PAY it forward.
Philippine Army-Bicycology Shop members, who finished a strong second overall in the recent Ronda Pilipinas, donated 10 brand-new wheelchairs from their collective earnings to their fellow soldiers confined at the Armed Forces of the Philippines Medical Center in V. Luna, Quezon City.
Army-Bicycology Shop rider Sgt. Alfie Catalan, Sgt. Merculio Ramos Jr., Agt. Alvin Benosa, Sgt. Reynaldo Navarro, Cpl. Lord Anthony del Rosario, Pfc. Marvin Tapic, Pfc. Kenneth Solis, Pfc. Chris Joven, and coaches SSG Paterno Curtan and SSG Jhomilodin Lucman personally delivered the 10 wheelchairs, accompanied by Col. John Divinagracia, PA Director and Brigadier General Roy T. Devesa, Camp Commander, Phil. Army.
“Our victory is theirs, too,” said Philippine Army-Bicycology Shop team manager Eric Buhain. “And I’m very proud of this team, who agreed to share their winnings to their brothers-in arms. Indeed, this is the spirit of the Araw ng Kagitingan”
In a simple ceremony witnessed by fellow soldiers and officers of the AFPMC, Buhain’s team made the event commemorating the heroics of Filipino soldiers more memorable with their unselfish act and concern to their injured comrades.
“Ang sarap po ng pakiramdam ‘yung makita mo ‘yung kapwa mo sundalo na masaya kahit sa simpleng pamamaraan na naisip namin. Kumpara sa pinagdaanan nilang hirap sa mga bakbakan tulad sa Zamboanga at Marawi City, katiting lang kung ikukumpara ‘yung hirap namin sa training,” said Pfc. Joven, who topped Stage 3 of the grueling 12-stage bike marathon considered as the country’s premier bike race.
“Bago pa magsimula ang Ronda, nagkakaisa na kami na ibahagi an gaming makukuhang premyo sa aming mga kapwa sundalo. Sa susunod pong Ronda, mas huhusayan namin para mas marami pa kaming matulungan,” he added.
For their part, Brigadier Gen. Devesa and Col. John Divinagracia saluted the Army-Bicycology Shop team for their unselfish act and congratulated the them for putting the Philippine Army at the forefront of sports excellence.
