Sports Eye
Two big bikefests this month
By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.
I HAD chitchat with our PNP provincial director, Sr. Supt. Percival Barba, last Wednesday prior to the Engkwentro forum presided by Pangasinan Press Club president Allan Sison held at Lenox Hotel in Dagupan City. Together with his trusted adjutants, Supt. Policarpio Cayabyab and Chief Inspector Ferdinand de Asis, we talked about and conceptualized an anti-illegal drugs bikefest, most likely to be staged on National Heroes Day November 30, a national holiday.
The proposed road event is similar to what had been done by his predecessors Sr. Supt. Rodolfo “Boogie” Mendoza in 2001, Sr. Supt. Mario R. Sandiego in 2003 and the last was Sr. Supt. Isagani R. Nerez in 2007. This sports advocacy will be the fourth and will be supported by Police Director Silverio D. Alarcio, according to the three sports loving and hard-working police officers. Like Gen. Leopoldo N. Bataoil of Lingayen, Alarcio, a native of Laoac, Pangasinan is also an avid cycling enthusiast, his townmates and Laoac cyclists confirmed this to me. He normally sponsors some races in the eastern towns, especially during Laoac’s town fiesta. Remember, this small town already produced two national Tour champions in the persons of Rufino Gabot in 1957 and Gonzalo Recodos in 1963. Unlike me, the two still pedal their bikes, not to compete this time but for their physical fitness or just in a fun way to stay healthy.
If the concept pushes through, the road race will start and end in Laoac, passing the key places of the second, third, fourth and fifth districts of the province, as suggested by Cayabyab. It will be for Pangasinan riders only, professionals and amateurs, a good tune-up race especially for our national squad whose members are mostly from Pangasinan. The complete details of the event will be printed here when everything is ironed out.
Prior to the November 30 race, I’m also working out, with media colleague Jun Velasco, another big road event but with a different format and to be conducted during the celebration of our Pangasinan Day (November 13), a local holiday. It will be an open race this time, meaning cyclists from other provinces, including Metro Manila, can strut their wares against our locals and with a maximum of 70 contestants, to traverse the central and western towns of the province, including the cities of Dagupan, San Carlos and Alaminos and most likely to start and finish in Lingayen. I will let you know on the details next week. I have to talk first with the sponsor today, the erstwhile secretary of Department of Public Works and Highways and former PNP chief Hermogenes Ebdane. In his text message to me, he said that the project will definitely push through but that he would have to talk to me first to refine the plans, especially the title of the event. The sports-minded Ebdane was born in Candelaria, Zambales and found his better-half in San Nicolas, Pangasinan, according to my friend Rodolfo “Boy” Dion, the head of the second engineering district office based in Lingayen. Ebdane, who held the position of Dagupan City’s police chief and also became our provincial director during his younger days, already declared his candidacy to run for the highest position of the land and has already been seen making a number of sorties in some key places of the archipelago.
Good luck to you Mr. Secretary and God bless.
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