Lingayen Mayor Bataoil leads the way
By Jesus Garcia Jr.
THE star-studded Lingayen bikefest dubbed as “Arangkada Lingayen Cycling Classic 2023” will definitely push through on November 27, 2023, which coincides with the celebration of one our national heroes, Andres Bonifacio.
The star-studded cycling road race is another sports project organized by the LGU of Lingayen spearheaded by our province’s capital town Lingayen mayor, the sports-minded Leopoldo N. Bataoil. So, by the time you read this piece, the bikefest is already over and the results will be published in next week’s issue of The PUNCH. Like last few years’ bikefest sponsored then by Excellent Noodles, the contestants will traverse the smooth triangular route, Lingayen, Bugallon, Labrador, via the junctions of Domalandan (Lingayen), Socony (Bugallon) and Bongalon (Labrador). Race starts at 9:00 a.m. in front of Lingayen municipal hall after the opening ceremony to be led by Mayor Bataoil. It finishes before the town’s foot bridge.
Aside from our young potential riders and tour veterans, I was informed that two of our former kings in Philippine road cycling races, Santy Barnachea from Umingan and Ronald Oranza from Villasis, will join the 102 kilometers road battle. Of course, cash prizes and medals for the top 20 finishers will be awarded, while 11th up to the 20th placers will receive cash prizes only. My godson Barnachea holds the Philippine record as the only four-time champion that this country produced, breaking my three-time record. Two multi-stage races were conducted in 2018 and both won by my town mate (Mangaldan) El Joshua Cariño who won the Le Tour de Filipinas and Oranza who seized the Ronda Pilipinas diadem.
After a meeting with Mayor Bataoil and the Sangguniang Bayan members about our plan to hold a bicycle road race on Andres Bonifacio Day, I informed the board that our beloved province already produced 21 national tour champions in this field of sports. Regarding this, Mayor Bataoil, being an avid cycling fan, requested the board to give ‘recognition awards’ to all our Pangasinan cyclists who contributed honors to our province in national cycling competitions, and this was promptly approved.
I doff my hat to Mayor Bataoil, Vice Mayor Mac Dexter G. Malicdem and the Sangguniang Bayan Members for agreeing to add prestige to the event. Bataoil is the only municipal chief executive in Pangasinan ever to adopt this project recognizing the achievements and contributions of our province’s ex- champs in cycling.
The awarding ceremony will be held at the Lingayen Civic Center, across the Lingayen Municipal Hall, after the cycling competition. Our big thanks, too, to St. Joseph Drug Store for its support to the event. The last but not the least, my big thanks also to the LGU Lingayen staff headed by Michelle Z. Lioanag and Mae Rueda, Chuckie Cacondangan, and Marissa Santos, the Lingayen police force and adjacent towns, for helping us ensure the success of the project. Mabuhay po kayong lahat.
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. MATTHEW 6: 14-15
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