1ST MEDIA GOLF BENEFIT REGISTERED BCBC MEMBERS

World junior golf championship bound Fil-Am boy, locals spark media event

BAGUIO CITY

The 1st Media Golf has made its mark. Some 80 registered members of the Baguio Correspondents and Broadcasters Club (BCBC) will benefit from this historic fund raising golf event , according to president Thomas Picaña who expressed its gratitude to the sponsors as well as golf enthusiasts who made possible the staging of the event.
“We can work for a two-year health insurance for our members,” said Picaña filled with emotions , just minutes after the last flight of players made it to the 18th hole with Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) Mobility as presenter of this noble cause.

“Teamwork, dedication and commitment played a key role in organizing this fund raising sports project , stressed Picana, who is also the editor-in-chief and publisher of Amianan Balita Ngayon (ABN). In fact, this sports fund
raising project was almost cancelled due to lack of funds. And barely two weeks, Picaña and his Team, directed all their time and efforts to push through, and begun knocking and touching the hearts and minds of individuals and the
corporate world.

He was humbled with the turn-out of supporters that made the club’s fund raiser golf tournament a success actively supported by the Cebu Blue Bloods led by Douglas Rufino, the Solid North Party List, Rep. Jesse Mangaoang of Kalinga and Rep. Maximo Dalog, Jr. of Mountain Province. Picaña, the brainchild of the event is fully aware of the
challenges experienced by members especially health , and he is hopeful to have this media golf be sustained in order to address other needs of the members.

Picaña also thanked the Baguio City Mayor Magalong, LandCo Pacific, Grumpy Joe, Balintaugan Construction, Cesar Pasiwen, the Police Regional Office – Cordillera under PBGen. David Peredo,Jr., Lepanto Mines, Philex Mining Corporation, the Benguet Electric Cooperative, Valley Bread, Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative Maximo Edwin, Jr., Jomarcann Construction, Baguio Rep. Mark Go, Benguet Vice Gov. Ericson Felipe, A-Link Consultancies, the Baguio Water District and Hotel Supreme.

The Commitment
As early as 4 o’clock amid the chilly weather (13 degrees centigrade) on January 25 (2025) Saturday , Picana and his team started assembling and trooped to Baguio Country Club course, site of the fairway battle for the event backed by Baguio mayor Benjamin Magalong, KM Party List, Benguet Rep. Eric Yap, Solid North first nominee Menchie Bernos, League of Municipalities of the Philippines president Joseph Sto. Nino Bernos, Pugo Adventures or Pugo and SM City Baguio.

By 5AM , still dark and cccoold, local golf enthusiasts determined and supportive to this noble project, started arriving and each registered in the designated area, manned by Harley Palangchao (Tournament Director) and Pigeon Lobien ( BCBC secretary) and two volunteers with the watchful eye of the club president. Some BCBC members –Zaldy Comanda (Board of Director) of Manila Bulletin and this writer were also present to give a hand for the coverage and followed by other members. Notably past BCBC presidents. At 6:05AM the first flight teed off. At the distance, saw the morning mist viewing fairway and greens…minutes later came sun shine, a ray of hope for a fun-filled day.

The Fairway battle

World junior golf championship bound Aineon Hiram Jabonero and a respectable number of local and Asia-Pacific players participated. Jabonero, 9 year-old from Anahein, California, USA, placed second runner-up in the Men’s Class A with a net score of 61. Dino Cogasi, who had a net 60, the best for a male finisher with a gross 70, topped the said category. Police Regional Office – Cordillera Director David Peredo,Jr., also had a net 60 after a gross 76 landed first runner-up honor ” I played pretty good…its really fun to play here and the course is challenging, ” said Jabonero, a fourth grader, and who started playing golf at the age of four.

Currently plays in PGA Players Tour and US Kids USA, among others marked by a number of wins. He will be seeing action in the Under Armour World Championships in Florida, USA ( Feb 12- 16) and at the Daily Mail World Junior Golf Championships in Villa Padierna, Spain (Feb. 18-22). Demma Dulnuan demonstrated anew her golf prowess, outshined her male counterparts, fired seven over 68 for a net 60 and win the Ladies division title. Jolaine Sacyat finished second with a gross 81 and 61 net, Angel Gonzales a 27 handicapper landed third with a similar net 61 after a gross 88.

In men’s class B, Roy Tio was the top winner after firing a net 61 with a gross 78.Howard Laurente and Randy Bulwayan had similar net 61, but Laurente placed second marked by a better six holes over Bulwayan. In men’s class C, Crispin Lamong and Julio Lizardo fired a similar net 61, but Lamong emerged the champion with a better last six holes performance. Gary Baldoz had 83 gross and a similar net 61 to take third place. Amor Fores had a gross 77 for a net 61 to take the the seniors division title.

Robert Manriqui and Alex Fores took first and second runners-up after a net 61, but the former took the higher spot with lower handicap of 20 against the latter’s 26. Special awards went to Rocky Runez, who fired the nearest to the pin. Ronald Paragas made longest drive ( 320 yards) at Hole No. 3 while Robert Munar took the most accurate drive at Hole 8. Two wide screen television sets and several items were given away to lucky participants during raffle draw that punctuated the day.

Primo Agatep/ABN

Amianan Balita Ngayon