Liloan triumphs

How was your Christmas celebration?  Did your wishes come true?

In whatever way you celebrated, I hope you never forgot that this is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ and not just some commercial activity designed to drain our pockets.

While receiving gifts can bring joy, there is also so much pleasure in giving most especially to those who are in need.

* * *

Last Saturday I was at the jam-packed Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) Summit Hall to witness the two championship games of the Gov. Gwendolyn F. Garcia Unity Volleyball (GUV) Cup.

Despite having to take a very long detour due to the horrendous traffic in the Mandaue area since I came from the town of Liloan, I still caught much of the first set of the championship game for the municipal category between Liloan and Catmon.

The first town official of Liloan who I saw was Councilor Bobby Motus, who also writes a sports column for The Freeman.  Bobby was with his wife Den-den, who happens to be my cousin and their kids.

A few seats further away sat Liloan Mayor Duke Frasco, who was very enthusiastic about the game.  After three sets, the match was over and Liloan bagged the title.

The excitement of Mayor Duke could not be contained and while we were seated at the sidelines he was telling me about how the town is doing well in the competitions it took part in.

When Duke became mayor, I have promised to help out the town’s sports program to support his administration.  Duke is a cousin and assisting him in my own little way would be a contribution that I’d be happy to make for the town, which is sort of a second home to me.

Earlier that day, I also had a talk with Fr. Jun Paradiang of the Don Bosco Boys Home in Cotcot, Liloan and he told me about his interest to push football in their place.

Councilor Bobby and I have agreed to meet early this January to start mapping out an honest to goodness sports development program.

Aside from the support of Mayor Duke, we’re also counting on the private sector participation. 

Gerardo ‘Dodong Gamay’ Frasco, Jr. of Titay’s Liloan Rosquillos is among those who are expected to play a key role in the sports program of the town.  He is also one of the biggest supporters of his nephew, Mayor Duke.

I wish we’ll have more towns willing to embark in a real sports development program.

By a real program we mean one that taps the grassroots level and is continuous.  This is not just holding tournaments or giving away equipment.

Another volunteer is my fellow football dad and sports columnist Rico Navarro, who also resides in the northern town.

Liloan will always remain popular for the Rosquillos of Titay’s, but with a good sports program it could soon also be known as a hotbed for sports in Cebu.

Duke’s big problem last Saturday night after the GUV Cup awarding was where to place their huge championship trophy.

“It won’t fit the trophy case,” he told me. 

I guess he’ll have to build a bigger one for all future trophies that the town will reap in the future.