Live strong

Despite it having gone out of style, I continue to wear the yellow baller band emblazoned with the word LIVESTRONG not only because I am a big fan of Lance Armstrong, but because it keeps me aware of how cancer can take away a lot from you.

I’ve lost a few loved ones to the Big C and have many family and friends, who suffer from all sorts of cancer. 

I’d rather discuss triumph here rather than dwell on sadness. Lance is back in the Tour de France and is now within striking distance of the yellow jersey, which he made so popular the world over en route to winning seven titles in the world’s most important cycling event.

You can’t help but like the man despite all the doping accusations that have been hurled against him. He is a cancer survivor and a true champion not only for cycling but also for the cause of global awareness on the Big C.

The Tour de France wasn’t the same without Lance after he retired a few years ago. Now, I can’t help but get hooked once more and root for the man, who has triumphed against great odds.

Go Lance, live strong!

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Gary, son of golfing great Jack Nicklaus, said that he put so much pressure on himself when he joined the Tour that he wanted to win as much money as he can and make it to the top of the money list.

Those who have heard of Gary probably know that his career as a professional golfer did not really take off.

He said that the reason why he failed is that great players like his dad and current world number one Tiger Woods play for championships, but he has never gotten over playing for money.

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Now that I have found time to arrange the few trophies I have won from golf tournaments, I realized that it has been almost five years since I won one. It’s not that I have done a Gary Nicklaus and is now playing for the money, I don’t bet, but it’s just that I can’t win no matter how high my handicap is hehehe…

What I realized though that through the years, I have collected a lot of raffle prizes, which are reason enough to keep on joining tournaments. More importantly, there is one collection that I have made that no trophy, money or even raffle item can beat.

I have collected friends and a lot of them have proven to be true like two of the guys, who despite the danger of playing with me when I started many years ago, braved the shanks and the miss hits to encourage me to keep on playing.

It was great to have once again gotten the chance to be with my compadres Michael Go and Jiji Gullas at the golf course yesterday morning along with Manolet Heredia and George Tsai.

I’m now looking forward to the next time.

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Milestones: Belated birthday greetings go to UP Mass Comm’s Nesreen Abdulrauf, my classmate (our kids are not us) Emil Mercado and my former student Yamie Vestal, who all turned a year older yesterday.

Even more belated are greetings for my good friend Henrich Chua of First Family Appliance, who celebrated last Saturday.

Today’s greetings go to my Tao brother Flod Buenavente, who is celebrating his birthday. The same goes to my former classmates Shari Rodis Aquino and Norman Moses Carcellar.

More power to all of you!