Sports spoilers

One reason why I lasted this long in media is because I love writing about sports. If I were doing something else, I probably would have not spent 20 plus years on that job.

The sports beat has always been dynamic and fun as we get to be where the action is.

Although we don’t always get to write about good news, I really hate it when I come across some people who spoil the good things others have done for a particular sport.

People, who only have selfish interests to push, should stay away from sports. Maybe you guys can try politics instead. Unfortunately, the two recent incidents involved people who are not even Filipino citizens.

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Last Sunday, I managed to pull myself out of the bed at 3:30 a.m. to head to the Cebu International Convention Center in Mandaue City for the Animo La Salle Run.

I was in my running gear, but had no plans of pounding the road as I was there to give my support to the organizers from the Andres Soriano Memorial College Alumni Association and my classmates from batch ’86 of the school.

Five of my classmates decided to run in the 3-K event – Xenia Lecaros, Dr. Ron del Mar, John Chade Alcano, John Roel Desuyo, and Hazel Dia-Solon. A six member of the class, who runs regularly in the US where she is now based, Dollie Miranda-Weissert, joined the 12-K event.

I guess they truly made it a fun event especially Ron, who cracked jokes all three kilometers long.

This weekend, the alumni of La Salle Toledo will gather at the school campus for the annual homecoming. This is another event to look forward to.

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Last weekend the Cebu Pistol and Rifle Association hosted the 1911 Centennial Celebration shootfest.

Titing Gamallo, one of my closest friends from the organization, asked me to join them at the awards ceremony at Cebu Country Club.

CPRA is one of the organizations that have been a major part of my career as a sportswriter as I covered many international events at their firing range in Pusok, Lapu-Lapu City.

It was also primarily because of Rogelio ‘Jingjing’ Osmeña, who served as president of the organization for a long time. Jingjing was always willing to help me out by getting the staff to provide me with the results for their events and of course also the heads up for what was to come.

I met many of the world’s best athletes at CPRA including world speed shooting champion Jethro Dionisio, who incidentally also topped the event held over the weekend.

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I would like to convey my sympathies to the families of two friends, who recently lost their loved ones.

First to CITOM Chairman Jack Jakosalem, whose mother Caridad, passed away last week.

The same goes to the family of the late Crispina de la Rosa Arias, grandmother of my classmate Melody Yadao-Remorca.

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MILESTONES: On a happier note, belated birthday greetings go to Dr. Ernest Cabrera, Stephanie Aballe, Len-len Costales-Balisi, Yumiko Matsuda, Mae Blanco, and The Freeman columnist Fr. Roy Cimagala, who turned a year older last Monday.

The same goes to those who celebrated yesterday like my good friend Mark Lester Guanzon and also to Jimadel ‘Jade’ Combista.

Today’s greetings go to Jutta Codilla, Juliet Ngo-Franco, Cheryl Yap, Veia Nery, and Trans-Asia Shipping’s Kenneth Sy.

More power to all of you! – THE FREEMAN