The Games Have Begun

CEBU - I had been remiss in some of my pieces for this column the past several weeks as this deadline beater is directly involved with the preparations for this year's Provincial Sports and Cultural Festival, which opened last Sunday afternoon at the Liloan Central School Track Oval.

The month prior to the event had been hectic and things got crazier a few days before the meet. Together with Councilor Edna Cala, preparing the budget with limited resources was challenge that sourcing from different individuals and entities is a must. Since the budget comes from our committee, the bulk of the requests, whether ridiculous or sublime, fell on our laps. Elvie Gerongco and Marlito Cañete were indispensable when sourcing for funds are concerned.

A day before the games opened, the tension and stress level bordered on lunacy. Last-minute requests for supplies and materials came 'mura'g baha' that I could not help but be amused and at the same time confused and annoyed. I had already equalled my workload in my year-and-a-half with Mayor Duke Frasco's administration than in my previous six years.

I say amused because in an hour, there are at least two sports coordinators, almost begging and in near tears, wanting to have their request acted on the spot. Sweet phrases like "atay ani oy" and "nabuang na" are always on the air, plus, every now and then, I get texted messages saying, "isog na kaayo ang tournament manager diri, sir". Mao ba? Then I mumble to myself to let them rage.

Coun. Kit Comendador also had his hands full with regards to accommodations. Without Compostela and Consolacion as co-hosts, billeting would have been a nightmare. Eight elementary schools, two public high schools and 2 private schools served as quarters for about 5,000 athletes. It was not without drama. A principal, ignoring prior assignments, invited a delegation which was supposed to stay at Consolacion, over to his school, complicating the arrangements, just because the head of delegation was his kumpare or whatever.

Another principal, at another school, went berserk, shouting and kicking flower pots and slamming chairs, for the mistake of a delegation in taking one of the reserved rooms as their quarters. He wanted to have that delegation banished from his school but a feisty lady teacher stood up to him and spewed fire herself. I am a firm believer in the old adage that says, "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned." To this two heads of school, it may be that your only purpose in life is simply to serve as warning to others.

There were still some concerns on the first day of hostilities but eventually they had been addressed. Some more worries are sure to come as the games progress to culmination and these too have to be tackled. As first time hosts, areas like transportation, communication, supplies and materials need more focus and attention. Regarding security, it has been amply addressed with the augmentation of 160 additional police personnel distributed to different venues at the initiative of Coun. Lol "General" Canete.

Two known bands from Bacolod City provided the entertainment in the evening at the gym. GMT, the 2005 Visayas representative to the Global Battle of the Bands in Manila performed back-to-back with DJ Leandro Zayco and the Patiqueros. Over at the track oval, a local percussion group, Lupon Anduyo, did their thing for the athletes. The stress level at this time was neck-deep and to ease tension, I jammed with the two Ilonggo bands, banging the timbales and the bongos with my rusty and long-lost knowledge on percussion.

To name everyone involved would take a whole page so I'll just make some special mention, aside from those already mentioned above. From Liloan DepEd, Madams Fe Tolo, Maritess Toong, Raquel Sario, Thelma Trasporte and District Supervisor Felismina Pilapil. From the LGU we have Vice-Mayor Thelma Jordan and the councilors, engineers Remedios Udtohan and Tomas Pepito, the mayor's staff headed by Adela Reuyan, the drivers and the numerous job order personnel, thank you for being a big part of this event.

E-mail me at [email protected]   (THE FREEMAN)