By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.

 

I received several queries from some sports aficionados after Gov. Ramon Guico, III officially took his oath of office as the new chief executive of our province Pangasinan.

They asked me if I know what’s in store for sports in the province with Gov. Guico. I frankly told them I have no idea at the moment. I know except the news from a reliable source in the provincial office (who spoke on condition of anonymity) that former Bonuan Gueset barangay chief executive Angel Gumarang will be in charge at the provincial sports office for at least a year and the baton will be passed to former Urbiztondo hizzoner Raul Martin Sison, middle of next year.

This bit of news is contrary to what my friend Manny Gatchalian told me when he called me days ago saying that it will be the former Dagupan City basketball star player Byron Vidal who will steer the provincial sports office replacing Modesto Operania (now, the mayor of Urbiztondo) and he (Gatchalian) will be one of the province’s sports consultants.

The two differing versions tell us that the provincial sports office is still in limbo – that nobody is officially minding yet the store, so far. (This I got from another source at the provincial office).

I know that Gatchalian is keen on cycling road race competitions especially a multi-stage event like a four-day Tour of Pangasinan which were already held twice in the past (during the provincial administrations of both the late Gov. Aguedo Agbayani and Gov. Oscar Orbos, both under my directorships). Knowing that organizing cycling competition is my forte, he asked me about the basic mechanics on how and when it’s best to conduct a four-day Tour of Pangasinan, with prizes of winners for every stage, overall champion, trophies and medals; honoraria for race officials, determining race routes, billeting of participants in every stage, to name some, and estimated budget to run a 4-day race. etc.

I told him that the budget would be around P1.4m. But I had to decline his request that I give him complete details, particularly, data on how the Tour of Pangasinan was conducted so that he could show to Gov. Guico. To do so would go against the interests of my cycling group called “National Cycling Federation of the Philippines Inc.” (NCFPI), a S.E.C. registered sports entity that I head as president and chairman of the board.

So, as we can see, there are at least two candidates for the position of sports executive officer of Pangasinan sports under the new administration. Gumarang is a former barangay chief executive with a credit as head coach of a basketball college champion during his sterling days, while Gartchalian is a former Dagupan City basketball star during his era. Yes, admittedly, the two aspirants have their own strengths and weaknesses. But I think Gumarang would be the better choice to head the provincial sports office. He’s more skilled hombre than the other. It’s a long story. That’s how I look at the two.

I hope Gov. Guico can surpass or equal the passion of former Gov. Amado “Pogi” Espino, III in sports program and development in Pangasinan for the benefit of our young.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, “Show as the Father”? JOHN 14: 8-9

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