By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.

 

AFTER 10 and a half years of absence due to political reasons, Pangasinan’s most well-known one-day bikefest, “Werweran ed Mangaldan,” finally returned on October 25. However, this time, it came with a different format and sponsor. Unlike the original setup, which was exclusively for road bikers, this 74-kilometer event was conducted for mountain bike avid cyclists only, and featured two divisions: open category and fourth district exclusive category. Thanks to the generosity of sports-minded Mangaldan Vice Mayor Mark Stephen Mejia, a new sports patron in Pangasinan.

The amateur event attracted 48 contestants from various towns and cities across the province, including San Fabian, Mangaldan, San Jacinto, Manaoag, Mapandan, Dagupan City, San Carlos City, Mapandan, Calasiao, Malasiqui, and more. Ideal cash prizes, medals, and a trophy were awarded to all the winners, presented by the generous Vice Mayor Mejia and assisted by Dr. Edelburg Palma. As the race director general of the event, I noted the enthusiasm from the crowd and, most importantly, the elated participants who had been waiting for this moment for so long.

Like the 249 races that I organized and directed since March 7, 1974, and those during the reigns of former governors Aguedo Agbayani, Oscar Orbos, Amado Espino, Jr., and his son Amado “Pogi” I. Espino, III, the bikefest last Wednesday was officiated by my cycling group. The race started at the town plaza of my beloved hometown, Mangaldan, and passed through the municipalities of San Fabian and San Jacinto, including the mountainous and hilly San Fabian Barangay Inmalog, that separated the veteran mountain bikers from the rest during the steep climb. The race ended in Barangay Guiguilonen, Mangaldan, to avoid traffic congestion in downtown Mangaldan. Thankfully, the bikefest was a success without any accidents or injuries.

Here are the official top 20 finishers and their places in the Fourth District Category:

Kenneth Maramba (Dagupan City), Matt Gonzalo (San Fabian), Dominic Jugo (San Fabian),
Jesse Sembrano (Mangaldan), Efren Reyes (Dagupan City), Klent Bereng (San Fabian),
Jefferson Valdez (San Fabian),Christian Linda (San Fabian), Janrey Aquino (Manaoag),
Darrel Dale (San Jacinto), Giovanni Rodas (Dagupan City), Justin Casto (Dagupan City),
Jimwell Rosete (San Fabian), Greco Bolinas (Sta. Barbara), Mhaverick Malanum (San Fabian), Dexter Torio (San Fabian), John Wyane Cuneta (Dagupan City),Raul Elyasuz (Mangaldan), Janry Soriano (San Fabian) and Jun Garcia (Manaoag,)

Open Category (Top 5): Mark Maminta (Sta. Barbara), John Soriano (Mapandan), Jhamie Suratos (Mapandan), Price Maray (Mapandan) and Ken Benito (Sta. Barbara).

Vice Mayor Mejia said that the next race will likely be held in San Fabian on January 21, 2024, in conjunction with the San Fabian’s town fiesta.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, ‘How did the fig tree wither away so soon?’ So, Jesus Christ answered and said to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done.”  MATTHEW 21: 21-22

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