ROSALES, Pangasinan—His world revolves around works on engineering but his passion is into cycling.

Public Works Ilocos regional director Engr. Fidel Ginez of this town has been celebrating his birthday with the cyclists for already 13 years.

On April 30, Ginez will sponsor again the Engr. Fidel Ginez 13th Cycling Classic which brings together some 130 professional riders all over the country for a competition.

The 165-kilometer race starts from Asingan, San Manuel, Tayug, San Nicolas, Natividad, San Quintin, Umingan, Balungao, Rosales, Villasis and back to Asingan, Binalonan and San Manuel.

Ginez said since he became chief of Agno Flood Control Office in 1994, he started this project to help cyclists after the famous Tour of Luzon stopped. He said his family is very supportive of his intention and a yearly allocation from their budget is segregated for this purpose.

He said it’s worth his effort and resources as the race had produced cycling champs like Arnel Quirimit.

Ginez shoulders all the expenses for the holding of the race and politely shuns offers from interested sponsors, including politicians.

It was his father, the late Santiago Ginez who influenced him to develop fondness of cycling. During his childhood years, his father would tag him along during the Tour of Luzon to watch the cyclists on the road somewhere along Urdaneta City and Binalonan.

The young Ginez said he too tried his luck in local cycling race but was not lucky to win.

His cycling race was originally in Asingan only until no less than Tour of Luzon champion, Jess Garcia from Mangaldan town urged him to expand the coverage of the race. Garcia is helping him with his cycling project.

Since the race is held during his birthday, Ginez prepares five to six pigs to feed his visitors and well- wishers composed mostly of cyclists.

For this year, P12,000 awaits the champion and 10 major prizes.

Ginez said for as long as he is living, he will continue with his passion for cycling and in his mission to help the cyclists. –

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan—Around here, don’t ever talk about losing and never talk about the possibility of defeat. Talk about winning and believe it will happen.

Those inspiring words were posted in every door where the Western Visayas delegates were billeted at the Pangasinan National High School here as they competed in the Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) national games.

And it worked well as their athletes are in an upbeat mood when this reporter visited them Friday morning after they maintain their lead as the overall number one in the medal tally. As of 11:a.m. yesterday, they have already hauled 50 golds, 60 silver and 45 bronze and maintains its top rank.

Thirty of the gold medals they got came from swimming where its women tankers snatched 20 and the other 10 by the men. They got the overall championship plum this year in swimming for women while the men are first-runner up although the men got the same gold medals with this year’s overall swimming champ (men category, CALABARZON), the difference only was in the silver medal standing.

Last year, Western Visayas was the overall champion in swimming (men) but CALABARZON snatched it this year, dislodging them to number two. On the contrary, also last year, their swimming (women) was the over-all first runner up but they are now the overall swimming champs.

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DAGUPAN CITY—About 4,000 delegates of the Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) National Games will experience the fun and excitement of the Kalutan ed Dagupan (Grill in Dagupan) that made this city a world record holder when they themselves will grill bangus (milkfish) in a repeat of the world famous grill tonight (Wednesday, Feb. at the city plaza.

Lawyer Gonzalo Duque, president of PRISAA and regional president of said sports organization in region 1 who spearheads this week-long sports competition in Pangasinan, said this will be a once-in-a-lifetime treat for the athletes and the first time that a national event staged in this premier province will themselves take part of the bangus grill.

“I am really happy that God has been guiding us and letting us have a lot of experience in terms of how we prepared the games and the hosting,” Duque, also the president of Lyceum Northwestern University based here, said.

Pangasinan is lucky to host the event after PRISAA’s 53 years in existence. President Gloria Arroyo graced the opening ceremonies Monday at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center in the capital town of Lingayen.

“It (the hosting) will project us as a gracious host,” Duque added

The bangus grill will be courtesy of Dagupan City government with each delegate provided free with one-half bangus, one hotdog and one barbeque.

Each of the 16 regions will be given about three grills which they can use to cook their food.

The party starts at 6:00 p.m. and about 2,000 pieces of delicious bangus, the world-famous product here, will be grilled.

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