Monday, June 18, 2007 CMA adopts new advocacy in sixth year
THE Cebu Mountaineering Alliance (CMA) will celebrate its sixth anniversary with a new advocacy–that extreme sports such as adventure races are for all sizes, shapes and gender.
This after outgoing board member and CMA founder Ricky Sevilla allowed a member of the third sex to compose a three men, one lady team to compete in the CMA Annual Anniversary this weekend in Dalaguete.
Jose Ritchie “Bulak” delos Reyes, who is openly gay, not only joins a team, but completes Team Argao as its lone “lady” team member.
“We want to show everyone that this sport is for everyone. To encourage more members of the third sex to join these kinds of competitions,” Sevilla added.
Delos Reyes, a tour guide in Argao and an adventure racer, joins Junrey Paglinawan and Ricky Peñalosa in the team.
Also competing in the daylong race is the Manunggal Adventure race champion, Cebu Road Runners Club, led by mountain runner Merlita Aria.
Manunggal
Another team, Team SUE, composed of Francisco Nillas Jr., Walter Bandigan and Mary Rose Arman, will try to avenge their Manunggal race loss. They could have topped Manunggal after they finished the most number of control points but failed to make it on the cut-off time.
The other competing teams are Tropa Laagan, Opascor, Tangkugo, Backpackers and team named Hanap.
“We limited it to eight teams and we had to decline the entry of five others for safety reasons. The five teams were not allowed to race after failing to provide the mandatory equipment like carabiners and helmets,” Sevilla added.
Meanwhile, Sevilla appointed a new set of officers, during the race orientation and team presentation last Saturday at the Opascor office. (MCB)
