Golf and Entertainment: Piyesta Pinoy and The Philippine Independence Golf

By: Maria Girlie Pascual

For the last five years, the trademarked “Piyesta Pinoy” festivities in Bolingbrook, Illinois featured Filipino based artists from the Philippines sent by The Filipino Channel or TFC owned by ABS-CBN, and in its first year, by GMA Channel 7. The mere presence of these featured performers from movies and TV shows drew a host of fans numbering in the thousands, and attracted families by inviting vendors of Filipino food and souvenirs. In its first year in Bolingbrook, the Philippine American Cultural Foundation or PACF headed by Adeline Fajardo and Piyesta Pinoy coined and headed by Ruben Salazar, drew in an estimated 2000 guests. By its third year, 7000 attendees fl ocked to Bolingbrook to see the famed performers from their favorite TFC shows, as well as to enjoy true Filipino culture through food, drinks, and a shared experience with their “kababayans”.

On their first year, GMA sent Dingdong Dantes and Marianne Salvador as the special featured guests. In its second year, there was hearthrob Sam Milby. Year three featured soap and love duo Kim Chiu and Xian Lim, last year was swoon magnet and box office draw Jericho Rosales, and this year, it was young performer and Papa P’s (Piolo Pascual’s) offspring Inigo who delivered big time with his catchy song “Dahil Sa ‘Yo” and graceful hip hop moves. This was my fourth year hosting Piyesta Pinoy with James Delacruz aka “Mr. Bigas” to his Piyesta fans, “Laugh Out Loud” column icon with Viatimes readers.

The rain came down hard in the morning last Saturday, June 10, but eventually cleared up before noon, delaying the requisite parade by an hour. Soon, the throngs of people came for the TFC hour and along with other acts like local bands and Dj’s, the different performers wowed and wooed the audience to participate. By the time Inigo Pascual took the stage at 6 pm with TFC comedian Poka, the spectators were thoroughly enjoying themselves. Congratulations to the Piyesta Pinoy organizers, volunteers and sponsors. It takes a whole village to pull this event off without a hitch year after year, these dedicated personnel who show up and put up with what is required to make this the successful event that it has become to celebrate our Philippine roots. Mabuhay!

And the following day, Sunday June 11, 150 golfers showed up despite a rainy forecast, determined to play in the annual, 35 year old Philippine Independence Day Tournament hosted by the largest group of golfers, the Tamaraw League from the south. I would like to personally congratulate our Asian American Golfers of Illinois (AAGI) players who particpated—AAGI President Robert Delacruz, Tournament Director James Delacruz, big winner Larry Fong, Past Presidents Ray Agbunag, Joe Molina, Rowel Plata and Ellen Ruiz, our dedicated players Ed Ranchero, Isidoro Tovar, Mert Blancafl or and Ching Schneider, with new members John Grinstead, Rick Litton and Chinda Khiev who all did us all proud by shooting in the 80’s that day.

Unfortunately, winning net scores in the 50’s were again allowed, diminishing the illustrious legacy that has attracted players of a certain caliber as imagined by its upstanding founder, Bert Roman of PGC, a fl aw we hope hosting clubs to pay attention to, especially from leagues submitting handicaps higher than the standard cutoff of 36 for none senior players. You know who you are. Sandbagging is a useless, embarrassing ploy that all of us as golfers must prevent from being rewarded. On this note, here are the winners and please pay attention to those that posted net scores in the 50’s:

As a New York Times Article once printed:

According to the USGA Chart for Probabilities of Exceptional Scores (Google it), the odds of a golfer in the 6 to 12.9 Handicap range shooting 4 under is one in 51, which is arguably what one would expect of a golfer having a good day as would happen once a year. Anything better than 1 in 300 is almost impossible.

To the impossible being achieved year after year in our PIDT tournaments, wow, for having the gall to accept that trophy, and for the rest of us, hope springs eternal that the true spirit of golf will always dominate these yearly celebration of what is ideal in the Filipino, and in our chosen sport.

2018 PIDGT WINNERS
LONGEST DRIVE
1. Class A – Tim Gagni (Tamaraw)
2. Class B – Ron Ross (Tamaraw)
3. Class C – Marc Blancada
(Tamaraw)
4. Ladies – Ellen Ruiz (AAGI)
CLOSEST TO THE PIN
1. Red #4: Jun Mejia-Golfi nos
(Class A), Maribel Mendoza-Philswing
(Class C/L combined)
2. Red #7: Loretto Martin-FilAM
Lake (Class A), Carrie Stilwell-
Philswing (Class C/L combined)
3. White #3: Boyet Tamondong-
PhilAm Eagle (Class A/B
combined)
4. White#6: Junjun Ginco-Bisdak
GC (Class A/B combined)
5. Blue #4: Nelson Bellosa-Tamaraw
(Class B), Seiko Kawata-Philswing
(Class C/L combined)
6. Blue #8: Gery Reyes-PGC (Class
B), Chris Cordova-FilAm Lake
(Class C/L combined)
LOWEST NET
1. Lowest Net Overall – Aida Mercado-
Philswing (59)
2. Class A- 1st-Tim Gagni-Tamaraw
(63}, 2nd-Larry Fong-AAGI (64)
3. Class B – 1st-Sam Sy-PhilAm
Eagle (63), 2nd-Nelson Bellosa-
Tamaraw (66 tiebreaker}
4. Class C – 1st-Roberto Tolledo-
PhilAm Eagle (63), 2nd-Mao
Perlas-PhilAm Eagle (66 tiebreaker)
5. Ladies – 1st-Ruth Saliot-FilAm
Lake (62), 2nd-Carrie Stilwell-Philswing
(65)
LOWEST GROSS
1. Class A – Pete Harrison-PGC (75)
2. Class B – Sam Sy-PhilAm Eagle
(83)
3. Class C – Roberto Tolledo-Phil-
Am Eagle (94 tiebreaker}
4. Ladies – Clarita Reuer-Philswing
(85)
TEAM COMPETITION
1. Champion – Philswing (542)
2. 1st Runner Up – PhilAm Eagle
(561)
3. 2nd Runner Up – FilAm Lake
(565)