by Moses Billacura
Davao del Norte governor Rodolfo del Rosario has set his eyes on December 12, 2012 or 12-12-12.
That date becomes important to him because that is the time when the Davao del Norte Sports Complex is scheduled to be completed.
And if that happens, by summer of 2013, Davao del Norte might host the Palarong Pambansa. If the hosting is currently being worked out, the national championships may come to the province and the spanking sports facility will be fully tested.
Not only that, Tagum City’s ability to host hundreds of sports officials, coaches and athletes will also be put to the test.
Lakan’s Place and Molave Hotel for sure will get early bookings, YuYu Cafe and Dessert Shop become busy so as the RK Garden Chinese Restaurant.
This is what we like when a national sports competition is being hosted by a city or province.
The business sector gets so busy for a week or two as athletes and coaches after their games become instant tourists.
Hotel, motel, inn, shopping mall operators, tourist spot, karaoke bar, souvenir store owners, tricycle drivers, even ice water and ice candy vendors will all be happy as a result of the building of the sports complex and hopefully the hosting of the Palarong Pambansa and other national sports events like the Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) Meet and University Games which are organized every year.
The Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines EAGA Friendship Games is also one event worth pursuing and the good governor has a nephew, Binggoy G. Montemayor, a former sports commissioner who knows the ins and outs of the Games.
His son, congressman Anthony G. del Rosario is a former president of the Davao Eagles in the defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association with partner and cousin Popit Garcia, who can also bring big-time basketball in the province.
The PBA out-of-town games have been coming to Panabo City, Davao del Norte courtesy of another Davao del Norte native, Dennis Uy, president and CEO of Phoenix Petroleum who has made a commitment to support sports activities in the region.
So much things to be done in Davao del Norte and a lot of things could happen after 12-12-12.
Busy, busy, busy.
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Happy birthday to former Times reporter Micmic Villaflor, Mirror›s Marlon Panaguiton and Ben Manalo.
