CORDILLERA’S UNIQUE CULTURE FEATURED IN CORDILLERA GOLFERS FOUNDATION INVITATIONAL GOLF TOURNEY

May 27, 2023 Community Billboard

While most golf tournaments are staged for friendship and camaraderie, some do it to promote their socio-civic works, but a group of players of the most gentleman of all sport took it a notch higher when they staged one that included the promotion of their own culture– Cordillera. It was what Cordillera Golfers Foundation, Inc. president Arnel Peil emphasized during his speech after the awarding of winners of the first CGFI Invitational Tournament at the CAP Convention Center
covered court last May 20.

“We are here to promote our Cordilleran culture,” said the contractor, who is among the scores engaged in the building industry now avid golfers. “I went to school using a pasiking (a Cordillera woven back pack), now I get one as a give-away,” a player told lawyer Rudy Lockey at the John Hay
clubhouse. “I also got a bolo, Cordillera made,” he added as he opened the bag showing the big knife, to the group of Lockey, mostly media including this writer, after the practice round last May 17. All of the more or less 280 players, some from as far as Davao City, received the same prior the opening dinner also at the CAP Convention Center covered court.

The give-away came from Sagada, Natonin and Barlig in Mountain Province and Kalinga, where the bolos came from also. And the players were treated to Cordillera dances that night and in the company of beautiful Benguet ladies who are past candidates of the annual Miss Benguet, and
whose presence were made possible by Benguet vice governor Ericson Felipe, also a contractor and vice president of the CGFI. The guest players were also treated to the same during the awards night where a company of dancers from Kabayan, Benguet danced the bendiyan, courtesy of the town mayor Jun Bantales.

The winners received trophies from Mankayan, Benguet. That night Peil made sure that the promised PHP300,000 for each of the eight Cordillera school division offices will be given anytime soon, to which Department of EducationCordillera representative Claire Celino, who was present,
thanked the CGFI. Peil then thanked officers and trustees of the CGFI and the different committees of the tournament for a job well done. In his speech earlier that night, CGFI chairman Doulas
Rufino said that it is but natural to see glitches in staging such tournament. He said: “No matter
how perfect the planning is, there will always be some glitches during its implementation.”

He added: “This event is no exception to such scenario, but considering that this is the very first tournament organized by a very recently established foundation called CGFI, by any standard our tournament has passed the test with flying colors.” The two CGFI urged the players to join them next year for the second staging of the tournament which is expected to row. Rufino, a Bureau of Internal Revenues regional director added: “Gentlemen, you are part of a great tradition in the making. We commit that next year would be bigger in terms of number of delegates, better in terms of food, beverages and accommodations, and more luxurious in terms of giveaways, freebies and prizes. Spread the word in your respective golf clubs.”

The tournament was threatened by rains during the three days, two days of which were played at John Hay and two also at the Pinewoods Golf and Country Club. Viceroy Constructions won the Championship flight, Bravo Zulo Security the Regular A, Baguio Blue Bloods I won the Regular B, Buy Bust the Regular C, Balintugan Construction the Regular Friendship, Bravo Zulu Security won the Seniors A title and MCG Wednesday Club of Mimosa I took the Seniors B crown. Individual winners are Viceroy’s Jhondie Quibol won the Individual Championship title with 70 points.

Grumpy Joe’s Jose Ravinar Austria was the tournament’s top player as he toured the two courses where he carded a one under for 37 at John Hay and an even par for 36 at the longer fairway for a one under or 73 point total. Ravinar took the individual Class A title. David Roach of Baguio Olympics Team took the Regular B individual crown with his 54 points on rounds of 27s. Edwin Sagsago of Cebu Blue Bloods took the Regular C individual after finishing with 48 points on rounds of 27 and 21. Douglas Puckett pocketed the Seniors A Individual title, while Beneco’s Bacoco is the
Seniors B individual winner.

Quibol and Ravinera said that Pinewoods was rather difficult due to the tee placements especially at the first five holes. “It is almost impossible,” said Ravinera, who made an even par for 36 on the said course, after making a one under for 37. Rains, that has threatened players the past three days,
finally came that night right before the start of the awards ceremony and was done before the ceremony was over. After the rain, John Hay smelled of pine tree and grass, a portent of things to come for the fledgling tournament.

Pigeon Lobien