Clark is still it.
Call it nostalgia or even a sense of belonging. A homecoming of sorts.
My recent activities that were both Clark-related evoke those feelings. I worked, slept, dreamt, woke up there for 26 years. I still live the Clark way.
Been there, done that as I was blessed to travel and visit 5- and 7-star hotel resorts here and abroad. But Clark will always be home for me. My feet will always find their way to this former US military airbase. And here are some reasons that made me say that.
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One, the recently-concluded CIFA Tournament (Clark International Football Academy) took me back to The Villages inside the Freeport. It brought back memories how we projected Clark to be a Sports Tourism destination while in the CDC Communications Division not too long ago.
The Villages is home to the Clark International Sports Complex, a multi-sports destination that serves as the anchor of the community of residents, guests, and athletes. The complex sits on just over 14 hectares of land athat includes two professional baseball fields, four wagon-wheel baseball fields, two multi purpose fields dedicated to soccer/rugby, a 2-km jogging path and additional recreational facilities.
It also hosts The Mansion, a 4-star family-friendly boutique hotel inspired by the grand plantation homes of America’s South and the idyllic manors found in a charming European village. I used to take a sip of coffee here whenever I wanna get detoxed from work that swamped me at CDC.
This place is real nice, homey, and one-of-a-kind.
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The recently-held CIFA was a complete success. Teams from Batangas, Palawan, Cordillera, Ifugao, and Bukidnon, as well as renowned football clubs and school teams such as San Beda University, La Salle University, Ateneo de Manila University, Miriam College, KAYA FC, and Laos FC participated.
With teams like these trooping to CIFA, this event promises to become a huge sporting event in the country not too long from now.
CIFA is a community sports program. It gives the youth to explore and enjoy a welcome alternative to popular sports like basketball. It was started by Alexander Dy-Reyes who, from several years ago, has always been so supportive to his kids (to his wife too Cherry Manalo who has not lost in any election the past 30 years or so and is now again running for a seat at Pampanga’s Board).
I remember buying for Alexander, our neighbor, some soccer shoe cleats in one of my trips to New York when I was still covering the UN General Assembly at the Big Apple. That’s how dead serious he is in supporting their kids and the sport.
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What lends CIFA even more success and pride is the support of Haulands Holdings Inc. (HHI) to the event that gathered 120 teams across the country last March 29 and 30.
Atty. Ryan Tan, the CEO of HHI whose company has given opportunity for tens of thousands of families to own their own homes, was so supportive of this endeavor. Not that only one can show ooohs and ahhs whenever I hear him in his business talks, Atty. Ryan and HHI infuse a new kind of dynamism to our young players, coaches and players.
He and the top honchos of this byword in housing industry (especially his Dad Willy) are not only so concerned with making the company bigger. Their support to CIFA could mean having Philippine teams and Filipino players emerging as champs in regional and international football competitions in the future. The FIFA being one of the coveted ones.
With HHI helping out, I hope for the success of CIFA where one day I would see a victorious Filipino player citing his training in Clark in a post game interview or championship speech.
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Two — The Medical City-Clark media meet at Seeds 25 recently also brought some sense of pride.
Well, for one, this is the only Joint Commission International (JCI) accredited hospital outside of Metro Manila. Seeing and coordinating with the amiable Evelyn “Ebong” Luciano-Yumul brought back those years when we at Pampanga Press Club held some media forum and kapihans there. And how the now-retired Mam Ebong (now Consultant) worked on our MOA that, in a nutshell, gave PPC members and their families discounts on out-patient services and in-patient care.
The JCI accreditation is a badge of excellence and honor for Clark as this bespeaks of superb facilities and service in hospital care and management. JCI, as would my friends and family in the US would tell me, is something that gives them an extra source of assurance that they are in the right place whenever they have to go to a hospital.
TMC Clark is where I used to have Executive Check ups while still working for CDC. It is still my go-to hospital for some discomforts I get. Two years ago, I’ve had physical therapy here and the facilities and equipment are just A1. And so are the doctors I went to like Dr. Jesus Martin Generoso. Not to forget Dr. Isser Sugay, my pulmonologist. The officers and staff – whether in medical and allied profession or in administrative functions – are equally great and most of all, courteous and polite.
Take a bow there Dr. Noel Lacsamana, TMC Clark president and CEO.
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Three – Tom N Toms Clark by the Parade Grounds is also a special place for me. On a lazy afternoon, I would go there to take a breather from meetings and errands. Sometimes, I would take friends and former classmates there for a nightcap.
From church on a Sunday morning, we would also go there for breakfast. Even as coffeeshops mushroomed in Clark, the past three years or so, TnT is still the most convenient, comfy and homey and reasonably priced coffee joint where parking is also not a problem. Just like its branches in Hann Resort’s 8th Avenue at Swissotel Clark and at the Clark International Airport international departure, the staff are so nice too. They make coffee tastes even better.
