“Werweran ed Mangaldan” bikefest returns
By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.
“IT has been said, and it will be done.” That was my reading of the thoughts of my beloved town Mangaldan’s chief executive Bonafe de Vera Parayno on the return of Pangasinan’s biggest, oldest and the most prestigious one-day bikefest in the province popularly known as “Werweran ed Mangaldan” after I had a chance to talk to her personally about it last January 24. As she promised before the last election, she assured me that the well-known cycling road battle that was temporarily shelved in the last nine years due to financial constraints, will definitely be revived on March 12.
Yes, like in the past, the cycling road race will again be one of the activities that will be held in conjunction with the celebration of Mangaldan town fiesta 2023 with few changes compared to the original version. The March 12 edition will be exclusively for 70 amateur riders, unlike in previous years when it was open to active professional competitors or Tour veterans. The hard-working Mangaldan Mayor Parayno emphasized that it will be the town’s contribution to help the province’s young cyclists gain more skills and experience to better prepare them for future national or international competitions. Her purpose is laudable and I doff my hat to her.
Unknown to many, this beloved town of mine is the only place in the entire archipelago that already produced four national Tour champions led by this writer from Barrio Buenlag who won the fabled 10-day 1973 Tour of Luzon. The other Mangaldanons were the Cariño brothers Samson and Ruben who captured the 9-day 1975 Tour of PICCA (Philippine Industrial Commercial Cycling Association) and the 16-day 1984 Marlboro Tour, respectively. There was their relative El Joshua Cariño who won the 4-day UCI (Union Cicliste Internationale), sanctioned race, 2018 Le Tour de Filipinas. The Cariños are all natives of Barangay Landas.
The original name of this annual Mangaldan town fiesta bikefest was then known as “Mangaldan Cycling Grand Prix,” a pet sport project of former Mangaldan town chief executive, the late Atty. Macario G. Ydia, a cycling buff. The best that I could recall is, it was the year 1997 when this prestigious annual Pangasinan bikefest changed its name to “Werweran ed Mangaldan” as suggested by municipal employee Adjie Cabrera, Dr. Butch R. Ydia and former Mangaldan Comelec chief executive officer Johnny Valencia.
The one-day road battle attracted numerous former Tour champions, among them the late Manuel Reynante of Muntinlupa City, mountain virtuoso from Solano, Nueva Vizcaya Domingo Quilban, Laoang, Samar-son Paquito Rivas, Binalonan natives Samson Etrata and the late Pepito Calip, Laoac sons Rufino Gabot and Gonzalo Recodos, San Manuel, Pang. inhabitant Jacinto Sicam, Mangaldan pride Cariño brothers Samson and Ruben and this writer, Basista stalwart Teodorico Rimarim, Pozorrubio-born Arnel Quirimit, Tour runners-up Cesar Catambay, Fermin Zabala, Benito Obedoza of Mangaldan, Bautista and Villasis, respectively, sprinters Manolito Moring and Amado Go of Cebu City, Pangasinan sprint specialists Enrique Domingo, Edgardo Pagarigan and Ericson Obosa of San Carlos City, Bugallon and Manaoag, respectively, to name some.
Many of these elite riders that I mentioned won in the annual star-studded affair. I, too, won! The first winner was Wincelmo Baguio of Urdaneta City and I landed second held on March 7, 1974. The second edition was mine. Yes, that was during my prime days.
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” HEBREW 11: 6
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