Rasol

CEBU, Philippines - A few months ago, my brother-in-law, Opel, asked me if I could organize a bike race in Barangay Asuncion, Maasin City during their annual fiesta. Of course, I said, “yes!” in a heartbeat even though I had told myself to lay low from organizing bike races and concentrate on being a competitor instead.

My wife, Tata, is from Maasin but Tagbilaran and Southern Leyte share more than a few similarities. The most obvious is in the dialect but we share the same characteristics as a people than from other places. It’s really a second home, so to speak.

Bike races in the distant past mostly depend from the government money for everything but I decided that if I want help from the local government, I wasn’t going to ask for money but for logistics. Provincial Tourism Officer Nedgar Garvez was very accommodating when I presented my race blueprint and gave me the thumbs up after he brought up the matter to Gov. Damian Mercado. BTW, belated Happy Birthday, Guv!

RASoL is the, “Race Around Southern Leyte”, the same acronym of two races I organized here back in 2004 and 2005. I decided to use the name since I wanted it to be different from most races that starts with, “Tour of…”, which is dime a dozen. If I was going to create something, it had to be different.

RASoL is a 2-day, 2-stage event that starts with a 30km Individual time trial this weekend, an out and back race that starts in Asuncion going southward to Macrohon and back. Next day is an 80km road race with the same starting line but this time the race move further southeast to the town of the Escano’s, Malitbog, before heading back to Asuncion. The race route is mostly flat and if there is a ramp, its about 200 meters long. In other words, this route is built for sprinters.

I have written about riding and racing in Southern Leyte before and believe me, it won’t disappoint. The roads are well paved, traffic volume is so low (Don’t laugh now, but they have only one traffic light in the entire province!) and the people so ridiculously nice, it’ll make the experience worth the trip!

We are expecting participants from Metro Manila, Cebu, GenSan, Baybay, Ormoc and Bohol to settle the score this weekend. Teams like CebuCycling, LEO, Mossimo, Red Bull, Bohol’s Paseo de Loon, Franzia, Ormoc City Cycling and the team of Baybay, led by Dr. Dan Roa will be there.

There are lots of people sponsors to thank like Gov Mercado, Congressman Going Mercado, Maasin Mayor Maloney Samaco, Councilor Toto Montalbo and Asuncion Barangay Captain Copoy Montalbo. The Maasin City Cycling Club through its president, Jonas Gorgonio is also a big help. Sponsors like Vios Construction, Panny’s Bakeshop, GogoySy, Media partner 8 magazine, Lavarosa, Opel Monalbo, Maasin Pure, Edna’s Bakeshop, JC Araneta, Wency Rich, Alpine Electrical, Don Montalbo, Irish Pedregosa-Olandria, Carancho Riders, my Maasin family and all the good people of Southern Leyte. (FREEMAN)