BACOLOD – Integrated Cycling Federation of the Philippines president Rolando Hiso was a surprise visitor at the ABAP National Open here and stayed two nights to witness the action with North Cotabato Vice Gov. Manny Piñol, his good friend.
Hiso also conferred with POC chairman Rep. Monico Puentevella, host of the ABAP event, during his trip. They reportedly met to discuss his group’s impending recognition as a National Sports Association. Hiso enjoys the support of the majority of the national team cyclists and if his organization is accredited by the POC, he will attend his first General Assembly meeting this Wednesday.
Curiously, Piñol was offered the chairmanship of a rival cycling body headed by Tagaytay City Mayor Bambol Tolentino. Piñol turned it down, reiterating his support for Hiso.
Hiso, 62, was a former national cyclist who wore the country’s colors at the Asian Championships in Korea in 1969, the Bangkok Asian Games in 1970 and the World Championships in Montreal in 1974. The Roosevelt Colleges elementary education graduate from Marikina migrated to the US in 1970 and worked 10 years with Schwinn Bicycle before moving to the Federal Reserve Bank and later, the postal service.
Even while in the US, Hiso kept in close touch with the national cyclists many of whom he has supported with his own money. He was national team manager in the 1993, 1995 and 1997 Southeast Asian Games and the 1998 Asian Games. And last year, he took Padyak Pinoy champion Victor Espiritu to Carson City to compete in the World Cup. Espiritu was Asia’s best finisher and placed No. 11 among over 50 participants in the points race event.
Hiso said he was persuaded by cycling enthusiasts and the majority of the national team to take over the NSA.
“I just want to help and I can never turn my back on our cyclists,” said Hiso. “We’ve been trying to get our first Olympic gold since 1924. Why not give cycling a chance? The Filipino has the perfect size for cycling. In the last Southeast Asian Games, we won four cycling gold medals. With a concrete and well-funded training program, I can’t see why we can’t excel in the Olympics.”
Hiso said he met a Filipino-Spanish mestizo Jose Antonio Villanueva at the recent World Cup and broached the idea of coaching the national team. “Villanueva’s mother is from Abra and his father is Spanish,” said Hiso. “He’s in his early 30s and a World Cup silver medalist. I took him to dinner in Carson City and we talked about how cycling could be improved in the Philippines.”
Hiso said he will persuade 16-year-old Corinne Rivera, a Fil-Am cycling sensation in the US, to join the national squad, build a grassroots program anchored on the youth, organize regional races, reach out to cyclists in hotbeds like Pangasinan, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Davao, Cebu and Bacolod, and revive the long dormant National Open in April or May.
A week ago, Hiso put up a 50-kilometer race in four categories (elite, executive, junior and master) at the Q, C. Circle and attracted over 400 cyclists. Race director Jesus Garcia welcomed stars like Espiritu, Arnel Querimit, Santi Barnachea, Warren Davadilla, Lloyd Reynante and Irish Valenzuela who competed to show their support for the new cycling leadership.
Hiso said he heard unverified reports of former cycling officials involved in short-changing the national team by overpricing spare parts and training equipment.
“I was told some officials have been charged with corruption before the Ombudsman,” continued Hiso. “I know how important it is for our cyclists to get the right parts and equipment. As a cyclist myself, I know what parts to get and how much they cost. I love cycling with all my heart and I’m determined to work for our cyclists.”
Hiso, who has two sons Walter, 31, and Roland, 26, with his wife Florita, said he plans to retire from the US post office this year and will devote full attention to his cycling responsibilities.
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Tagbilaran City Mayor Dan Neri Lim sent a team of 14 fighters here and eight advanced to the semifinals. Two, however, were disqualified because the organizers moved the cut-off year for age-group competitions – an organizational quirk that also struck out highly-touted Conrado Tañamor of Zamboanga City.
“There are still many problems to address on how to organize a tournament of this magnitude,” said Lim. “For instance, there was a computer scoring glitch. Moving the cut-off year on short notice was also unfair. After all, this wasn’t an international event. We could’ve spared several fighters from showing up and being told they couldn’t fight. Rules shouldn’t be changed at midstream.”
Lim said taking care of amateur fighters is different from pros.
“With amateurs, there is a lot of nurturing involved,” he said. “You need to show love, care, companionship and camaraderie. This is a very emotional experience and also expensive. The boys must be disciplined. I hope the new ABAP officials realize the challenges that face them. We’ve got to strengthen the core of our program. We should recruit more judges and referees from different regions. We should know how to treat our fighters and not offer big money just for some to stay amateur.”
Lim said despite his misgivings, there are positive signs that indicate future growth. “We’ve got a new set of ABAP officials,” he went on. “Let’s learn from the lessons of Bacolod. Hopefully, the new ABAP leadership will bring us to where we all want to go. Our dream is to win the Olympic gold medal in London.”
Of his simonpures, Lim said he has high hopes for flyweight Wilberh Loberanis, 17, junior light mosquito Jisel Magsayo, 13, and flyweight Gino Cabugnan, 16. Another prospect is 17-year-old flyweight Emmanuel Lumantad who won the gold in the youth division with a first round stoppage of Misamis Oriental’s Macjohn Mancolintas.