Liloan: A destination for sports and food

I had my second Xterra experience last Sunday in the town of Liloan.

No, I wasn’t one of the many who took part in the off-road triathlon, but was there to do something I love doing – taking pictures.

Yes, for the second straight year, I woke up very early to drive north of Liloan to witness the Xterra and see the athletes overcome all sorts of challenges to become ‘Xterra Warriors.’

Liloan has proven to be a good venue for the annual event and I heard many of the participants comment about the tough mountain bike trail, which they actually enjoyed.

I might try to give this route a visit one of these days once I can get both me and my bike in good shape again for the time that we call in the Philippines as summer although we only have the wet and dry season in our country.

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Since we are in the topic of bikes, there is one sportsman in Cebu, who has long been a supporter of biking events, both road and mountain bike, but has been very quiet about it.

I am referring to my uncle Gerardo ‘Dodong Gamay’ Frasco, Jr. of the Titay’s Liloan Rosquillos fame. I bumped into him last Sunday as he too was at the venue of the Xterra along with his wife Lilian and sis-in-law Dr. Epang Jordan-Jimenez.

Dodong Gamay is not very visible in the cycling events anymore, but definitely he has touched many people and encouraged many others to enjoy the sport on two wheels.

Liloan now is not just a town where buses stop to allow its passengers to buy the tasty round cookies with a hole called rosquillos or most recently the much-sought-after pan de leche of Titay’s. It is also fast becoming a stop for outdoor adventure sports.

It also helps a lot that the Mayor Vincent Franco ‘Duke’ Frasco is also a big sports buff himself.

See you again in Liloan for the future sporting events. Well, we can also go there for the food.

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The Philippine Azkals missed a trip to the final match of the AFC Challenge Cup in Nepal, but still sent the football fans of this nation celebrating after taking third place via a 4-3 win against Palestine.

Well, it would have been better had we made it to the championship match, but that is water under the bridge now. We can look forward to the next tournament that our national team will take part in and once again cheer for them.

It is not a perfect world, so there will always be non-believers and those who would not be convinced about the team. Let us just let them be and keep on supporting our national team in our own little way.

Thanks Azkals for giving us a reason to celebrate!

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MILESTONES: Belated greetings to my Tao sister, Kaye Faustino-Heyrosa, who turned a year older last Sunday. The same goes to one of the adopted mistahs of our PMA Sambisig class of 1991, Joey Leviste.

More belated greetings also go to Joy Baniel-Cabrera, Odessa Quicoy-Montebon, Josephine Quirante-Guerrero, and Virgs Mary Tiu-Alcantara, who celebrated last Monday.

Yesterday’s belated greetings are for Rosanna Fernandez, Bunny Caminade, Siynp Silagan, Pearl Gonzales-Ungab, Emily Cabillada, and Mary Ann Gumba.

Today’s greetings go to Leah Tianco-Adeva, Chris Godinez, Dr. Rhea Taok-Kong, Irene Pamela Casals-Madarang, and Korina Bayquen.

More power to all of you!