CEBU - During his recent visit to Cebu City for the staging of the Children Community Games, Fr. Vic Uy, a commissioner with the Philippine Sports Commission promised to hold more events for Region VII. With the success of the Games, geared to uplift the morale of indigent children (mostly out-of town kids), Fr. Vic intends to hold the Games annually and probably include more regions of the Visayas and Mindanao. A brainchild of PSC chair Butch Ramirez who initiated the games in Mindanao, Fr. Vic said this is one way of giving these kids a chance to excel. The Games could even be a venue for discovering new talents for the national team. One example is, former national marathon record holder Herman Suizo, whom I plucked from a sleepy town in Iloilo City. Suizo never set foot in high school but ran smoothly and effortless like a Kenyan. So in 1987, I started training Suizo and in less than two years, he was the first Filipino finisher in the Pal Manila International Marathon. Of course, the rest is history. Suizo because Sea Games and Milo Marathon Champion and was the best-placed Filipino finisher in the Olympics Marathon when he booked 51st place out of over 100 runners in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
Media Run
During our meeting Fr. Vic said he’s interested in reviving the Tri-media Olympics last held in 2005. He’s tasking me and Jun Migallen of Super Balita to start the ball rolling by organizing a media 5K run. Unlike the athletics events in the track oval, the run will be staged on the road. All media outfits will be invited to field as many participants. Then we will organize the other events as we did in the previous Tri-media Olympics. I also plan to revive the Masters Track and Field Championship last held in Cebu in 2003. “If we have Batang Pinoy”, then let’s also give a chance for “Batang Gurang,” I told Fr. Vic. In the Masters, we will again expect the likes of Mona Sulaiman, Elma Muros, Isidro Del Prado, Nonoy Unso, Linda Lavandia, Rey Antoque and a lot more. I also promised Fr. Vic to organize road races in Siquijor and Southern Leyte, places that have been left out. With Fr. Vic’s goal of making the PSC in Cebu more involved in sports events, we are anticipating a busy year ahead. Anong say mo Fr. Vic?
Sinulog Half – Marathon
If you haven’t register for the Sinulog Mizuno-Asia. Miles Sinulog Half Marathon, you have until tomorrow to do so. Registration is now in full swing at the PSC office at the Cebu City Sports Center, Sug-angan Restaurant at J. Llorente St. and Holiday Gym and Spa at Banilad. The race got a boost recently with the entry of SportsAde that will provide electrolyte drinks at the turning point and at the finish line. The SRP Bikers will also be around to assist in the intersections.
The race is also backed by Mazda, Holiday Gym & Spa, Philam Life, Sustagen Premium, Waterfresh, Gemmary Pawnshop and Jewellry, Thirsty, Belmont Hardware, Adrenaline X Graphic Design & printing, The Freeman, Y101FM and UR105FM. Pit Senyor to another pretty woman Janica Yap of McDonalds Southroad. (THE FREEMAN)