October flash

By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.

WE call the months of September, October, November and December as “ber” months. And every time these ‘ber’ months come, obviously the year is winding down and the Christmas season is already around the corner. This month, October, perceptibly is the start of outdoor sports competitions. And Christmas lights and decors in different colors and shapes are already visible in many department stores and our national highways. Weathermen say October is the last month of the wet season. (I wish they’re right this time because as far as I can remember, it was October 8-9, 2009 when Typhoon Pepeng struck and killed a lot of Pangasinenses. That was the biggest flood that I ever experienced in my life.) The “Octoberfest” is also celebrated and beer companies promote their products nationwide in beer drinking competitions.

But for me, this month this year is “October Flash” because it’s the month when politicians file their certificates of candidacy (Oct. 1-5) for the 2013 political race. October Flash because for the first time in the history of Philippine cycling, the qualifying race for the Ronda Pilipinas 2013 will be held this month, on the 27th and 28th. This qualifying race, which was originally set this year to be held in Pangasinan, was moved to Tarlac. I don’t know the reason why. I think some 40 riders or more from our province will join the two-day road saga. Good luck to our boys.

Reports also reached me that this year’s Region 1 PRISAA Games will also be held on October 26-28 in Lingayen. According to Angel Gumarang, the Lyceum Northwestern University Dukes head coach, the sports project is under the initiative of Atty. Gonzalo Duque, my PUNCH colleague. Gumarang also said that the National Collegiate PRISAA Games will be held next year on February 10-16, with Lingayen and Dagupan City as the principal venues. Atty. Duque will be at the helm being the new prexy of the national PRISAA. This is another milestone for our province. Remember, we were the host of this year’s successful Palarong Pambansa held last May 6-12. The Palarong Pambansa this year was the project of our sports-minded chief executive Amado T. Espino, Jr. It was the province’s second time to host these annual games. Our first was in 1995 under the leadership of the late governor Aguedo F. Agbayani.

Seven more months to go but we can already feel the 2013 election fever. Like in the past, sports aficionados especially in basketball are already preparing themselves to hold sporting events in their own respective places and have started to solicit funds from the politicians who already filed their COCs. It’s now the start of headaches of these political runners. Mangaldan’s three-termer Mayor Hermino A. Romero who is aiming for a provincial board seat was the first victim. “Masyado kasing maaga ang filing of candidacy ngayong taon kaya kawawa kaming mga politicians ngayon,” Romero lamented.

Well, that’s the price to pay for October Flash. Anyway, I am confident that the sports-minded and undefeated alcalde of my town Mangaldan will win. Mangaldan has more than 50,000 registered voters and I know a good majority will vote for him, particularly by the young ones that are sports fanatics like him. Let’s wait and see.

October 4 is the start of the annual Petron Ladies Beach Volleyball Battle of Champions’ fourth and final leg to be staged at the capitol beachfront in Lingayen. Our very own Jennifer Manzano of the host town who represented La Salle Dasmarinas University last year will banner the Pangasinan squad this time together with provincemates Melanie Carrera and Cassandra Lleda. Good luck to you lasses. Bring home the gold.

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My big congrats to PSupt Mateo C. Casupang for bagging the “Best Police Station of Region 1”, the first time that my town earned this kind of accolade since its birth 410 years ago. Casupang, who is also the president of the Mangaldan Practical Shooters Association, Inc., and his able men led by Senior Inspector Rizalino Suarez and SPO2 Dante Mangonon have already so far apprehended 40 drug pushers since Casupang assumed his post as the police chief of Mangaldan. Mabuhay po kayo mga ginoo and keep up the good work.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen. “I am the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” THE REVELATION 1: 7-8

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