RP cyclists support Hiso’s group

By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.

THE new set of officers of the Integrated Cycling Federation of the Philippines, better known as PhilCycling, under the wings of Rolando Hiso, invited me to observe the inaugural race they held on January 17 at the Quezon Memorial Circle.

I accepted, took a wee hour trip to Quezon City and was able to watch all the five categorized events. There, I was surprised to meet my cycling contemporaries like the former undisputed ‘track kings’ Ildefonso Vizmanos and Manolito Moring, Cesar Filosopo, Armando Bautista, Rufo Dacumos and Jose delos Santos to name a few.

Also in attendance and participated in the elite category event were the current national cycling superstars like Tour champions Victor Espiritu, Warren Davadilla and our very own Arnel Quirimit, Santy Barnachea, Merculio Ramos, Jr., Sherwin Carrera, Ericson Obosa, Renato Sembrano, Enrique Domingo, Irish Valenzuela and Lucien Llyod Reynante. These ex-nationals spearheaded the throng of more than 300 participants. And these riders are all former members of our Philippine national squad who bolted the Paquito Rivas group, which is claiming to reign Philippine cycling.

I also met my mestizo cumpadre and well-known sports columnist Recah Trinidad of the Philippine Daily Inquirer and his mucho guwapito son Philippine Basketball League (PBL) commissioner Chino, PATAFA (Phil. Amateur Track and Field Association) president Go Teng Kok being the official representative of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), Quezon City government majority floor leader Atty. Ariel Enrile Inton Jr. and lawyer Sam Estimo, the legal counsel of Hiso’s group.

I asked these new riders why they bolted the other camp.

Their common answer was, “Pagod na kami, Sir, sa kanila at kailangan na namin ang pagbabago sa RP cycling.”

In the evening, it was a ‘drink and dine’ affair at the big house of PhilCycling chair Loy Cruz with my graying buddies headed by Recah and Hiso.

And there, we conceptualized the biggest project so far for the federation – a multi-stage event this summer, most likely a ten-day road battle reviving the fabled Tour of Luzon, the race I won in 1973.

Hiso said a giant telephone company (he doesn’t want to mention the name because he’s not authorized to do so) came to him after their December 13 elections last year and promised to sponsor the big race on condition that his group will eventually be recognized by the POC, the country’s main sports organization that is recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Recah texted me the other day to inform me that Hiso has been asked by POC to attend the general assembly on January 28. I did not ask why, but I have a strong feeling that this may have something to do with the recognition of Hiso’s group, which I’m affiliated with.

If that happens, expect a complete overhaul in PhilCyling, particularly in composition of our Philippine national squads. Selection will likely be done by holding annual national open road race championships, including the track and mountain bike races for men, women and the youth divisions like the way it used to be. Hindi yong turo-turo lang like what happened under previous leaderships.

By the way, the January 17 circuit event was won by Manila-born rider Iris Valenzuela. Nueva Ecijano stalwart Oscar Rendole came in a close second while Manaoag son Ericson Obosa finished third.

Valenzuela and Obosa are regular members of the elite Pangasinan squad Pitaki Boyz group. Manilenos Dante Cagas and Warren Davadilla placed fourth and fifth, respectively.

More power to you guys and my big congratulations.

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