GUV Cup and Gintong Alay

I have been absent from the cluster eliminations of the 7th Gov. Gwen Garcia Unity Volleyball (GUV) Cup, but last Saturday, when I learned that the games were to be played in Carmen, I thought that the drive that would take over an hour would not be such a hassle.

Well, for most part it wasn’t a hassle and I admit that I was also thrilled to see the participants of the Ultra Marathon. I wanted to stop and take photos, but did not have that much time on my hands.

While the roads north seem to be fine, what can really bug the motorists there are those jeepney drivers who insist on staying in the middle of the road to unload or load passengers. There are also many who insist on driving so slow without regard for those behind them while they scour for passengers.

When I got to Carmen it was around 1 p.m. and although there was a game going on and people were hungry, they remained very excited and eager to cheer.

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The court was spruced up for the cluster elimination. There was a new coat of paint and like in other GUV Cup venues, the proper equipment were being used from the posts to the net and even the mops used to clean the court during timeouts.

Since I could not stay too long, I managed to watch only one game before heading back to the city for the awards ceremony of Alta Vista’s November Monthly Medal.

Despite the limited time, I observed that volleyball truly has reached a much higher level even in the smaller towns.

Thanks the GUV Cup as all these happened because of the tournament. Thanks also to the extra efforts being done to really develop the sport by holding all the clinics and trainings apart from the tournament.

Indeed, Cebu deserves to be the country’s volleyball capital. The recent result of the Milo Little Olympics National Finals is further proof of that.

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The Philippines came very short of its target of 70 gold medals in the 26th Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) in Indonesia.

Yes, without doubt there was something wrong. For one, PSC Chairman Richie Garcia was wrong with his prediction.

So, how do you solve the problem of Philippine sports? The answer is to leave it to those who know.

Politicians, who just want to grandstand, probably are aching to call for a Senate inquiry, but that won’t solve the problem and might in fact worsen the situation.

Why don’t we look back into the successful Gintong Alay Project during the time of President Ferdinand Marcos, which was handled by his nephew Michael Keon? Successful endeavors must not be changed just because there is somebody new in Malacañang. So, what bugs Philippine sports? It is Philippine politics and those simple-minded Filipino politicians, who change the good things their predecessors have done.

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MILESTONES: Belated birthday greetings to those who turned a year older last Monday like Councilor Jun Pe, Jimboy Tionko, Marlon Mendoza, Reggie Marie Barrientos, and my cousin Maru Lebumfacil.

The same goes to yesterday’s birthday celebrants like Cherie Ann Flores-Galarion, Tico Aldanese, artist Celso Pepito, Dexter Montebon, and my mistah Lt. Col. Jeffrey Jake Gallenero.

Today’s greetings go to my mistah Cesar Garcia, and fellow UPians Dr. Cledale Dabon-Matondo, Atty. Filmore Gomos, Gaviene Cabangbang, and Maite Marques.

More power to all of you!