Wet and a lot of fun

It was another rainy staging of the View Invitational over the weekend, but without the rain, the tournament will not be what it is. Well, it could be better without it of course.

I can't recall yet a year when we did not have a problem with the rain when Alta Vista stages the View Invitational, but I am not really sure if I am correct with this one.

There were suggestions to reset the tournament to sometime May to make sure that we avoid the rain, but that is not anymore the purpose of holding the event, which is meant to celebrate the anniversary of the club.

The event was conceptualized to be held every June, but the lack of time to put everything together and the need to work hard on getting sponsors to help foot the bill made it a July event for many years. This year, the organizers managed to hold the tournament in June so it would be much closer to the date of the club's anniversary. It rained hard and some players were not able to play last Friday afternoon, but then there was nothing the organizers could do about that anymore except change the format so that winners can still be declared last Sunday.

All that of course is now part of the club's history and it was fun last Sunday night when we held the awards ceremony at the poolside for only the second time. It drizzled a little and I still have some sniffles after getting a little wet, but then I'd say it was fun being there for all sorts of reasons.

One reason why I look forward to being in annual tournaments is always to meet old friends and make new ones. I have met so many new friends in events like the View and the PAL Interclub and they are not just from Cebu, but from all over the world.

After this year's event, participants will be looking forward to a bigger one. That should be hard to do, but with more members of the club getting involved in the tournament committee, that should be cinch.

See you again in the next View Invitational.

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The Filipino-Chinese (Fil-Chi) Golf Committee was again working to make the View Invitational what it was. The giveaways to all participants, the food, the raffle prizes, and the gimmicks that came with them were reminiscent of the days of the Fil-Chi Friendship Tournament in the 1990s.

It was like going to a department store when people got their giveaways as the players were not jut given a pair of Nike shoes, but were even made to choose a design that they wanted from those that were displayed.

Although the shirts were of one design, players were also given the option to choose a color they wanted.

The swimming pool also gave the organizers a chance to do a special 'dive for a prize' activity that had many golfers coming out of the pool wet, but happy.

I'm very sure the Fil-Chi group will continue to do its good deeds to the Cebuano golf community by holding more grand events like the recent View Invitational.

I don't know what they have up next, but it' definitely worth looking forward to.

To Albino 'Amo' Gothong, the godfather of the group, and the rest of my brothers in the Fil-Chi committee, congratulations for a job well done!

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MILESTONES: I have a few belated greetings today.

Belated happy birthday greetings to Dr. Elizabeth Aguilar, the favorite doctor of our family, who turned a year older last Sunday. The same greetings also go to my classmate from the elementary until the college level, Carmela 'Bembem' Costales-Alonso who also celebrated her birthday last Sunday.

Caecent No-ot, The FREEMAN's veteran sportswriter, celebrated her birthday yesterday also. More power to all of you!

Before I forget, a belated happy 10th anniversary to my good friends Vince and Sonia Nery. Vince is one of the original members of the Dads United Football Club, while Sonia, who is a top official of Wealthbank, has always been a big fan of her husband along with their kids.

Cheers!