Finally cycling czars now under one roof

By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.

YOU heard about the division of our national cycling leaders, two warring groups with each of them claiming to be our country’s rightful entity in representing the nation in any international competition. Then there was the power squabble, bickering, sour-graping and lambasting that demoralized not only us cycling aficionados but especially our national riders.  There was also the story about how our nationals were barred in 2009 from competing in the Laos Southeast Asia Games that embarrassed our country due to this power dispute. But I guess these will not happen anymore because the rift that has been beleaguering the country’s cycling for almost a decade now has finally been resolved last Tuesday.

Yes, despite the heavy rains that disturbed Manila that day, I made the effort to attend that important assembly of our national cycling leaders led by Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, former Philippine Sports Commission chairman Philip Juico, and Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco. Asian Cycling Confederation secretary-general Choi Boo-woong from Malaysia was also there to represent the world governing body Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) as observer.  I was officially invited to attend the gathering purposely to elect our new national cycling officials and solve the problem once and for all. The meeting, dubbed “Unified Cycling General Assembly and Election”, was held at One Esplanade building at the Mall of Asia in Pasay City and was well attended by the two warring groups of officers plus former cyclists (like me). But I noted the absence of four national two-time Tour champions Atty. Cornelio Padilla, Jr., Renato Dolosa, Domingo Quilban and Carlo Guieb. I don’t know why. Also not present were the nation’s two well-known cycling patrons Arnel Ty of LPGMA and LBC’s Fernando Araneta who runs the 15-day Ronda Pilipinas Tour.

The proceedings were very cordial. However, no general election was held. I was informed that compromises were made that led to Juico to be the executive vice president while Tolentino was installed as president of PhilCyling, purposely to end the leadership dispute. The 15-man board of trustees elected Le Tour de Filipinas chief organizer Bert Lina as chairman of the board, Ric Rodriguez as treasurer, Jesus Aranas as auditor and Jojo Villa as executive director. The body appointed Avelino Sumague as the new secretary-general.

Director for the next four years are former Tour champions Paquito Rivas and Sual son Modesto Bonzo, Juancho Ramores, Carlos Gredonia, Dagupan City-born Lorenzo Lomibao, Jr., Froilan Dayco, Pablito Sual, Cornelio Baylon, and former Comelec commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal.

Finally, our cycling leaders are now under one roof and our cyclists can now race internationally without constraints unlike before. And I guess UCI president Pat McQuaid is now happy about the unification. It’s been his long desire to see the leadership issue resolved. Yes, we have to move now as one. And I believe this is one of the sports where we can really excel like in boxing. I might be wrong but I’m confident and have a strong feeling that we might win a medal now in the coming London Olympics. That would be Danny Caluag, the Filipino-American BMX expert who is rated number one BMX competitor in the United States. I’m glad to hear that Caluag, formerly from Bulacan, opted to represent our country in this coming Olympic Games instead of the United States. I doff my hat to that. And if he wins, it will be the first in Philippine cycling. Hopefully I’m right. Let’s wait and see.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Woe to those who decree unrighteous decrees, who write misfortune, which they have prescribed. To rob the needy of justice, and to take what is right from the poor of My people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless.” ISAIAH 10: 1-2

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