Gitaruelas, Carcueva shine in IBP-Cebu City’s criterium race

CEBU, Philippines —  Lovely Gitaruelas and Joel Carcueva bannered the list of winners in the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP)-Cebu City Chapter’s criterium race billed as “The Verdict” staged over the weekend along F.E Zuellig Avenue in Mandaue City.

Gitaruelas was crowned as women’s open champion after outclassing Karen Manayon and Nancy Antipuesto, who settled for second and third, respectively.

Carcueva, on the other hand, clinched a pair of titles. He reigned supreme in the 20-29 age group over John Louis Alatraca and Ramon de la Cruz and in the MTB category as well after besting Samstil Mamites and Khalil Sanchez.

In the battle among lawyers, Mariano James Cuenco came out as the first placer in the men’s division followed by Darwin Cula and June Maratas while Maria Alice Lim-Ingles emerged as the fastest in the distaff side, with Hazel Miranda-Caraballe and Arlette Maratas winding up second and third.

Philip Sainz lorded it over the 50-above division that saw The Freeman sports columnist JV Araneta and Haylen Bardaje occupying the next two spots.

The top three finishers in the other age brackets were Ramonito Espinosa, Albert Basirgo, and Donkey Sanchez (40-49), Roy Carbonela, Jhano Canasa, and Jerson Domingo (30-39), and Sumiso Basalan, John Taperla, and Dwight Santos (Under 19), 

Proceeds of the fund-raiser will go to the IBP-CCC’s legal aid initiatives particularly the Humanity Behind Bars Integrated Jail Decongestion and Management Program for Cebu City and Mandaue City Jail Male and Female Dormitories, the Colors for Second Chance for Children in Conflict with the Law, and the Integrated Legal and Developmental Legal Aid for the Badjao and Ati Indigenous Peoples.

The highly successful event was spearheaded by IBP-CCC President Michelle Mendez-Palmares together with Mary Grace Hermosa Casano, the chapter’s executive director for legal aid, and Regal M. Oliva, the deputy governor of IBP Eastern Visayas.

Mark Gregory Avila and John Dennis Fernandez served as project chairpersons of the race presented by Uban Ta Bai’ke UTB in partnership with the city government of Mandaue headed by mayor Jonas Cortes and the Young Lawyers Association of Cebu (YLAC). — EBV