How the ‘west’ was won
By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.
MENTAL and physical fatigue hit me during the two consecutive cycling races that I directed last April 30 and May 1. Honestly, that was the first time it happened to me since I started directing bicycle road races in the province on March 7, 1974 during my town’s Mangaldan fiesta celebration. The searing heat that battered the province that reached 55 degree centigrade in the index scale was simply too much to bear.
The April 30 race, an all-amateur event exclusively for western Pangasinan pedal-pushers, started at the Fisherman’s Wharf in barangay Poblacion of Sual town and ended in the town’s plaza. Dubbed as “OO NA, ANG POGI NG PANGASINAN MAYOR’S CUP BIKEFEST,” the 62 contestants were flagged off by the province’s former congressman/governor Oscar M. Orbos with erstwhile professional cyclist, the 1976 Tour of Luzon champion Modesto Bonzo, my cumpadre and a bonafide native of Sual by his side. Yes, it was the second time for the two westerners to meet after many years. It turned out to be a nostalgic reunion for the two.
The 133- kilometers bikefest (not 137 kilometers that originally mentioned) traversed Alaminos City, Bani (birthplace of Orbos) and proceeded towards the province’s farthest northeast town Bolinao which was the turning point. The participants pedaled back towards Bani, Agno (Barangay Banganoda junction only), Burgos (Barangay Dakok junction only), Mabini, back to Alaminos City (via the Don Pedro Braganza Boulevard) then finally finished in the rich town Sual.
I escorted the whole entourage, and to my surprise, it was a young rider from the host town Sual, named Renato Sabido, who broke away from the first group of eight wheelers and arrived by his lonesome at the finish line. He clocked the distance in three hours, 43.53 minutes to pocket the P10,000 top prize. Mark Joseph Operia and Adrian Omad both from Alaminos City outsprinted the second pack to bag P8,000 and P6,000, respectively.
Rounding up the top five were Angelico Sepelacio of Sual (P4,000), Khino de Jesus of Dasol (P2,000). The the sixth to tenth placers collected P1,000 each. The 4th up to the 10th finishers also received a medal each. Orbos donated all the prizes. The bikefest was in conjunction with the celebration of Sual Town Fiesta and the Bangus Festival.
Meanwhile, like the successful April 30 race, the May 1 cycling race, dubbed as “Capital Town Pista’y Dayat Cycling Challenge” and sponsored by the country’s famous Excellent Noodles, started and ended in Barangay Domalandan East, Lingayen town was also a success. My big thanks to God, again. The bikefest was done in three categories: ‘35-49 years old’, ‘50 years old-and-above’ and ‘open class’.
The top five finishers in the Open category was won by Melvin Corpuz of Umingan while his second to fourth runners-up were, Marco Lumanog of San Manuel, Bonijoe Martin of Villasis, Sherwin Carrera of San Fabian adn John Rey Bucat of San Manuel.
And that’s how the ‘west’ was won.’
My big thanks to the Pangasinan Provincial Police Office led by P/Col. Richmond Tadina for supporting the two one-day events. Likewise, to P/Lt. Col. Ferdinand de Asis and MSgt. Mike Tabora.
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “When they fast, I will not hear their cry; when they offer burnt offering and grain offering, I will not accept them. But I will consume them by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence. JEREMIAH 14: 12
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