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Will POC accept cycling’s People Power?
Written by staff   
Tuesday, 20 January 2009 06:29

Today’s fiesta in Lipa City, dubbed the Vatican of the Philippines, opens with the Musiko Ronda of marching bands at 4 a.m., followed by the Parada sa Poblacion, featuring Mutya ng Lipa 2009 Anne Marie Joyce Tenorio. Festivities will be capped in the evening with the traditional religious procession in honor of the miraculous San Sebastian, patron saint of Lipa City. Rites culminate at the magnificent city cathedral, gleaming object of international awe.)

IT was not February and there were no firm, fearless nuns around.

No tanks prowled that hallowed stretch of world-famous EDSA (Epifanio delos Santos Avenue), near the Shrine.

But last Friday, a sports event that helped recall the People Power revolution of 1986 culminated around the Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City.

They called it the Inaugural Race of the Integrated Cycling Federation of the Philippines.

OK, all they staged was a bicycle race.

There was no puffy-faced dictator to drive out of Malacañang. No hated family racing to the airport to escape a people’s wrath.

But the presence of the country’s elite cyclists, headed by the likes of 2007 Tour champion Victor Espiritu and other RP team standouts, effectively changed the theme and tone of the racing event.

It’s like this: The day before, a group claiming to reign supreme over Philippine cycling also staged a road race in Tagaytay City.

The race, which reportedly drew no more than 30 riders, was won by an obscure rider.

The poor turnout in Tagaytay also bared the unpopularity of the group, which had to call off the annual multistage marathon due to an anomaly involving the group in the last Southeast Asian Games in Thailand.

Jesus Garcia Jr., two-time Tour champion, said the massive attendance in the ICFP Inaugural on Friday said it all.

Garcia swore that, in its core, the Quezon City race was a revolt.

“The attendance of more than 300 riders in the ICFP Inaugural was a clear message that they are backing the new group of leaders headed by president Rolando Hiso. Sobra na, tama na.”

Cyclists from the past, present and the future came in full force.

Popoy Vizmanos, Manolito Moring Jr., Cesar Filosopo, and their graying but unbowed peers, lent a hand to ensure a significant event.

With its magnitude, the ICFP Inaugural would’ve also lured Jose Sumalde and Jacinto Sicam, back-to-back Tour legends, were they still around.

The race was won by internationalist Irish Valenzuela of Metro Manila.

Victor Espiritu failed to finish strong but said he did not mind losing.

“Hindi kailangan manalo (I did not come to win),” Espiritu told the Inquirer.

Espiritu swore all he wanted was help pursue changes in RP cycling.

It’s odd, but the morning after, there was no mention of the People Power race around the Quezon City Memorial Circle.

Major dailies instead came out with the result of an election late Friday by those who had held a race in Tagaytay the day before the ICFP Inaugural.

The mayor of Tagaytay City won the PhilCycling presidency in an election exercise which was deemed a clear violation of the national cycling charter.

“They can’t go against their own rules. The POC cannot abet violation of these directives,” said lawyer Sam Estimo, who fights for uprightness in the RP Olympic hierarchy.

Last heard of, POC president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco, who did not send an observer to the illegal election, was reported mulling moves to make a proper recognition of the People Power revolt in cycling, the like of which helped sweep his sister Cory to power.
 
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