Nat'l Open cycling photo contest set

MANILA, Philippines - The 2010 National Open Cycling Championships slated on Dec. 6-11 will be honoring the country’s top lensmen via a photo contest featuring the event’s most dramatic moments.    

Integrated Cycling Federation of the Philippines (ICFP) president Dr. Philip Ella Juico yesterday announced the photo contest, with the champion receiving P15,000 and the runner-up taking P10,000. Third placer gets P5,000.

The editors of the winning photographers will also be taking home the same prize.

”This is our own tribute to our outstanding photo journalists,” said Juico, a former chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and also ex-Secretary of the Department of Agrarian Reform under the late President Corazon Aquino.

A photographer can submit to the ICFP office inside the Amoranto Velodrome, at least three of his best published works featuring the 2010 National Open.

The photos, which must not be tampered or altered, must be printed and attached to an illustration board, together with the newspaper clipping of the photo at the back, name of the photographer and title of the work. A group of judges from sponsors and ICFP officials will select the best photos.    

Meanwhile, the Shangri-La Finest Chinese Cuisine along Times St., West Triangle, Quezon City, joined the National Open’s list of backers.    

Other supporters of the National Open, which is making a comeback after a 25-year hiatus, are Magnolia Water, Zest-O, and the New San Jose Builders, owners of the Samar House on Samar Avenue, where all the riders will be billeted. The six-day racing extravaganza will be concluded and highlighted by a 165-km road race from Quezon City to Bugarin, Laguna and back on Dec. 11.

The Mountain Bike competitions slated on Dec. 8 will be held at the Timberland Heights, San Mateo, Rizal, courtesy of Edmund Mangaser.    

A separate category will also be held- the Masters Division - to be participated in by the sport’s greats and former tour legends, such as Cesar Filosopo, an Asian Cycling Championships gold medalist in 1971 and silver medalist of the National Open, former Tour of Luzon champions Jess Garcia and and Rolando Pagnanawon, among others.