No smoking at the sports center

I would like to inform the relatives and friends of my late grandfather Silverio Espina Lebumfacil that his wake is at the family residence in Poblacion, Toledo City. The interment is set this Sunday at 2 p.m.

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A good friend of mine, who usually sends me text messages about updates on sensational court cases, sent me a different kind of message yesterday.

It was about his observation and complaint on smokers inside the Cebu City Sports Center.

Laswyer Rameses Villagonzalo, who is also a fellow member of the PMA Cebu Squad, said that many smokers don’t seem to care about the children at the sports center.

He asked me to bring this matter to the attention of Ricky Ballesteros, manager of the CCSC, so that something can be done.

There is an existing law that prohibits smoking in sports facilities, but many do not seem to care about this.

Ram noted that some of those who he saw smoking even looked like staff, who work in the facility.

This is not the first complaint that I have received about the rampant violation of the no smoking policy at the sports center.

In fact, yesterday afternoon, I personally called the attention of two people who were smoking. One of them was a coach of one of the teams participating in the PRISAA National Meet.

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When I talked to some of the personnel of the Cebu City Sports Commission about this complaint on rampant smoking in the sports center, I was also told about two incidents where an official working in the ongoing national meet smoked inside the office and got angry when his attention was called by a staff.

The same person also reportedly smoked inside the office of the Philippine Sports Commission.

If sports officials cannot help but puff, then they better do it away from the sports center or better yet, they don’t anymore accept work related to sports.

I have many friends who smoke, but that does not bother me if they do it in the designated areas. If they do it inside the sports center, I will also call their attention.

Smoking has no place in sporting venues, which is the reason why tobacco companies are not anymore sponsors of sports events.

Maybe Mayor Michael Rama, who is a sports buff, can make something happen at the sports center by deploying people to apprehend the violators of the no smoking policy.

The city can earn money from the fines that would be collected.

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Aside from the smokers, the trash that was just thrown on the grandstand made my blood boil yesterday afternoon.

Why can’t many people throw trash into the designated bins, which is a very easy task?

The sports center can also earn more money if it slaps fines on violators. I hope the management board running the facility will look into this possibility.

I was informed that at the gym where there are trash bins all over the place, the sports center staff still needs to clean up a lot of trash left under the bleachers every morning.

The sports center is no place for smokers and the irresponsible who leave their trash just anywhere.

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MILESTONES: Happy birthday greetings to Claudith Baldago, who turns a year older today.

Advance greetings go to my fellow UP Cebu High School alumni Joel Garganera, James Arnold Abines, Jesse Bernad, and Jaybee Cometa. The same goes to Moses Billacura, Lynn Pepito-Moro, Chuck Cañete, Sheryll Osmeña-Borromeo, and Elro de los Reyes, who are also celebrating tomorrow.

More power to all of you!