A new indoor velodrome now cast a shadow over a similarly International Cycling Union (UCI)-grade BMX track, but perched in the heart of several other sports facilities that mark Tagaytay City as a world-standard sports hub is a glimmering stainless steel 12-foot statue of national hero Dr. Jose P. Rizal clad in fencing gear greeting everyone at the main entrance of the new City Hall.

“It’s a tribute to our national hero the sportsman, the athlete,” Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said.

“We Filipinos know very well that Dr. Jose Rizal excelled in everything he engaged in and in sports, he was a fencer par excellance, a sharp shooter and if there were titles during his time, a grandmaster of ahedres — chess,” added Tolentino, also president of the lntegrated Cycling Federation of the Philippines.

A string of celebratory events marked the introduction of Dr. Rizal the fencer at City Hall — inauguration of the 250-meter wooden Tagaytay City Velodrome that helped highlight blessing ceremonies for more than a dozen brand new facilities including the modern-designed City Hall along Isaac Tolentino Avenue.

Tolentino brought members of the POC executive committee — onboard the city’s e-trikes — after their meeting before heading to the velodrome where close to 2,000 athletes, sports officials and Tagaytay City crowd witnessed the inauguration of the first of its kind — and one of a few in the Asean region — cycling facility.