KORONADAL CITY (MindaNews / 17 July) – A well-known Mindanawon daredevil rider lashed out at organizers of a motocross racing event in line with South Cotabato’s ongoing famed T’nalak festival, which is now on its 20th edition.
Davao City pride Bornok “The Lion” Mangosong said the organizers allegedly reneged on their agreement.
“Never in my entire life I experienced such disrespect, sadly there is really a first time for everything,” Mangosong said in a social media post on Tuesday.
This is the first T’nalak festival under the new leadership of neophyte Gov. Reynaldo Tamayo Jr., who defeated Daisy Avance Fuentes in the May 13 elections.
Mangosong recalled that on July 3, organizers of the motocross competition repeatedly invited him to join the race here starting July 13, but he begged off because of a prior commitment to another race somewhere.
Mangosong said that newly elected officials, whom he declined to name, made the calls for him to join the race.
He and the organizers eventually agreed that he will join the race on Sunday, July 14, according to Mangosong.
During the July 14 race day, the daredevil said the organizers told him the deal was called off because of a protest by another rider.
Mangosong stressed the organizers should have called him or informed his advance party that the deal was cancelled.
But after an argument, Mangosong said the organizers told him he would be allowed to race, and pay him half his undisclosed talent fee, on the alleged condition that he would finish last “to avoid embarrassing the one who lodged the protest.”
Mangosong noted he turned down the offer.
“This one will be an experience that I will never forget. My T’nalak experience 2019,” Mangosong said.
His Facebook post generated 1,900 comments and was shared by 8,400 users as of 6 p.m. Wednesday.
In a statement, Tamayo stressed that Mangosong failed to register because he arrived on July 14.
The motocross race started on July 13.
Tamayo identified the honorary chairperson of the motocross committee as Board Member Hilario de Pedro IV.
But the governor admitted he has yet to talk to De Pedro and Mangosong.
“Kung anuman ang kanyang naging statement siguro iyon ay bugso ng kanyang damdamin. Sa sinabi niyang wala siyang chance na manalo ay tama dahil hindi naman siya nakapag-umpisa. Walang special treatment kahit na international rider ka kung hindi mo naumpisahan ang kompetisyon,” Tamayo said.
According to Tamayo, the “motocross event is not a competition because the T’nalak festival is for people to enjoy.” (Bong S. Sarmiento / MindaNews)