Sports Eye
Joining Le Tour de Filipinas
By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.
AFTER three weeks of laborious but fruitful and memorable voyage to Uncle Sam’s land last month, I’m here again in Pinas and back to work. I’m so sorry if you missed my column last week as I took a one week break to loosen my legs and get rid of the jet lag that I awfully suffered during my long flights. Yes, it is what you think and I honestly confess that it is a sign of becoming old. Well, none of us is getting young but old.
I was supposed to take at least 45 days of vacation in the States alone, but due to my commitment in the coming Le Tour de Filipinas as a consultant of Mr. Gary Cayton, the chairman of the organizing committee, I had no choice but to be present again during this summer sports spectacle like in the past two years. The race, formerly called “Padyak Pinoy”, is on its second year now as Le Tour de Filipinas and recognized by the world governing body Union Cycliste Internationale. It’s ready to reel off on April 16 in Manila, along Roxas Boulevard, and will wind up in Baguio City at Burnham Park on April 19 with stages in Iba, Zambales on April 17 and Lingayen, Pangasinan on April 18. (See related story on this page)
Defending champion David McCann of Ireland will banner this time the Giant Kenda Pro Cycling Team of Malaysia. Last year, the multi-titled 38 year-old McCann represented Giant Asia Team of Taiwan and was ranked fourth by the world governing body UCI in the 2010 Asian Tour season garnering 298.66 points. But unfortunately for the last three months this year, the Belfast-born McCann was unsuccessful in defending his crowns in the Tours of Taiwan and Malaysia, placing first runner-up in both competitions. And that’s the question now by some cycling virtuosos, even this writer, if he can still retain his title here. We will know the answer on April 19.
I was with Mr. Cayton and his staff and with provincial sports coordinator Modesto Operania on April 1 when they visited Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. at the capitol building to talk about the hosting of the third stage of the Le Tour de Filipinas. Without thinking twice, the sports-minded and hard working chief executive of the province wholeheartedly gave his nod to the proposed stage terminal of the entourage. This is to prove to you guys once more that the fellow who helped me with our Pangasinan cyclists during the 1993 to 1995 cycling season when he was still the PNP provincial and regional director remains a cycling buff. Hindi pa siya nagbago sa kanyang hilig sa cycling at tumulong sa kapwa ko mga siklista. No wonder, we won the overall championship in the just concluded Ilocos Region Athletic Association Meet. In fact, come this year’s Pista’y Dayat celebration, cycling will be one of the sports activities to be undertaken. It will be exclusively for our Pangasinan professional and upcoming elite amateur riders. You will know the details of this project in this paper’s future issues.
Keep up the good work Governor, sir. Just keep on pushing sports and I’m sure your Pangasinan constituents, particularly the youth, will retain you as the father of this province come 2013. Period. It was nice to see you again.
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By the time you read this piece I will already be in Zamboanga City covering the 2011 PRISAA National Collegiate Games. My big thanks to Region 1 PRISAA officials headed by its president Atty. Gonzalo Duque, executive director Phil Celi and treasurer Seato Gonimil. Hopefully we’ll improve this time in the overall standing. Synopsis results of our competitions there will be printed here. My PUNCH colleague Phil Celi is already there.
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: And God Almighty said ‘You shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another. ‘And you shall not swear by My name falsely, nor shall you profane the name of your God: I am the Lord. ‘You shall not cheat your neighbor, nor rob him. The wages of him who is hired shall not remain with you all night until morning. ‘You shall not curse the deaf, nor put stumbling block before the blind, but shall fear your God: I am the Lord. Leviticus 19: 11-14
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