I am bothered these days.
Bothered, by the fact, that members of the sports community have died on roads in our beloved City of Davao.
Jogging as a kid in Jacinto Street was one of my activities and I go straight to manong Alvin Abrau’s home to borrow his bike and off I go cycling on city roads. It’s funny to recall, manong Alvin thought he lost his bike, so a few days later, he would go to our home, talk to my old man, and retrieve it, LoL. Luckily, all those years, I go home in one piece, salamat sa Ginoo! But those were in the 1980’s, in an era when residents are not that many, meaning lesser vehicles, specifically jeepneys, on the road.
But times have changed and the population boomed in Davao City, thanks to the peace and order program of Mayor Digong, the former President of this Republic.
I googled and it showed that in 2021, Davao City’s population is 1,866,000. That simply means, more houses built and more vehicles on the road, compared to Davao City’s population in 1980 which was only 614,000. So gamay ra gyud ang jeepneys sa dalan atong panahona, lucky me!
Let me go to the my main piece of this column, the untimely deaths of Jun Paholio and Popong Dizon, two lovely members of the Davao sports community.
Salvador “Jun” Paholio Jr., head of the cycling association, lost his life a few years back and just a few days ago, former Holy Cross of Davao College Crusader standout Pedrito “Popong” Dizon.
Paholio, who for many years has served the cycling community, organizing the majority of our cycling races, was hit from behind by a speeding taxi cab in April 2019. He died while doing what he loved to do, cycling.
Popong Dizon was reportedly in his usual jogging routine early morning of September 29, when he was hit by a speeding vehicle. He died on the spot.
You may say, “Ana gyud ang kinabuhi”, accidents can happen.
But this raises an issue on athlete safety or in general, the safety of Dabawenyos on city roads.
We all know that rules are already in place when it comes to road safety but why the hell, some drivers are not very careful on the roads by looking out for cyclists and joggers.
I don’t know why drivers would not slow down upon seeing cyclists and joggers on the road!
That’s simple! Slow down!
I really cannot understand why some drivers cannot just do that.
It’s easy to say to slow down. But as drivers, have they not even thought that these members of the sports community have families and children to support?
When you see cyclists and joggers on the road, slow down! Just like the friendly jeepney drivers in the 1980s!
And if you have a conscience, you irresponsible drivers, who killed Jun and Popong, should support their families for as long as you live!
That’s your penance!
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Comments are welcome by sending an email to mpb_sports@yahoo.com.
Daghang salamat!
