All-whitebelt judo tournament

My heart beats a little faster these days and it's not my daily dose of coffee that's doing it.

I'm excited because this Sunday, the 2006 Cebu City All-Whitebelt Judo Tournament will be held at the Guadalupe Sports Complex along V. Rama Ave., barangay Guadalupe, this city.

This will be a big tournament in terms of participation with over 100 players competing in five categories.

During my college days, we always had regular tournaments at the old MPH (multi-purpose hall) of UP Cebu in Lahug. The MPH is not there anymore and judo also somehow lost a home.

When lawyer Vicente Fernandez II, the president of the Philippine Amateur Judo Association (PAJA) Inc.-Cebu Chapter, told me about the planned all-whitebelt event I could not help but get excited.

We only had about a month to prepare, but thanks to the Cebu City Sports Commission, the organizing group now just has a few headaches to deal with.

More than being a tournament where the whitebelts from the University of Cebu, Doce Pares, Cebu City Judo Club, Divino Amore Academy, and the University of San Carlos, this shall also serve as a chance for the senior players and instructors to hone their officiating skills.

No less than the PAJA director for referees, Rochelle Baclagon, will be coming over to conduct a seminar for the blackbelts, who would be tasked to officiate in the tournament.

This is a chance for the senior players and instructors to update their knowledge on judo rules.

Aside from the tournament, five notable individuals will be also be given recognition for their contribution to the sport. They are Ciriaco 'Noy Cacoy' Cañete, Eduardo 'Ninong Eddie' Cimafranca, Sr., Alexander Choachuy, Sr., Perfecto de los Reyes, and Nestor Ducante.

The matches will start as early as 8 am. and will continue until early afternoon. There will be a formal ceremony at 2 pm. to be followed by the championship matches and awarding ceremonies.

This is really something to look forward to and this early some of my fellow members of the Cebu Squad have said that they would be watching the competition with their children. Entrance is free.

Hajime!

* * *

Are you a golfer who would want a good reason to drive up north to the town of Medellin on October 21?

There's more reason to go there if you are 55 years old and above, but then the 4th 2006 Senior Golfers Fellowship Tournament at Mercedes Plantation Golf and Country Club is open to guests also. This means that if you are not yet a senior golfer you can always head north and take part in the fun.

Tournament fee is only P1,000 and this already covers the green fee, dinner and raffles. You might have to make some special arrangements with the help of MPGCC president Ed Misa if you'd want to stay overnight in some of the resorts in Bogo.

Tee off time will be from 6 am to 12 noon so that those who wish to head back to the city after the awards ceremony can still make it back home early.

You can probably contact the officials of the Federation of Philippine Senior Golfers Inc.-Cebu Chapter headed by their president Tito Bombi Aznar and the super hardworking Tito Rolly Santos.