Calasiao Sports Complex Reopens for PBA

 MACANLALAYS, CARAMAT LAUD EACH OTHER

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

CALASIAO, Pangasinan – The mayor of this burgeoning town recently told the municipal employees after their flag ceremony that the rehabilitated air-conditioned Calasiao Sports Complex was opened again to the public and the Philippines Basketball Association.

PBA. Pangasinenses and fans from nearby provinces during the PBA All- Star Game in Calasiao Pangasinan (Photo courtesy of Vijay Vasandani) 

Mayor Kevin Roy Macanlalay cited that when then Mayor Mamilyn “Maya” Caramat assumed office in June 30, 2022 she promised that a portion of the 2023 budget of the local government would be allocated to the repair of the complex and the replacement of the hardwood floors particularly that halted its operation for a basketball game.

“Sa hindi inaasahang pagkakataon pumanaw po ang ating Mayor. Ngayon ipinagpatuloy po natin ang kanyang mga adhikain at ginawa kaya nandito po tayo ngayon sa publiko ang renovated at repaired newly painted pati aircon po pinaayos po natin kinulayan po natin na dating kulay ng dating Sports Complex,” he told the crowd that included his father and older brother former Mayors Roy and Mark Roy Macanlalay and incoming League of Barangays President Patrick Caramat – the Chairman of Brgy. Nalsian.

Macanlalay lauded his father and brother for conceiving and constructing the Complex despite it took more than a decade for its completion.

He hailed too former mayor Joseph Bauzon for bringing the professional players of the national Philippines Basketball Association to compete in the air conditioned gymnasium.

It was during the time of Bauzon that the flooring was ruined because of a leaking roof from the rainfalls, a source told this newspaper.

“Ngunit sa hindi po inaasahang pagkakataon sa hindi rin po kagustuhan ng nakakarami ang nasira po ay ang ating hardwood flooring na kaya naputol po ang pagpunta ng PBA ang paglaro sa napakagandang covered court sa bayan ng Calasiao,” the young chief executive of the town disclosed.

 Caramat praised Mayor Kevin in the reopening and the sprucing up of the recreation center.

“So kuyang hindi lang one thumb's up ibibigay ko sa iyo ay two thumbs up! Thank you for being a good caretaker. Maniwala po kayo sa akin sa susunod na pagbalik ko dito sabi ni Mayor Kevin meron na namang  bago dito -- bagong basketball ring sabi ni Mayor Kevin”.

Former Mayor Roy narrated how in 2004 the Complex was initially started by a shoestring budget of P1.5 million. P1 million, he cited, was raised from the town fiesta and another P500, 000 counterpart's fund was donated by the management of the Señor Divino Tesoro that were used to buy irons needed for the structural components of the building.

HIZZONERS. The past, present and the future Mayors of the thriving first class town’s Calasiao in Pangasinan pose for posterity at the shiny hardwood floor of the swanky air conditioned world class Calasiao Sports Complex. From left –to – right are Calasiao former Mayors Roy and Mark Roy Macanlalay, incumbent Mayor Kevin Roy Macanlalay and incoming League of Barangays President Patrick Caramat – the Chairman of Brgy. Nalsian.

Lack of funds, however, snagged the erection activities. The older Macanlalay recalled how some of his constituents mock and criticize the seemingly white elephant despite the P5 million, P3 million and P5 million funds he sourced out from then 3^rd District Cong. Generoso D. Tulagan, former Speaker Jose de Venecia and from the public coffer of the local government here, respectively.

Macanlalay said that the funds he lobbied from Senators Manny Villar and Jinggoy Estrada, other senators and from the presidential management staff (PMS) under then President Gloria M. Arroyo, he bought for bleachers and the construction of the façade of the complex.

“So maraming hindi naniniwala sa atin, maraming nangungutya but then hindi po kami nawalan ng pag asa noon ni former Vice Mayor Chuson kasi siya po ang kasama ko noon na nag-isip with the other leaders sa Calasiao”.

 After 10 years the covered court had not been completed thus the older Macanlalay asked his sitting mayor son’s Mark to finish the project before his term end on June 30 of 2016.

Mark persuaded the members of the lawmaking body to pass a resolution for a credit in Land Bank of the Philippines to fund the completion of the Sports Complex.

However, Mayor Mark did not see the operation of the edifice because he ran for the vice governorship of Pangasinan but was defeated while his father Roy lost against Mayor Bauzon for the mayoralty race in the May 2016 election.

With the Macanlalays back again in the political and social circulation, former Mayor Roy exhorted his son Mayor Kevin to upgrade the dug out for the players like those from the PBA to use.

“Hinihiling ko na rin sa susunod na Mayor na pagandahin pa rin lalo itong Calasiao Sports Complex kasi ito ang leading landmark ng bayan ng Calasiao”.