Sports Eye
A hectic birthday
By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.
IT’S our tradition to go to church or chapel (whatever religion you belong) to thank the Almighty God every time our birthday comes. One’s birthday is considered a holiday for the celebrator and an occasion to spend the day happily with your family at home or elsewhere. That’s what I always did except the years 2008 and 2009 and just last December 18. It was a working day for me during my natal day, directing the Puto Festival Cycling Challenge in Calasiao won by Manileño rider Romeo Camingao. (See related story on this page) The day was so hectic that I eventually failed to attend the annual media night of the Pangasinan Press Club held at Jimmy Fernandez Stadia at Lucao, Dagupan City. This was the first time that I missed the club’s fun event. My big thanks to our president Atty. Gonzalo T. Duque for understanding my absence. Friends told me that it was a successful affair.
But the best thing that happened to me on that day (aside from my birthday) was the successful staging of the Puto cycling event where luckily no untoward incident happened. My gratitude to all the policemen of the towns that we passed that gave us good security, particularly the PNP Calasiao headed by the town’s chief of police PCI Noel Espinoza, SPO4 Sicat and SPO1 Sapiera for an orderly start and finish. Also to the Pangasinan Provincial Police Office (PPPO) headed by provincial director Sr. Supt. Marlou Chan and PPPO director of operations Supt. Mateo Casupang. I believe that without the assistance of these people the event would not have been a great success. (Yes of course, first and foremost our Almighty God with Calasiao patron Saint Divino Tesoro)
The 72 participants were flagged off by the good looking and youthful Calasiao hizzoner Mark Roy Macanlalay and the town’s administrator Vivencio Vallo. Mabuhay po kayo mga ginoo. The bikefest was principally sponsored by Excellent Noodles of Alex Billan and supported by 2nd District Rep. Leopoldo N. Bataoil and Engr. Rodolfo “Boy” Dion. And believe it or not, Engr. Dion joined the race and surprisingly survived the 110-kilometer trek. What an athletic guy. My advice is, sana kayong mga mayayaman na umi-edad na ay gayahin din ninyo si Dion para maging malusog palagi at malayo sa stroke o sa atake sa puso. As doctors always say, cycling is one of the best exercises, prolongs our existence and also improves our sexual life. No question about that.
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Unlike in the 2005 SEA Games where we had eight Pangasinan cyclists in the 20-man field of the Philippine national squad and won one gold medal (courtesy of Alfie Catalan from San Manuel), we have only two local riders (Ronald Oranza of Villasis and Catalan) in this year’s Southeast Asia Games being held in Myanmar. My congrats to Oranza for winning the bronze in the individual-time-trial with teammate and 2012 Ronda Pilipinas titlist Mark Galedo bagging the gold. Oranza with province mate Catalan also won the bronze in the team-time-trial event. Likewise my congratulations to Benjie Elisaga of Rosales and national team member duathlete Robeno Javier of Urdaneta City for placing first and second, respectively, in the 10K ABS-CBN Fun Run held December 14 in Dagupan City. Elisaga, 19, was also the champion of the First Mayor Bona Cup Fun Run in Mangaldan on November 30.
I was at the Mangaldan event and I saw how some people with who know little about the sport, especially the start and the awarding ceremony, disrupted the well-prepared event and turned it to an embarrassing situation to the disgust of some participants and spectators. It was really a shame. I have already organized four marathon events in my life starting in March 1979 also held in Mangaldan under the organization of the late Mayor Pedrito Presto, but the latest Mangaldan marathon was one of the lousiest that I ever watched in my life.
HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS.
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: And the angel Gabriel said to Joseph: “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated,” God with us.” MATTHEW 1: 21-23
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