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Tuesday, June 03, 2003
Oyson: Mandaue bids for Seag 2005
By Manuel N. Oyson Jr.
Counter Punch
Cebu City may have opted not to pursue its goal of co-hosting the 2005 Southeast Asian Games. We have not heard anymore from Cebu City Sports Commission Chairman Jonathan Guardo, Cebu City Sangguniang Council Committee sports chair Sylvan “Jack” Jakosalem. Or even from Mayor Tomas Osmeña himself. They have not been making any noise about it, except Rep. Monico Puentevella of Bacolod City.
Well, nearby Mandaue City may just beat Cebu City to it. Mayor Thadeo Z. Ouano has just announced that the SEA Games may be held in Mandaue City.
At least some of it. He was not jesting either when he declared: “Cebu will host SEA Games 2005.” He said it not during a press conference in his office but in public during the announcement Sunday night of the winners of the P250 million Cebu Megadome design competition at the Cebu Sports Club.
P430 MILLION. Hopefully, the Megadome will be finished in time before the 2005 Seag. The city also has a valid reason for associating itself with the sprawling state-of-the-art sports and entertainment complex once it is finished. While the Province of Cebu has appropriated P250 million for the project, Mandaue City is contributing much more. The 4.3 hectare donated real estate on which it stands at the reclaimed area is worth P430 million in the current market.
Two years ago, Ouano openly expressed his interest in the staging of the “Mr. Universe” competitions in Cebu in 2005. There would be 175 countries to be represented. At that time the site was open for bidding as to which country would host it. He disclosed his preference during the awarding ceremonies of the three-day 5th SEA Bodybuilding Championships at the Cebu Plaza Hotel.
Paul Chua, vice president for Asia of the International Federation of Bodybuilders (IFBB) explained to this columnist then that Cebu City was chosen to host the bodybuilding competition because of its being a tourist destination, wonderful climate and peaceful situation. Twenty-two bodybuilders from Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia and host Philippines competed.
If the Mr. Universe contest is not feasible in Cebu, then maybe some of the events in the 2005 Seag may be staged at the Cebu Megadome. These sports may include volleyball, wrestling or bodybuilding. Even boxing. Bodybuilding made its debut in the Asian Games in Busan last October. Danao City may even host the mountain biking competitions with its ideal and hilly terrain.
Besides the support of the majority of the Cebu Provincial Board, including its presiding officer, Vice Gov. John Gregory Osmeña, and Cebu municipal mayors, the Cebu Megadome project has the support of other well-known sports personalities as Danao City Mayor Ramon Nito Durano III, Sogod Vice Mayor Thadeo D. Durano, shipping executive Bob. D. Gothong, mountain bike honcho Boying D. Rodriguez and Plantation Bay resort general manager, Efren Belarmino. Gov. Pablo P. Garcia explained that the project is the answer to the crying need of Cebu.
On renowned architect Alexius B. Medalla now rests the supreme task of supervising and overseeing the project according to his spinning disc design which stood out among the other four finalists the other night. The landmark design competition will be a part of Cebu’s history for generations to come, according to Rogelio G. Villarosa, a member of the panel of jurors. And Medalla has the supreme opportunity to be part of that history.
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “We can build three megadomes if we want to.” – Cebu Gov. Pablo P. Garcia
(June 3, 2003 issue)
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