Saving the Werweran

By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.

FOR 37 years now my hometown Mangaldan has been conducting a bicycle race every year in conjunction with the celebration of the town fiesta. Started on March 14, 1974 under the leadership of the late hizzoner Atty. Macario G. Ydia, the annual road battle was not held only once (in 2003) due to financial constraints. The first thirty years were sponsored by the municipal government and the last six years were sponsored by two commercial firms, Emperador Brandy and Excellent Noodles.

Like last year, the bikefest this year, which has been called “Werweran ed Mangaldan” for the last 18 years, almost did not push through due to the backing out of the sponsor Emperador Brandy. But luckily, my friend Alexander Billan, himself an amateur cyclist from Metro Manila and owns the Excellent Noodles company, saved the event by sponsoring the two categorized races with much gusto. The two categories held last February 27 were both won by visitors, humiliating our province’s  best in amateur and ex-professional racings.

My big thanks to Billan because if not for him, the yearly race considered as one of the oldest one-day bikefests in the country today could not have been staged this year which would have been a big disappointment for my  town mates who are avid cycling fans like me.

Mabuhay ka Alex! Thanks too to Engr. Rodolfo “Boy” Dion, Dr. Randy Oriel and Blandino Caguioa who readily gave support, without which the occasion would have not been successful.

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My congrats to Olongapo City cyclist Rudy Roque for topping the 2011 Panagbenga Cycling held last February 25. Per my record, Roque is the strongest so far among the Zambales group of riders. Rudy is the son of Marlboro Tour veteran Ely Roque. The Baguio-to-Baguio downhill and uphill challenge covered a short but punishing distance of 85 kilometers, for a top price of P10,000.

See you guys again next year.

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It’s frustrating to that the 2nd Jimmy Fernandez Cup third game of the best-of-three finals series  postponed anew. But it is sure to be held on March 9 at DWAD gym, according to project director Seato Gonimil in his text message to me. Frustrating because the final match was postponed twice due to the  unavailability of a venue. Too bad that I will not be able to watch the third and final match because I’m scheduled to depart for Sacramento, California on March 8 to visit my relatives and friends. Anyway even in my absence, my partner Phil Celi will cover the game and agreed to relay to me the result through email.

See you guys in April.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Jesus said “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You should not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ But I say to you, do not swear at all; neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your ‘Yes’ be “Yes,’ and your ‘No’ be ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one. MATTHEW 5: 33-37

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