Unbecoming and afflicted with amnesia

By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.

We, the sports lovers, particularly the cycling buffs, knew that our very own Romeo Bonzo, the 1983 Marlboro Tour champion, already passed away. This was widely reported on TV, radio and in the national and local newspapers.

His sudden death due to a vehicular accident shocked the nation’s cycling circle. His demise stunned the country that even during these days, two weeks after his burial, his family, his colleagues, his admirers, his friends (including this writer) continue to mourn after that unexpected tragic stumble. There is deep sadness that a close friend of ours is now out of sight, forever.

But despite the fretfulness and trauma that his family and his admirers are encountering to this day, our political leaders in the province have not even bothered to pay their respects or bothered to send some flowers to the fallen hero that brought two monumental and unforgettable honors in 1983 to this beloved cycling crazy province.

Romeo, as some may not know, also bagged the prestigious “Rookie of the Year” plum in 1983 and the only national tour champion from Pangasinan-out of 19, including me-to capture that accolade. He’s the second rider in the country to attain that feat since the birth of the Tour in 1956, next to Cornelio Padilla, Jr., now a lawyer. Until now nobody has accomplished the same feat. I dare say, what I achieved he did not achieve, but what he achieved I was not able to achieve.

During the Patrima (Pangasinan Tri Media) Kapihan held two weeks ago at Magic Club in Dagupan City, I asked Vice Governor Oscar Lambino and Ruel Camba, the governor’s  representative on that occasion, if the handsome governor even thought of visiting the remains of Romeo or sent flowers as a symbol of condolences and sympathy during the wake.

The humble vice governor’s reply was that he was always happy to be of help to Bonzo every time he paid a visit at his Malasiqui residence. I hope the good vice governor was referring Romeo, not his brother Modesto, the 1976 Tour of Luzon champion. I say this because I knew the ‘shy guy’ Romeo. He was very bashful even to his political friends except his hizzoner John Arcinue of Sual town. He had a different attitude compared to his elder brother Moding, my kumpadre. I wish the vice governor is correct. (There are a lot of people-even to this day-who mistakenly think that the Bonzo who met that freak accident last January 11was the older Bonzo. They are wrong.)

As for Ruel Camba’s reply to my question, it was very flimsy. I would not elaborate on it. He was cornered.

Well, they don’t have to extend any help if they don’t want to. That’s democracy. But to me and to many others, especially the sports-minded people, the indifference of the province’s public servants is ‘unbecoming’. The guy brought multiple laurels to Pangasinan and we can at least reciprocate what he did even in the last hours of his family’s bereavement. But unfortunately, all that goodwill came to naught.

To Mayor Arcinue and to retired General Reynaldo V. Velasco, big thanks to you guys for your big help to Romeo’s family. God bless.

Thanks too to Rey Corpuz of Hawaii, Blandino Caguioa of Houston, Texas and to my son Jazy, You are such nice people.

To the leaders of this province, NO THANKS to them. I believe they are suffering from amnesia.

(For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/sports-eye/)

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