Friday, July 06, 2007 Sayson: A sports platform for Cordova By Homer Sayson Second Overtime
CHICAGO - The municipality of Cordova, a small, vibrant paradise nestled on the southernmost tip of Mactan island, will soon rise as a powerhouse in boxing and billiards.
I don’t know exactly when, but it will happen eventually. Trust me, the man who made the commitment is an honorable gentleman who hasn’t uttered one empty promise in his life.
His name is lawyer Adelino “Adie” Sitoy, legal scholar, philanthropist, doting father, faithful husband, and now, the newly-sworn mayor of Cordova.
So why the two Bs, boxing and billiards?
“These are sports where Filipinos excel, where our inherent lack of size and length isn’t such a handicap like it is in basketball,” Mayor Sitoy told me via long distance telephone interview last Monday morning.
“Cordova used to be a constant source of good fighters during the pre-war years,” said the mayor. “And we will try our best to resurrect that distinction,” he added.
Mayor Sitoy’s nephew, Ximgil Dino Sitoy, who also has a fresh mandate as a municipal councilor, will be named as the chairman of the committee on sports. He will be at the forefront of Cordova’s comprehensive sports program.
Once the budget is set aside, Cordova will build a world-class facility where boxers can hone their skills. And this coming Aug. 15 and 16, when the municipality celebrates its fiesta, a huge boxing event will be staged.
Billiard clinics and tournaments will also be held regularly. And from out of Cordova’s 13 barangays, hopefully, the next cue master in the mold of Efren Reyes will rise.
“We will invite Manny Pacquiao after his rematch with Marco Antonio Barerra this Oct. 6 at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas .
“We will induct him into the municipality’s Hall-of-Fame, just like what we did with the late Gabriel ‘Flash’ Elorde,” Sitoy said.
When I descend on Las Vegas for the Pacquiao fight, Mayor Sitoy asked me to relay his invitation to Manny.
I will be happy to do it. Anything for sports in Cordova.
During one the upcoming fight’s functions, I will call the mayor on my cellular phone and hand over the device to Manny so they can talk and acquaint with each other.
Best of luck, Mayor Sitoy. Under your steady guidance, here’s hoping that your paradise will complete its glorious journey from municipality to cityhood.
P.S. FROM JAMES ALIVIO. One of this column’s most faithful readers, my friend James Albert Alivio of ibank, e-mailed to react on the tribute piece I wrote about my parents’ recent 40th wedding anniversary.
“As we go through life and its myriad of challenges, it’s easy to forget our loved ones and how much they mean to us, and I’m glad you didn’t” said James.
Let me share these lines James penned so passionately about those dear to him.
“My mom Tim has supported me through good times and bad. My wife Cindy has given me love and direction, while my son TJ is a source of eternal joy and laughter. I love them back, with all my heart.
“My mom-in-law Mona is an angel for accepting me and treating me like a son. My in-laws Benjie and Mylene Chan Lim, Jason and Joy Tan, Geoff and Sandra Sy, and Timmy and Julie To, have all embraced me with so much warmth.
“My sister Melinda in California, brother Leonel, his wife Arlene and son Nathan, are always in my thoughts. They all mean the world to me.”
FASTBREAK. The Chicago Bulls stands to lose one of its pillars, forward Andres Nocioni.
The Memphis Grizzlies are wooing the Argentine with a fat five-year contract worth in the province of $40 to $46 million. The Bulls are intent on keeping Nocioni, but matching Memphis’ offer might create a strain in Chicago’s salary cap.
