National bootfest

There are two major golf tournaments this weekend – Copa de Golf at the Mercedes Plantation Golf and Country Club in Medellin and the Efraim Genuino Cup at the Alta Vista Golf and Country Club.

I got an invitation from my good friend Ed Misa to stay at his place in Medellin in case I’d be taking part in the Copa, but unfortunately, I have to be in the city this weekend due to my commitments to my football club, which is opening the 9th National Interclub tomorrow.

Due to the conflict in schedule, I decided to make a call to Alta Vista and get a slot. I was lucky that there were still some left.

I must be getting rusty as a golf journalist as I have to get more information yet about the event, but friends say that it will be worth paying the entry fee.

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Football fans are expected to troop to the University of San Carlos-Talamban Campus tomorrow at 1 p.m. for the opening ceremony of the national inter-club.

This event is organized by the Cebu Amateur Football club headed by Glenn Quisido with Gregorio Balsicas III as tournament director.

Although I haven’t been to any of the recent events of the CAFC and the Queen City Football Club in months, I’ve been kept abreast of what’s going on by my buddy Patrio ‘Dondon’ Ramos.

After the opening ceremony, there will be a game tomorrow and more games will follow at the USC-TC, San Roque Parish Field in Subangdaku, Mandaue City and the Springdale Football Field in Lahug.

This annual event has really been something that players are looking forward to every May and I am still hoping that someday I will be fit enough again to join my teammates on the field and not just at the sidelines.

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Martin Nievera seems to be getting too much bad publicity because of his rendition of the Philippine National Anthem during the Pacquiao-Hatton fight in Las Vegas over the weekend.

While I concur that he sang it the wrong way, I’d like to ask those who seem to be experts on the national anthem if you stood up when the anthem was sung at the venue where you watched the fight?

I remember a police officer comment several big Pacquiao fights back about how he was the only one in attendance at one of the few places that had pay-per-view then, who stood up when the Lupang Hinirang was sang.

I hope those who are picking on Martin also know how to give honor to our country during the singing of the anthem by standing at attention and singing it from the heart.

I’m sure Martin and all others who have been in the hot seat now know what is right and I hope that those who are claiming to be the most righteous are true nationalists and not just people riding on the bandwagon.

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MILESTONES: I’d like to wish my cousin Harlie Kenn A. Quiñones all the best in the opening of his school supplies store in our town of Minglanilla yesterday afternoon. I missed another family affair due to work, but you know I’m always there.

Happy birthday greetings go to Barbette Barbon and Ags Geverola, both fellow UPians, who are turning a year older today.

Belated happy birthday greetings go to my classmate Atty. Ernest ‘Cogs’ Montecillo, who turned a year older last Friday.

More power to all of you! – THE FREEMAN