When Salvador “Jun” Paholio Jr. made “sumbong sumbong” to me that his request for financial assistance contained in a folder was just simply placed inside a drawer and was told “mag usap muna kami sa Boss mo”. He was taken aback. Thus, the “sumbong sumbong”. The good thing with Jun, he is not hot headed. Dili ba pala away ba.
My tendency has always been to side with athletes and local sports leaders, who majority of them are from the private sector. But I must admit, I tend to start hating them when they treat athletes and legitimate sports leaders like that.
That kind of arrogance is a big No when it comes to serving the public.
For some reasons, I was holding my punches, so to speak. And was thinking on what to do with it.
Probably, it was fate that government official was “booted out” and replaced by a well-mannered and humble sports leader in an OIC capacity. That was the day that Jun Paholio was celebrating.
Slowly but surely, we started working out some sports projects for Jun. Luckily, our friends at dxDC-Radio Mindanao Network led by Dodong Solis found a sponsor and Jun was able to hold a BMX competition in partnership with the Sports Development Division-City Mayor’s Office and the Philippine Amateur Cycling Association-XI that year.
And from there, the ball started rolling for Jun and for the cycling community. From a simple BMX competition, he was already organizing cycling tour around the Davao Region.
Jun has become unstoppable.
If you look at Jun, you see a bulging stomach, sun-baked, not so tall and not really short guy, and who speaks in a low-tone voice, which I find sometimes funny. Cyclists call him “coach”, others call him “engineer” that’s because he is an electrical engineer by profession and to many friends specially in the Davao City Sports Council, we simply call him “Jun”, unlike manong Ferdie “Batman” Lintuan, our Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) president, who prefers to call him Lio Ho Pa, a reverse of his family name Pa Ho Lio.
He shared one story of his “ligaw ligaw” of a lady and I never doubted him that he can make that lady say “yes” to him. You see, Jun is a very charming guy.
Jun is one of the hard-working sports leaders you can find. And he is very friendly too. He normally approached you with a cute smile and makes “sumbong sumbong”, his way of sharing his concern and making suggestions on what should be done to improve cycling development in Davao.
I don’t know why I haven’t apologized to him because everytime the sports staff would go out for beer, normally on a Friday night, and Jun is with us, I started shaking by San Miguel Beer pilsen bottle and started showering my friends and usually, usually, Jun Paholio gets showered a lot.
“Pare, hubog na ka ato ba. Gipa siritan nimo si Paholio ug beer,” compadre RD Ramirez would tell me days later.
But each time, there’s a drinking session with the boys, Jun would just show up. And the same incident happens. Yet when RD notices that I am in good drinking condition, nothing happens to Jun. Walay masayang nga bugnaw nga beer.
When the recent news about the bike lane inauguration was published, thanks to the efforts of all government agencies, that reminded me of Jun Paholio and Councilor Leo “Happy L.A.” Avila, who years ago, were already talking about having bike lanes in Davao City.
Paholio, sadly I learned, lost his life in an accident. He was hit by a driver while enjoying his regular biking in one of the streets in Davao. I told myself, had the bike lanes been in placed in the first place, probably, Jun will still be around. But you see, even with or without bike lanes, you’ll just never know. That’s what life is all about and death comes like a thief in the night.
So I reached out to Ed Leuenberger, one of Davao’s enduring cycling sports leaders, for his reaction on that welcome development.
Ed said he is so happy that the Davao City Bicycle Ordinance authored by Councilors Peter Lavina and Leo “Happy L.A.” Avila has became a reality.
“Akala ko I would never see a bike lane in Davao City in my lifetime and it took a pandemic to finally push the implementation of the bike lanes. It’s not perfect but it’s more than we dreamed of. Much safer than the time that cyclist was not considered to be on the road. Now, we are considered as non-motorized road users,” Ed said.
Ed added that the car owners and drivers are now being educated that bicycles and other forms of micro mobility transport have also rights to safe mobility. “Good thing that government realized that. Alternative transport is part of the solution in moving people (not cars) in the traffic, pollution, parking problems in our city plus bonus pa na happier and healthier bike commuters”.
“Eversince na implement ang bike lanes, I ride to work and errands six days a week. Magamit ko lang ang car kung may heavy load,” Ed said.
Isn’t that wonderful?
Dominic Carpio, a Southeast Asian Games gold medalist in cycling, said that finally after a decade, ordinance was finally implemented by City Hall. “Leo Avila must be smiling in heaven,” Dominic said.
“Wala pa kaayo naanad ang mga cyclists ug drivers sa saktong paggamit ini, wa mi nagdahom taas taas man di ay ang learning curve sa proper use ani. Foreign pa kaayo ang signages and lane markings, daghan pa wala kasabot pero give it more time para finally mahan-ay na gyud ang bike lane system sa tinook nasud,” he said.
“Time will come, it will be safe for children to bike to school and workers to bike to work, then we will realize the impact of all of this to our environment, economy and health,” Carpio added.
“Kudos to the incumbent city council’s transportation committee and the bikers working group who helped in crafting the necessary amendments to the ordinance”.
What a lovely development for the cycling community. Hinay hinay, ma parehas na ang Davao City sa mga siyudad sa Europa where bikers are protected and respected.
By the way, just like the late Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas regional director Regino “Boy” Cua, Jun Paholio’s birthday month is also a September.
So, happy birthday ninyo diha sa Langit mga higala.
For sure, duna puy bike lanes diha gipa implement nila Happy L.A. while listening to the song of “Bicycle Race” by the Queen.
