Plan your route

Expect a lot of changes in the traffic routes starting this weekend as Cebu prepares to celebrate the feast of the Santo Niño.

I have a few sports events lined-up today and I hope to make it to as many as I can. It is always good to know the traffic rerouting advisory before you leave your house so you can plan out the route that you’d take.

Driving around Cebu is getting to be as tough as being a rally car driver as you need good navigation skills to make it to your destination on time and in one piece.

A portion of Osmeña Blvd. has been closed since a few days ago due to the feast and a large portion of the road will also be closed today for the Sinulog sa Kabataan.

Those heading to the University of San Carlos-Talamban Campus for the 1st Sinulog Football Festival are advised to go early or if you can’t avoid but go there after lunch, take the longer route as the Capitol area might be affected by the traffic rerouting.

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Early tomorrow morning until around 10 a.m., traffic will also be rerouted in some of the main thoroughfares due to the staging of the 2011 Cebu City Marathon, which starts and finishes at the Asiatown IT Park in barangay Apas.

The race will reach as far as the South Road Properties so those coming from the south might have to avoid that area or leave the house later in the day.

The Cebu City Marathon is the center-piece footrace of the Queen City of the South and has attracted not less than 7,000 runners this year for the various distances that will be contested.

Definitely there will be some inconvenience for those who would be affected by the road closures and the rerouting, but the organizers have worked closely with the CITOM to minimize the troubles of motorists and to ensure the safety of the participants.

Putting together a race of this magnitude is not an easy task. I encourage everyone in the Cebu sports community to support the Cebu Executive Runners Club in their activity.

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The 1st Sinulog Football Festival at the USC-Talamban field would be the first event of this kind that would be organized by the Cebu Amateur Football Club.

The CAFC organizes the annual inter-club tournament every summer and hasn’t done a festival yet.

Despite that, I am confident that this two-day tournament, which drew over a hundred teams, would be successful knowing the dedication of the members of the CAFC, who don’t only play football, but also live football.

No wonder these guys never seem to grow old and continue to be very energetic not only when playing in the tournaments, but also when organizing the events.

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MILESTONES: Happy birthday greetings go to photographer Jon Unson, Manuel Q. Kee, James Lobedica, Conrad Delvo, Adonis Sucalit, Roy Michael Dacalos, and Dr. Pinky Chupungco-Navarro.

Advance greetings go to tomorrow’s birthday celebrators – Toledo City Councilor Marjorie ‘Joie’ Piczon-Perales, Arniel Dago-oc, Karen Joy Jajalla, and Parañaque Rep. Roilo Golez.

More power to all of you!