Cebu's pride

Today is a proud day for Cebu.

No matter how much our political leaders bicker and no matter how much we suffer during heavy rain due to flooding and even if there are so many controversies surrounding our officials, there are many things that we can be very proud of.

One of them is opening today – the 2011 GUV Cup.

If you haven’t heard of the GUV Cup, then better know more about it now. It is the biggest volleyball tournament of the country and is now on its seventh year.

GUV stands for Governor’s Unity Volleyball. Oftentimes it is stretched to Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia Unity Volleyball. This is a tournament participated in by the various local government units under the province, which excludes Cebu City, which is a highly-urbanized city.

This year, there are a total of 47 LGUs represented and for the three divisions that would be contested – mixed elementary, women, and men, there are a total of 94 teams.

Having seen the how the GUV Cup grew from the small seed that was planted almost eight years ago to what it is today, I feel very proud to be a Cebuano.

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Today’s opening ceremonies will be held at the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) in Mandaue City.

Expect a lot of pomp and glitter in the rites as those in charge of the opening always try to do better every year.

Aside from being the biggest event, the GUV Cup has also managed to get many people in the province to learn the sport through the series of clinics that have been held, which led the creation of the elementary category this year.

Aside from developing new players, the GUV Cup also made sure that the skills of those that officiate and run the games are also enhanced and the coaches too have been given the opportunity to be better.

This is one of the best examples of how public and private partnership works for the promotion of an honest to goodness grassroots sports program.

The private sector is of course the Cebu Volleyball Association (CEVA), which runs the tournament and handles the technical aspect of the GUV Cup.

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If you have time this afternoon, you can go watch the games at the CICC starting at 1:30 p.m.

More than just being able to watch volleyball action, you will also get to see what the international standard of doing volleyball tournaments.

Gone are the days when volleyball was limited to being only a second choice of ballgames, it is now the ballgame of Cebu Province.

Thanks to Gov. Gwen Garcia for making it happen.

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MILESTONES: Thank you again to all those who have sent their birthday wishes and greetings. They continued to pour until yesterday, two days after the day.

Today’s birthday greetings go to our cool uncle Fitzroy ‘Gabby’ Gabbidon, Madame Annie Cabanda, Anna Yrad, Tonton Conahap, Paul Melendez, Lovelie Therese Nellas-Chiong, and Dr. Kathleen Lucero-Tongco.

Advance greetings go to Myrla Obejero-Mabalhin, Karla Kintanar-Fernandez, and Ofelia Enriquez-Culaton, who are celebrating tomorrow.

Welcome home to my cousin Vincent Theodore Q. Cruz, who is arriving today from the Big Apple.

More power to all of you!