The year ahead

The start of the year allows us to start anew, change what we think should be improved, and work on becoming a better person or become better in our craft.

The start of the year brings hope for the next 12 months and then we go through the cycle again when the next year comes. You write down your resolutions, which upon closer scrutiny are very similar to what you made the previous years.

Just don’t lose hope and don’t lose your interest to learn and to be better.

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After getting information from various sources about the changes in this year’s Philippine Airlines (PAL) Interclub Golf Tournament, I had to ask my friends from the airline to confirm the reports.

I got word from Jun Canton, now an avid runner, last Saturday morning that indeed the reports of the tournament being moved to Bacolod City from Cagayan de Oro are true.

Pueblo de Oro Golf and Country Club (Cagayan de Oro) and the Del Monte Golf Club (Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon) were picked as this year’s host of the annual tournament during the meeting of the team captains in Davao last February.

Unfortunately, the preparations that have been made will have to be put off due to concerns about security.

Blame it on the Maguindanao massacre, but then even if the place is very far from Cagayan de Oro, there are those that are worried.

The move of Bacolod will mean many changes in hotel bookings and arrangements made by the teams and the organizing airline, but I’m sure such will just be a breeze considering that Atty. Doming Duerme, who is in-charge of the Interclub, is a veteran organizer.

See you at the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club in Bacolod City then and also the town of Murcia, Negros Occidental where the Bacolod Country Club is located.

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This year will be a big one for sports. One event that millions of fans worldwide are looking forward to is the World Cup in South Africa. To those who don’t understand, this is the football World Cup, which the fans simply call the ‘World Cup’ as all other events with the same name just don’t compare.

There will only be 32 countries taking part in the World Cup, but this does not mean that we Filipinos, who still dream of making it there (maybe not in our lifetime to be really honest), would not pay close attention.

During the 2006 World Cup in Germany, there were many of us who spent several sleepless nights going to places that showed the games live.

I guess we have to prepare for an almost similar set up this year, but then maybe we can just watch the games at the comfort of our homes. Paging the cable TV companies, please let us know your offers.

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MILESTONES: After missing several days, here is a long list of greetings to start the year.

Happy birthday greetings go to my cousin Tracy Rada-Caro, Douglas Rey Berido, golfer Bayani Garcia, my fellow Gray Knight John Lowell ‘Jolow’ Babiera, photographer Roy Sabay, Pearly Unto, Roger Guarin, and William ‘Billy’ Sienes III.

Belated greetings go to Minglanilla Councilor Robert John ‘Jojo’ Selma (December 30) and also to Auntie Minda Lebumfacil, The Freeman’s Janet Montenegro, Junki Flores, Pancho Ramirez, Jr. and my mistah Lt. Col. Leandro Abeleda III (January 4).

I’d also like to extend belated birthday greetings to Cavaliers Jimmy Bernal and Alex Lacson, Heide Trinidad, The Freeman columnist Kay Malilong-Isberto, football player Tito Miñoza Vildosola, and my good friend Monina Blanco, who celebrated yesterday.

More power to all of you!