Too good to be true

By Jesus A Garcia Jr.

I received a call last Wednesday from newly-elected PhilCycling president Rolando Hiso.

Hiso, in high spirits, was glad to relate that he talked to Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco during the POC’s General Assembly last Wednesday and received confirmation of his group’s confirmation as the genuine new set of officers of the national cycling federation, not the Rivas group.

Hiso also said that within two to three weeks, they will take their oath before Cojuangco for confirmation of their position as mandated by law.

Hiso then cut off our conversation and gave the phone to my kumpadre Recah who was happy to inform me — with the blessing of the new group — that I have been recommended to be the race director general of the planned multi-stage bicycle race tentatively scheduled after this year’s Lenten season.

Former PhilCycling secretary-general Armando Bautista butted in to say that the new group is also appointing me to as PhilCycling’s Region 1 commissioner.

My gosh, I was really stunned and shocked to hear these good news. I was so much elated and I want to give them my biggest gratitude.

Honestly, it’s been my long desire to direct a national multi-stage event ala the fabled Tour of Luzon, but fate has been unkind to me. The biggest that I’d handled in the past was the five-day 1995 Tour of Pangasinan, or better known as the “OO Na, Takbo Na” sponsored by then Governor Oscar M. Orbos. After that, there were a lot of road races that I formed and directed but it was always just single day events. The last one was in December 28 last year held at Urbiztondo town and sponsored by a good friend of mine, cycling enthusiast Blandino Caguioa, formerly from San Carlos City but now based in Houston, Texas. That was the 149th race since the first one in March 14, 1974.

If the summer Tour pushes through, it will be my biggest so far and my dream will finally come true.

PhilCycling Chairman of the Board Loy Cruz texted me last week saying he will also recommend to the Board that I become the head coach of our national road race team for this year’s Laos Southeast Asia Games, that is if all the imbroglio of the federation will eventually be resolved.

Of course, I didn’t think twice about raising the green flag. If that happens, I will pass all the gears that I knew made me a champion thrice to our new nationals and hopefully it will bear fruit in the near future. I love this country and I will try to help with the best that I can. But I have one condition, that they give me at least three years to develop these young talents. Building up an athlete is a tough task and it takes time.

All these offers somehow feel too good to be true. It’s really unbelievable. But all these are tentative for the time being, until the new set of officers is sworn in.

As my kumpadre Al Mendoza once wrote, “It’s not on until it’s on.”

He’s very right.

Cheers.

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