Sual bikefest

By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.

“TWO heads are better than one” as the saying goes. This was proven anew during the Sual bikefest conducted last April 26. Together with my cumpadre, 1976 Tour of Luzon champion Modesto Bonzo, we directed the multi-categorized road race that resulted in a very successful affair.

The one-day bikefest dubbed as “Sual National High School Grand Reunion Bicycle Road Race 2014” was one of the highlights of a reunion of former students of the said school from 1968 up to the present. It was chiefly organized by Sual-born now San Diego, California-based and former U.S. Navy man Gerald Valdez with the able support by his town mates in US and the locals including his cycling amigo Blandino Caguioa, formerly from San Carlos City and now based in Houston, Texas.

The event was done in four categories and the open race was the main highlight of the 145-kilometer race won by 19 year-old Dominic Perez of Santo Tomas, Pangasinan, a protégé of The PUNCH colleague Sec. Bebot Villar. I believe he can be a professional champion in future big time races The other categories were for 40 to 49 year-old riders, the 50 and above, and the executive-manager class saw the participation of 97 contestants. It was the largest numbers of participants that I co-directed this year and the second biggest in the province (so far) in purse prizes.

And believe it or not, my friend Engr. Rodolfo “Boy” Dion  joined the 50-kilometer executive-manager category and landed ninth out of 20 contestants. Wow, that’s an amazing performance for a professional guy surviving a 50-kilometer run under the scorching heat. Congrats engineer.

I appreciate what Valdez and company did for Sual last April 26, not only to liven up their nostalgic meeting with school mates but to honor their two Sual sports heroes Modesto Bonzo and his hermano the late 1983 Marlboro Tour champion Romeo Bonzo. I may be wrong but I believe the two brothers are the only athletes in their town that brought multiple honors and I consider them as icons in their town for lifting Sual high in the field of sports. I’m also certain that they’re the only siblings in this country that won professional multi-stage bicycle road races and that brought honor to the province. We should be proud of them.

Valdez and Caguioa travelled ten thousand miles just for this occasion. Huge thanks to them for having a big love for cycling. If not for them, especially Valdez, the affair would surely not have been possible. I wish my town could do the same. But I guess it will not happen because our Mangaldan hizzoner today (also formerly from America) is not a cycling buff unlike our previous eight mayors (Ydia, the Prestos, Golea, Gubatan, Sarzaba, Romero and Abalos). She perhaps is not aware that four of us in her town became national Tour champions.
Valdez and company enplaned back to Uncle Sam’s land a few days after the affair. Sualeños are expecting another one in the years to come. Let’s wait and see.

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My big congrats to the Hermano Chess Club of Sta. Barbara for successfully staging the Sta. Barbara Invitational Barangay Checkmate Chess Tournament held at Barangay Malanay gymnasium on April 26 and 27. Reports reached me from its president Allain Garcia that the single categorized seven-round Swiss system event exclusively for Sta. Barbara residents was won by Jay Tamayo, a retired Philippine Army soldier. He pocketed the P3,000 top prize plus trophy while businessman Reynaldo Gomez and registered nurse Angel Tamayo won  second and third places earning P2,000 and P1,000 plus medal each, respectively. Garcia said special award was given to 16-year old Clymar John Manipon for being the youngest player in the event. Garcia also pointed out that the tourney was principally sponsored by his friends spearheaded by chess aficionado San Manuel Mayor Jerico Perez. The next chessfest will be staged in mid-week this month at the new legislative building of the municipality of Sta. Barbara. Mabuhay kayo mga ginoo and keep pushing the wood intelligently. 

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your woks perfect before God. Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.” REVELATION 3: 2-3

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