July 5, my 18th sports writing anniversary
By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.
FIRSTLY, my big thanks to my boss Ermin F. Garcia, Jr. of this paper for giving me not only the opportunity to write here but to sharpen my skills in sports writing. Honestly, it was my good buddy, the late Juanito “Jun” Velasco (better known as Jun V in the local media), who recommended me to Ermin to write sports news in this weekly paper. Jun knew that I used to write sports news for a Guam weekly tabloid called “Guam Tribune”. I showed him a copy of it 18 years ago. After passing the test, I asked Jun V to tell Ermin if I could possibly be this paper’s sports columnist because I know a lot about sports being a former athlete and an avid reader of sports magazines and our national dailies, and the Holy Bible as well. Ermin did not think twice and took me in on July 5, 2005. From then on, I never missed writing for an issue, until now. Of course, I’m not your polished writer like most, so “expect the unexpected” as the axiom says, me committing some glitches but tolerable and clear. So, by the time you read this piece, I’ll be spending my 18th anniversary with them and promised a little celebration with some of my officemates at Dagupan City’s SM Center.
I learned to write about sports initially by attending writing “seminars” here in the province. Firstly, it was the veteran writer Rhee Fernandez Hortaleza who gave me the first break at the national high school in Sta. Barbara almost three decades ago. Admittedly, Rhee Fer (as he was commonly called) was my very first tutor as a writer. He honed my writing skills and added wisdom to my sports writing. My second was the tandem of my two cumpadres Recah Trinidad and Al Mendoza (both godfathers of my son Moises). I learned a lot from them, too, particularly the use of words unique to each sport. The two were then the sports editor and assistant sports editor, respectively of the well-known national daily, the Philippine Daily Inquirer. Their sports tutorial lecture was done at Star Plaza Hotel in Dagupan City more than two decades ago before my stint in this paper. Jun V also contributed a huge part to my sports writing education, particularly with English vocabulary. So, too, did my other Dagupeño friend, the veteran journalist Leu Paragas, my other footstool in writing who just arrived from Uncle Sam’s land last week of May.
I could not be what I am today without them. Yes, I’m proud and I’m not ashamed to say that I’m just a mere high school graduate fellow who had a dream not only as a cyclist, but also to be a sports writer someday after my cycling days are done. My only regret was I did not pursue a formal journalism course after my cycling retreat. Until now, my sports writing education is not finished. I want to learn through seminars if there are any in the province and by reading newspapers regularly. I also learn from studying the words of God as He mandated us to do by reading His Holy Bible. (Revelation 1: 3, Revelation 22: 18-19). Above all, it also prepares me like other senior citizens for our final trip. As the Good Book says, remember, nobody is invincible.
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: The days of ourselves are seventy years; and if by reason of strength they are eighty years, yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off and we fly away. PSLAMS 90: 10
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