In the World Series

The New York Yankees are back in the World Series after several seasons of heartaches.

Will this be the year that the fans will once again see the Yankees win the World Series? I surely hope so, but it would not be a walk in the park against the defending champions Philadelphia Phillies.

I received a text from my compadre Michael Go, who said that he thought baseball was boring, but had nothing to do last week and watched game 5 of the American League Championship Series between the Yankees and the Los Angeles Angels. He now looks at the game differently.

If only we have more fields to play at, I’m sure there will be more people interested in baseball here in the Philippines and we don’t have to wait for the World Series of Major League Baseball in the United States to get excited about the sport.

Cebu is actually not as unlucky as other places as we have a sportsman here, who is so much into batted sports that he decided to take the big plunge and invest money in a business related to the sport.

I am referring to Jesse Bernad, a friend from back our high school days, who I had also the chance to play against in several softball games.

His Fastball Batting Cages at the Aboitiz Field has become a haven for lovers of batted sports.

The Mactan Benito Ebuen Air Base has also been opened by the 2nd Air Division under Maj. Gen. Nathaniel Legaspi as venue for batted sports.

I hope to see more places in the near future so we can develop a major league player from Cebu in the coming years.

* * *

Since we’re in the subject of batted sports, I’d like to congratulate the PMA Cebu Squad for a successful event last Saturday at Camp Lapu-Lapu where the baseball bat was a prominent part of the program meant to bid farewell to Lt. Gen. Isagani ‘Sonny’ Cachuela, commander of the Central Command, who is retiring next week.

The Cebu Squad is headed by Retired Col. Clarence ‘Ironman’ Martinez, who also brought with him some horses as this has become a new interest of the squad’s members.

I won’t be surprised if one day we’re also going to see guys like Ret. Col. Boy Bolo of Innodata joining the events of the Cebu Equine Owners Breeders and Sportsmen Association (CEOBSA) together with other members like Taiheiyo Cement’s Nilo Yap and Negros Oriental Provincial Director Sr. Supt. Augusto Marquez, Jr.

Lexmark’s Retired Navy Commander Nes Bontol might try to switch back to baseball again from golf after his very touching speech last Saturday.

Who says bugs are thinking only of being in the armed service, they are also very much into sports.

* * *

MILESTONES: Belated birthday greetings to the idol of many Peemayers not only in Cebu, but all over the country, Ret. General Emilio Luga of class ’54, who turned a year older yesterday.

For those who once had a chance to eat at that restaurant along A.S. Fortuna St., Mandaue City that was the good general’s full dress gray that was on display near the main entrance.

Belated greetings also go to my cousin Hazel Alfonso, who turned a year older last Monday along with my friends Jamie Kokseng and Stephanie Honrado.

Today’s greetings go to Cebu City Vice Mayor Mike Rama, Y101’s Judith Selner and my Tao brother Jude Bayana.

More power to all of you! – THE FREEMAN