1989 (part 2)

It was Bernard Munz who won.

It was a show of cycling teamwork that our local riders have yet to appreciate until now. Coming in second was Ricky Ermitanio followed by Dondon Romales, Joel Amores and Rene Siazar. The point made was that even if the 5 Euros didn't make it to the top 5, they won and that's all that matters.

But November of 1989 was a time of uncertainty in the country. Three days after the race, Gringo Honasan led a failed putsch to topple Cory Aquino (isn't this déjà vu all over again?). For the next few days, the country was shut down - banks, government, airports - and then it grounded to a halt. While the visitors never felt that they were in danger they didn't enjoy seeing the tanks driving in the streets either. After their stay in Cebu Plaza, they moved to Sundowner Hotel and played the waiting game. Finally, 2 weeks after the coup, they were able to fly out for home.

What happened to the players in that one-off event at that time? Noli Bautista now plays golf while Cenon Tan has moved his car spare parts business to Labangon. Claudio Baclaan, the best barber/storyteller combo I know, can dish it to you while he gives you a haircut and a massage. His shop is just beside the USC Gym. Jun Farrarons went to Spain then came back to live in southwestern Cebu. Mayor Tommy Osmeña still rules Cebu while former City Sports coordinator Joey Young is now a Cebu City consultant and MCWD director. RC Cola, one of the two commercial sponsors of the race has is gone while Cebu Plaza shut down in March of 2003.

Charly Spuies is a successful businessman in computer software for palm reading and has stopped cycling. Christian is working in the restaurant of his parents in Augsburg. Axel Gatterman married a Cebuana and is now living here in Cebu. I was hoping I could talk to him for this article but his busy schedule prevented it. He owns a restaurant and bar at the Gaisano Country Mall called "PAULANER".

Ralf Spaeth, who I corresponded via email these past 3 weeks and has been so helpful with this article due to his vivid memory of the event, has been here more than 12 times since 1989. In fact, he married Virginia, a lady from Lapulapu he would not have met had Honasan simply followed the constitution. They were married in 1994 with Axel and his wife standing witness. Tall for a cyclist at 6"4', the 36yo Ralf still has a body of a pro cyclist, lean and mean. During the "Tour ni Frank", he went pedal to pedal with the best cat B riders in the climb to Lugo. He stopped racing only in 1991 to finish his studies in law. After passing the bar, he worked as an attorney for a few months. Today he's the head of a department of an insurance company in Munich.

As for the other cyclists, Ralf never heard of them again.

(In 1992, Axel brought the same group came back to do the same race. This time, Frank Kersten wasn't around and race was held at the Cebu North Reclamation Area. I hope to do a column about it next time.)

Tour Hopefuls

I'd like to congratulate 5 Cebuano cyclists who will be riding the Tour Pilipinas this summer. Ginging Villaver, Nilo Barbalose and Jaybop Pagnanawon made it to the Tour organized by the United Cyclists of the Philippines (UCAP) while Antonio "Kasag" Nebria and Juvanni Delica will be racing in the rival Tour by the Philippine National Cycling Association of Paquito Rivas.

I know it's ridiculous holding to hold two races with a reportedly overlapping schedule, but sadly, that's the way we do things here.

I sincerely hope that something good will come out of this.