INQUIRER Sports

HE WOULD BE VERY HAPPY TO SHARE his secret behind pain-free joints. He also spoke of plans for the establishment of an integrated national rice milling system that will greatly cut down spoilage and benefit poor farmers.

Jose ?Peping? Cojuangco, 75, smiling and ruddy of cheeks, was the complete healer when he hosted lunch for members of the Manila media before leaving Laos for Manila last month.

Mr. Cojuangco also talked about putting up a vast national sports training center on a big chunk of Hacienda Luisita, which his family will donate, in Tarlac.

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But after events of the past days, we have no choice but to request Mr. Cojuangco to read this column, written immediately after that memorable meeting at the Dong Chan Palace Hotel on the fringes of the great Mekong, which appeared in the Inquirer Sports section on Dec. 12 while the POC president was still in Vientiane.

Repetitions are a big bore, but Mr. Cojuangco obviously missed this piece, which we rededicate to him in a gesture of respect and friendship.

Kindly read again:

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VIENTIANE, LAOS?There?s no need anymore to confirm how this capital has started to become a favorite tourist destination.

This must be scenic, historic Bangkok when that romantic Thai capital was still unspoiled by cruel commerce.

The big plus, of course, is Lao weather, crisp and cool this time of the year, and thankfully free of Bangkok?s humming humidity at daytime.

Anyway, speaking of the Philippine participation in the Games here, the captain of the RP sports expedition, Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose Cojuangco Jr., has visibly fallen in love with Vientiane, the weather in particular.

Mr. Cojuangco, here on a visit last April, said the coolness around here is at its soothing best close to Christmas.

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?This, despite the difficulties, is a beautiful experience and we must thank our athletes who have worked hard and sacrificed for the national flag,? Cojuangco told a group of Manila newsmen whom he hosted to a Chinese lauriat at the Don Chan Palace hotel on Thursday.

The biggest difficulty, of course, was the failure of the 13-strong RP cycling team to participate after they were not issued licenses by the Union Cycliste Internationale, ruling body in world cycling.

Cojuangco minced no words in denouncing the international federation, which left the fate of the cycling participation in the hands of the national sports association (NSA) it recognizes.

?They must be there to supervise, but never to intervene,? Cojuangco remarked, standing firm on his belief that the POC has the sole right to certify Filipino athletes for participation in events like the SEA Games and the Olympics.

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Indeed, Cojuangco was greatly hurt by his decision to pull out cyclist Marites Bitbit, strong gold-medal prospect, whose stint was sacrificed for the sake of solidarity with her banished teammates.

However, one pitiful sight which Cojuangco said he could not get over with was that of Filipino athletes wearing nothing more than track suits??provided by the POC, instead of parade uniforms??during the opening day parade.

Cojuangco, who asked his media guests to focus on the sacrifice and achievements of the athletes, has vowed to expose alleged irregularities in the funding of the national contingent.