What? No Ronda lap in Pangasinan?

Pastor and presidential pal Apollo Quiboloy probably thinks that the coronavirus outbreak will just disappear like magic.

But local government units are dead serious and have enforced stringent steps to stem the tide of the virus, unmindful of any outrageous blabber that may come from the influential, albeit controversial minister.

Spearheading the move of local government units to quell the surge of COVID-19 infections outside China is the premier province of Pangasinan.

The news flow from the Chinese mainland the past two weeks that raises pandemic fears globally changed the game for Gov. Amado Espino III.

By way of a public advisory, Espino has forced the postponement until mid-April of all scheduled events and public gatherings in his turf that usually attract huge crowds.

The governor’s advisory, following those from the health and local government departments, has also closed government venues hosting public events.

Collateral damage from the province’s wholesale coronavirus prevention push is the 10th edition of Ronda Pilipinas—the current iteration of the fabled Tour of Luzon (later Tour ng Pilipinas), the classic Frank Capra like-spectacle on wheels eagerly awaited by the masses.

Of the 10 Ronda destinations this year, only Pangasinan opted to cancel a lap terminal.

Ronda’s sixth and seventh stages, scheduled this weekend in Lingayen have been canceled and observers say the move by “Pogi” (the governor’s nickname) to stop an outdoor sport was fraught with political peril.

All of Pangasinan loves cycling so much there will be disgust without Ronda this year. One of the observers, paraphrasing a popular ballad, said the local sporting scene, without big time cycling is “like a day without sunshine and a song without a melody.”

There’s no doubting that account. After all, the province is quite simply the hotbed of cycling.

To date, 22 big wheels in the cult of the chain, including two Ronda champions, have come from Pangasinan.

The sudden cancellation of the Lingayen legs reportedly made Ronda chair Moe Chu­lani livid. According to a source, Chulani got so piqued by the decision he said he will not pencil in Pangasinan as a Ronda stop again.

The source said Chulani has reason to vent because the provincial government committed to give free board and lodging to the cyclists at the Narciso Ramos Sports Complex dormitory. And the city, under Mayor Pol Bataoil, was springing for the lap prizes.

Chulani has denied shutting the door on the province. And in a text statement on Monday, he said “due to circumstances beyond our control, they (Pangasinan officials) have decided to cancel all events, including sports activities.”

He said Tarlac City has graciously agreed to host the lap stops originally set in Lingayen.

“Rest assured that in the near future, we will come back to cycling-loving Pangasinan, the cradle of cycling in the Philippines where most of the past champions came from,” Chulani said.