Cebu City asked: Open skate park

CEBU, Philippines - Skating enthusiasts in Cebu City have launched a signature campaign to petition the city government to open a Skate Park.

Ian Bacalla, head of the Cebu Skateboarding Community, said they are eyeing at 5,000 signatures to support a formal proposal they will submit to the city government.

Bacalla said they have spoken with mayor-elect Tomas Osmeña and it was the latter who advised them to submit a formal proposal.

“Verbally pa niya giingon nga papason mig proposal this July,” Bacalla said.

The formal proposal will include, among others, the location of the park. Bacalla said the ideal location would be somewhere in Barangay Mabolo or at the IT Park in Barangay Lahug.

Bacalla said the park would be a suitable venue for local enthusiasts to train professionally and even represent the country in the Olympics in 2020.

Among the group’s advocacies are to introduce eco-friendly means of transportation, help boost tourism in the country, and to push the limits of the young Filipino extreme sports athletes.

Late yesterday morning, in celebration of Go Skateboarding Day, at least 2,000 members of the group skated from Fuente Osmeña to SM City.

At the SM parking lot, skateboarding contests were held, including best tricks, push race and unorthodox challenge (eating chili then do 360 kickflip, blind folded kickflip, highest barefoot Ollie, handstand on skateboard).

Prizes included P5,000 cash, apparel, travel gift checks, and a chance to represent DC Southeast Asia.

Bacalla said they started celebrating Go Skateboarding Day in 2009 but yesterday was the first time they celebrated at a big venue.

“Yes, wa ko kibaw pila mi sa una but gamay ra gyud mi until nagkadaghan,” he said. —(FREEMAN)