Golf with the generals

CEBU - The weather was great yesterday as I played my first two rounds in the 8th Island Tee of the Mactan Island Golf Club. The course was also terrific and those who haven’t been to Mactan for quite some time, you’d be surprised at the improvements.

I wish my game had also improved drastically as the course, but unfortunately I can’t have both.

I was in great company too most specially that I was with two former Philippine Air Force generals – Ben Diamos and Nestor Santillan. We were joined by Teijo Kuiri, whose Sawo saunas are now a by-word in Cebu and many other parts of the Philippines.

I had the opportunity to cover the 2nd Air Division as a television reporter for GMA-7 Cebu when General Diamos was at the helm of the command based in Lapu-Lapu City.

I also covered the tournaments at Mactan when General Santillan was the helm of the Tactical Operations Command and concurrently chairman of the board of the golf club.

In the company of senior Cavaliers (the term we use to refer to PMA graduates), I felt at ease knowing that these two men have both helped me in the conduct of my job at one point of their lives and military careers when they were most accessible in the process of information gathering.

In the case of General Diamos, I got several scoops as a TV reporter many years ago when he’d allow me to fly with the PAF personnel to the areas where a news event was taking place.

Yesterday it was fun playing with them and complying to the order of Sir Nes to ‘play bad’ without sweat hehehe…

* * *

My cousin Lowell Belarmino called me up yesterday to tell me that his kids are taking part in the Comcentcom Cup today at the Camp Lapu-Lapu Firing Range (Kamagong Gun Club).

Lowell bonds with his sons through shooting and they are all very passionate about it.

“You enjoy golf and football with your son and this is also how I bond with mine,” my cousin told me yesterday getting inspiration from the other sporting parents, who get to spend a lot of quality time with their kids playing a sport that they enjoy.

* * *

I had a chance to drop by the mixed martial arts gym at the CJRS building in Asiatown IT Park a few nights ago to join my fellow sportswriters for some instructions on the sport.

I was there only to watch Mike Limpag, Jonas Panerio and Atty. Jingo Quijano trying their hand at grappling. Well, I’d probably have joined if I were dressed for the action in my judogi, which has been kept in my closet for over a year now since I found out about the problem with my spine.

I am looking forward to the day that I can take it out and wear it again not just for ceremonial purposes but to sweat it out at the tatami.

If you enjoy mixed martial arts action like Jeremy Huang, son of my compadre Jack Huang of Abacus Securities and Hapee Toothpaste, head on to the Cebu International Convention Center tonight for the URCC. Fights start at 7 p.m.

* * *

MILESTONES: Belated birthday greetings to Sr. Supt. Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar, the regional chief of the Criminal Investigation Detection Group of the PNP, who turned a year older last Thursday.

The same goes to my good friend Jaybee Binghay-Carillo, the very hardworking public information officer of the Department of Social Welfare and Development-7.

More power to both of you! (THE FREEMAN)