone two months ago that he’s planning to return to politics and to run again as representative of the First District of Pangasinan, I just shrugged it off.  I thought he was just kidding me since he’s been out in the political limelight for two decades.

Assessing his statements and recalling how he was during his term as father of the province for three years (1995-1998) and, during my acquaintance with him then and until now, being a man of his word, I began to think that the brilliant Bani-born hombre sincerely wants to reclaim his old post in congress. My recollection of him in congress in late 1980s is he was acclaimed as one of the ‘most outstanding congressmen.’ He was also labeled as “Wonder Boy” by the national media during his stint as executive secretary of late president Corazon “Cory” Aquino for his exemplary deeds. Unfortunately, he only stayed there for just few years and preferred to run as congressman of the First District of our province to help his district. Many of his bills were approved by Congress and eventually signed into laws by. (More on this in the next issue).

He won overwhelmingly in his bid to become governor of our province against Ado Duque, the eldest of the well-known Duque clan of Dagupan City. Without second thoughts, he also appointed me as ‘sports coordinator’ of the province, like what the late governor Aguedo Agbayani also did. And what I admired in him most was his avidity for sports, especially cycling and basketball, like what our current chief executive Amado “Pogi Espino III is doing today. They have common minds as far as sports and physical fitness are concerned. In fact, it was during the three governors’ terms when the province produced national champions in cycling starting in 1970s and up to the present.

During Agbayani’s term as governor, he produced five national Tour champions: myself, from Mangaldan, in 1973, the late Teodorico Rimarim of Basista in 1974, my protégé and town mate Samson Cariño and Samson Etrata of Binalonan, both in 1975 (two national multi-stages held that year- the eight-day Tour of PICCA and the 15-day Tour of Luzon), and former boxer Modesto Bonzo of Sual who won the 16-day 1976 Tour of Luzon. While no Pangasinense won during his short three-year reign, Orbos organized 26 bikathons under my directorship that paved the way for the discovery of three young cyclists who eventually became national champions in the following years: Arnel Quirimit of Pozorrubio in 2003, Santy Barnachea of Umingan in 2002, 2006, 2011, and 2015, and Baler Ravina of Umingan in 2012.  My godson Barnachea became the only four-time national Tour champion of the Philippines.

And under the leadership today of our hard-working and sports-minded Gov. Pogi Espino, the cycling-crazy Pangasinan also already produced two national Tour champions, El Joshua Cariño of Mangaldan and Ronald Oranza of Villasis. Were it not for the pandemic that shelved cycling and other sports, I honestly believe that we could have won more laurels for the province in cycling. Without a doubt, cycling that brought countless international and national honors for the province and our country, will continue to do so in years ahead.

See you next week.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” JOHN 3: 36

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