Another historic day for Pangasinan cycling
By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.
KNOWING our province capital town Lingayen’s chief executive Leopoldo N. Bataoil, an avid sports buff especially in cycling, he did not think twice when I proposed to him the holding of a bicycle road race in his town on November 27, in conjunction with the celebration of the katipunero supremo Andres Bonifacio Day. As we agreed upon, the one-day bikefest was exclusively for our Pangasinan riders objectively to hone local’ skills’ in preparation for the 2024 National Cycling Championships and Batang Pinoy Games slated this coming December 17 – 23 in Tagaytay City, the multi-stage Ronda Pilipinas bikefest usually being slated during summer time, to name some.
The road battle was participated in by a maximum of 70 contestants that started in front of Lingayen’s municipal hall building and officially flagged by Mayor Bataoil and assisted by the muse of the day Pangasinan’s representative to Miss Filipinas International 2023 candidate Miss Jesse Grace Soriano. The 70 Pangasinan cyclists traversed the triangular circuitous routes of Barangay Baay junction of Lingayen, Barangay Socony junction of Bugallon and Barangay Bongalon junction of Labrador four times and ended across the town’s PNP building with an approximate distance of 102 kilometers.
The top 10 winners who received cash prizes and medals apiece were Champion – Marco Lumanog of San Manuel (P8k), 2nd place –Efren Reyes of Dagupan City (P5k), 3rd place – Dino Caballero of San Carlos City (P4k), 4th place – Ivan Torio of Bugallon (P3k), 5th place – Dominic Perez of Sto. Tomas (P2k), while 6th to 10th placers that received 1k and medal apiece were Angelico Sepalagio of Sual, Edgar Nieto of Dagupan City, Jarren Serrano of Dagupan City, Ronyl Erguiza of Urbiztondo and Kristan Aron Delano of San Manuel. 11th to 20th placers also received P500 each.
Honestly, it was my first time to direct a bicycle road race that started and ended inside the town proper of Lingayen. I was amazed by the presence of the huge crowd along the way and especially at the finish line. Although, no one of the Lingayen riders landed in the top ten, they still showed their love and passion to this two-wheeled event.
Lingayen already produced a king of this sport, 1962 Tour of Luzon champion Edmundo de Guzman of Barangay Tonton. He was there before the start of the race and was one of the 21 former national Tour champions from Pangasinan that received a trophy each from Mayor Bataoil.
Also honored were Rufino Gabot (1957) and Gonzalo Recodos (1963) both from Laoac, Mamerto Eden, Jr. of Mapandan who represented his late father (1958), this writer of Mangaldan (1973 and twice in 1977), the late Teodorico Rimarim of Basista (1974), Samson Etrata and Samson Cariño (both in 1975) from Binalonan and Mangaldan, respectively, Modesto Bonzo of Sual (1976, Modesto also received the trophy for his late younger brother Romeo, (1983), Ruben Cariño of Mangaldan (1984), Pepito Calip of Binalonan (1985), Bernardo Llentada of San Nicolas (1991), Reynaldo Navarro of San Jacinto (2000), Wlfredo Calosa of San Jacinto (2001), Santy Barnachea of Umingan (2002, 2006, 2011 and 2015), El Joshua Cariño of Mangaldan (2018), and Ronald Oranza of Villasis (2018).
My huge thanks to the staff of Mayor Bataoil especially Mae Rueda, Michelle Lioanag, Marissa Santos, Chuckie Cacondangan and Ramir Costas but first and foremost to Mayor Bataoil for making the two events a huge success. Mabuhay po kayong lahat. You made me feel proud.
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” MATTHEW 10:28
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