Life is
a Bullet
[This article was first posted in September
2005 in our club’s website, but the latter is now long gone. Though the article had gained some age as this
guy has, yet to me it is something I always cherish. It is not that the events
happened during my days of youth because I was no longer one at this time.
Nevertheless, I was so attached in the sports we all adored, thus the longing
of reviving the old days is always there. So with my apology, please allow me
to post it again in this BlogSpot. Certainly, it is just for reminiscence of
everything good and sweet, and sometimes the bitterness of life. Today, we are
not what we had been before because the days of agility and aggressiveness in
the sports of cycling may have come to an end perhaps for the few of us.
Nonetheless, we always love cycling.]
Life
is a Bullet:
A projectile that is perfectly zeroed to a
target seldom missed. Life, in some
respects is like a bullet, too. It must
be aimed to a direction, to a vision in far a distance that is a bit farther even
than beyond. But definitely, it has also to deliver or execute what had been
planned to achieve one’s set goals.
To cope with time and be attuned with the
demands of the day-to-day challenges, one has got to be smarter, faster and
more focus in work, thus answering existing and upcoming pressing concerns.
The
Club:
Well, as a bike group, we chose the word
BULLETS with no ulterior intentions whatsoever to imprint into ourselves and
proclaimed the traits of “superiority, smartness, and so on” on us. In true
sense, we are merely a surviving small bike group, bonded by common aspirations
and likings that jointly uphold the beliefs that biking as a recreational sport
certainly would promote good health and win friends.
BULLETS is an acronym for “BALINGASAG
UNDISTINGUISHED LAST LEGION OF EXTREME TREKKERS”. It came out as a preferred
name through one brain-stormy sessions on March 4, 2002, after hosting
successfully the 2nd Cross Country Mountain Bike Race in Balingasag, our hometown.
The group unanimously approved the name Bullets, in a hope to bring forth our
message of camaraderie and goodwill among the mountain biking communities, and
promote the sports in a language that denotes speed. Though somehow, it seems
irregular to associate the word with mountain biking than guns, we just did not
mind, for us it suffices.
Since the formal organization of the group,
Darwin I. Emata has been our consistent Club President, the main-man behind the
technical aspects of the website, and a descendant of pioneering cycling local
personalities, his uncles Amado and Endelecio.
Aided by equally able leaders, Wally S.
Veronilla and Salvador T. Co, Vice Presidents for Administration and
Operations, respectively, this club went on smoothly. The other officers aside from those mentioned
had likewise proven their sincerity and sense of responsibility, which hardened
further the core. They are Valeriano Tabamo, Aldrin Zambrano, Caleb Lagarto,
Conrado Valmorida, Constantino Atasan, Jr., Felix Cagampang, Joseph Mirandilla,
Karlo Valmores, Roberto Valmorida, and Rosauro Valmores, together with the
weary veterans Theodore Tagarda, Thaddeus Abuzo, Allan Blanco that likewise
includes me.
With proven qualities too, the club had
Noli Reambonanza, Joseph Cuerquez, Bembo Gonzales, Edgar Kilaton, Jose
Virtudazo, Clemente Sabuero, McKay Veronilla, Boy Lee Abuzo, Ryan Montes,
Jayare Montes, and Carmelito Llausas. In addition, the group welcomes bikers
Jovito Beroy and Reynante Sabugaa. Our Bullets’ list – the followers of
Kirkpatrick Macmillan, the innovator of the velocipede or dandy horse to a
self-propelled machine in 1839 that was considered as the true bicycle; maybe
from time to time would become longer or shorter. Certainly, commitments are
the prime denominators.
Reminiscence
and Tribute of Esteem:
Finally, the Bullets remembers in grief the
demise of a brother, who had been from the early start of mountain biking era
in Balingasag, contributed much to the development of the club. He was an
enduring Route Explorer/Guide, skilful Bike Mechanic, and our Liaison Officer
with the mountain biking clubs in Cagayan de Oro, a Club Artist, and a
Seasoned/Awarded Mountain Biker, who represented his club in big races. He
graduated at Xavier University, Cagayan de Oro City, with a bachelor’s degree
in Business Management, and a “man for others” following the ideals of Jesuit
education.
He was and would always be a brother to his
cycling buddies. We, the older ones always remember him, as our son. Indeed, a
respectful and obedient son, whom the Lord Almighty called to His Bosom on
March 10, 2005, while on his work assignment in Iloilo City, Panay Islands, as
a Salesman in the Food and Beverage Division of a highly reputable
Pharmaceutical Company.
We
remember the legacy he left; and we would never forget Bienvenido Ipanag Emata
III, “Bedong, the younger brother of Darwin, even in the hissy and creaky
sounds of our drive trains in steep ascents, in the noises of our brake pads
and disc plates during extreme downhill maneuvers, in our yells, smiles and
pains, as we ride or trudge along the difficult passes in search for adventure,
for in our respective memories, somehow and somewhere; our departed brother
could just be there, as he used to lead the way; sometimes ago.
Forevermore, his memory will live on in our
hearts and minds. Though how shorter Life was for him at 26 that is beyond
question. What is so important, he had been able to spend it honorably and righteously.
His life was indeed a Bullet … a speedy projectile aimed to a Mission and
Purpose.
So long dear Brother … so long dear Son,
this is never good-bye.
