The new track oval is coming, I hope

CEBU - The signing of the agreement between the City of Cebu and Filinvest Land Inc. for the development of a 50.6-hectare portion of the South Road Properties (SRP) makes me very ecstatic.

Well, we should be happy because at long last something big will be happening at the SRP and this will spur Cebu’s economy, but more than that I am personally happy because soon we can see our dream of a new rubberized track oval at the Cebu City Sports Center realized.

Mayor Tommy Osmeña has promised to allocate funds for the long overdue repair of the track oval once the city sells part of the SRP and that is happening now. 

I can’t wait to see a new track oval at the CCSC and I bet many of you are also very eager to see that happen.

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“This can be bigger.”

This was what Retired Gen. Rodante S. Joya said after the Mactan Amateur Open golf tournament last week, which will be renamed to the Cebu Amateur Open next year.

With 42 players this year despite the short notice, the tournament organizers are seeing an even bigger field next year with the three clubs in Metro Cebu – Alta Vista Golf and Country Club, Cebu Country Club and Mactan Island Golf Club, set to work together.

There are many things that can happen in the future editions of the tournament, said Gen. Joya like going three rounds with a different golf course to host the players each day or maybe a different host each year.

There are also plans to invite the top players from outside Cebu to join the tournament to add more prestige.

This event is not like the ones that the Cebu golf community is so used to where you get your registration fee back from the giveaways alone. There are no frills for the event and only the champions get trophies.

That doesn’t make it any lesser tournament than all our other events here, but it sets it apart as one that is purely for the love of the game.

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Charles Lim, who is organizing the Cebu Sports Tourism Forum on February 17 at Teatro Casino, told me the other night that many groups are excited about the event.

I also told him that I met with arnis Grandmaster Percival Pableo late last week and he is also interested to sign up.

This event will be something that the sports organizers and officials must take part in since this can teach them many things most especially tapping government and private sector support for their sport or event.

If you want to join the forum you can contact Selrahco at 2317673.

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MILESTONES: Belated birthday greetings to my compadre and the mommy of our elementary class, Cleofe Delfino-Claridad, who turned a year older last Saturday.

The same goes to two more of my dear friends from those good old days at USC – Chat Labay and Phoebe Espinosa-Cale, who both turned a year older yesterday.

Two of my cousins are also recent birthday boys – Jose Carlos ‘Jolo’ Q. Miranda last February 1 and Vincent Theodore ‘Vinny’ Q. Cruz last February 2.

More power to all of you!   (THE FREEMAN)