LGU sports

The town of Liloan is hosting this weekend’s cluster games of the Gov. Gwendolyn F. Garcia Unity Volleyball (GUV) Cup.

Liloan has figured prominently in this tournament the past several years owing to the fact the volleyball is a popular sport in this northern town even before the GUV Cup was first held.

The town has always been active in sports. Basketball is also a big thing there and so was cycling especially the time when my uncle, Gerardo ‘Dodong Gamay’ Frasco, Jr. was still very active in the sport.

Running was also big in Liloan way before the running boom and so was skim boarding.

Under the leadership of Mayor Vincent Franco ‘Duke’ Frasco, sports remains to be one of the priorities of the town as it hosted the Provincial Meet last year.

I won’t be surprised if one of these years a huge sports stadium will rise in the town.

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Many local officials claim to be interested in developing sports, but beyond the words and the usual annual basketball tournament, nothing much has been done to develop sports in the local government units.

Several LGUs in Cebu have actually done something more than just talk. First, there is Cebu City, whose sports programs we often read about in the newspapers.

Mandaue has also shown some promise and Lapu-Lapu City has done much in terms of building the venues and holding events geared at promoting sports tourism.

Liloan is one of the towns that have done well in sports development and many years ago, Madridejos, then under Mayor Dodo Salazar, also pushed sports development in the town.

The GUV Cup has been the biggest grassroots sports development program of the province and with the plan of the Cebu Volleyball Association (CEVA) to implement the expanded GUV Cup, we could develop more players in the different towns and cities of Cebu.

There are many programs that are being implemented that are working and these have been made possible not because of government alone, but also with the huge support coming from the private sector.

It is not easy, but many have proven that it can be done. Maybe our local officials, who love to say that they are pushing sports, can start looking for people in their LGU, that can help push an honest-to-goodness program.

One tip that I’d like to share with you is that don’t let a politician do it.

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MILESTONES: Happy birthday greetings go to my cousins Shena B. Quiñones and Atty. Clarence Trocio, who celebrate today.

The same goes to Joanna Gaviola, Erniebeth Torrano, Anjanette Zozobrado, and Kai Tautjo.

Advance greetings go to my big brother, Ramon U. Sebastian, who celebrates his birthday tomorrow.

The same goes to Alex Quitazol, Jurellen Paez, Noel Acedillo, Mon-mon Escaño, Alex Aduca and Joenelene Omega.

More power to all of you!