A Tribute to my Husband
My husband is a very quiet person. But despite being silent, he maintains to be friendly. He was once voted Mr. Friendship by his classmates during his training in military. Pero aside from cycling and non-stop texting, another hobby is whining. Sa akin lang naman yun. Hindi naman nya ginagawa sa iba. Lagi nya akong ginagawang barangay na na sumbungan at reaklamuhan. Pero ang pinakapinagmamalaki kong trait ng asawa ko ay pagiging humble. Never umakyat sa ulo nya ang kung ano man ang narating nya o nagawa nya. Kaya I can say na mali ang pagbanggit sa kanya ng isang coach in one news article at sabihin na he’s running the tour for personal glory. Far from truth! Paano mangyayari yun eh dumating nga kami sa point na halos burahin na sya sa cycling and yet he kept his silence. Lahat itinago nya pero alam ko dahil ako ang nakakita paano sya nag suffer. Sa akin umiiyak ang asawa ko. Ako ang gumagamot ng mga sugat nya sa tuwing naaaksidente sya. Ako ang nagmamasahe sa kanya gabi-gabi. Kami ng anak ko ang naiwan ng biglaan at walang ibang kasama sa bahay namin sa bulubunduking area ng nova one christmas kasi may mga kasama at mga kumpare sya na siniraan sya sa kampo. Ginagawa syang kalabaw ng mga taong tinulungan nya at pinagkakitaan sya. Sa mga taong ginamit lang sya, makunsyensya sana kayo kung meron man. Si Sir Hiso lamang ang natatanging personalidad sa cycling ang nangamusta at nagcomfort sa kanya sincerely noong unang-una siyang di pinasali ng tour. The man he looked up to and idolize. He respects him as his second father. I witnessed kung gaano sya kalungkot at nahihirapan noon. Buti na lamang at nagkataon nandito si sir noon. Yung ilang tao na nagtatanggol sa kanya sa mga naninira sa kanya napapaaway. Matagal talagang walang direksyon ang kanyang career. Although our family is fine and stable, I can still see na emptiness in him. Kapag napapag-usapan namin ang mga foreign contemporaries nya, he admits that he seems wasted at siguro ganun na din sya if he had the same training and opportunity. Alam ko na forever na kami ng anak ko na second priority ng husband ko. Kaya wala akong magagawa but to take this positively by loving cycling as a sport as well, but not certain personalities in it. Cycling is my husband’s life, taking the sport away from him is like taking his life.
This blog has become the baby of my husband with the technical help from webmaster. It was created as suggested by webmaster as part of her school work, and shane chin for cannondale. In just a few months it has come a long way reaching out Pinoy cyclist world wide. Pero ang napakalaking nagawa ng blog ay ang ibalik ang dating sigla ni Victor. From just being his libangan, it became his source of inspiration and motivation. Bumalik na ang dating sigla nya. Nagkaroon na sya ng way to express himself minus the feeling of embarassment that he might say something dorky. I am happy watching a grin form on his face as he reads each comment every time he checks his site. Di sya makapaniwala sa mga nagpapakita sa kanya ng suporta ng mabasa nya ang mga comments na pinadala ko sa kanya in Baguio. He also showed it to his team. Kitang-kita na motivated sya. Dahil hindi alam ng lahat na 1 week sya nagkasakit at halos di nakagtraining before the tour started. He was really depressed dahil talagang wala sya sa kundisyon. Hindi sya makahinga ng maayos at sumakit na naman ang injury nya sa itb sa left leg. Nag bukol-bukol na naman ang legs nya immediately after the prologue. Pero nakaya nya despite the pain. Nadaan sa maraming panalangin ng mga taong naniniwala pa rin sa kanya.
I am not building up my husband’s image. Hindi nya yun kailangan kasi hindi sya mayabang. I am just describing him kung ano ang pagkakakilala ko sa kanya. Tahimik, mahiyain, humble, addict sa text, sakitin, reklamador at sumbungero sa akin lang, Mr. Friendship, at ngayon blogger, pero on leave dahil sa race kaya substitute muna ako. Pero sana wag naman magalit sa akin. Medyo nabibingi na pala dahil sa busina habang nagbabike sa kalye yun sabi nya, at makakalimutin dahil naman daw siguro sa sobrang bilad sa araw ang ulo nya at sa mga spills, ewan ko lang kung palusot lang yun. At spider man! galing umakyat ng pader, pang akyat bahay gang! Sleep talker pala kaya honest din. Kaya hindi pwede magsinungaling dahil siguradong huli!
Luv, tapos na ang tour. You’ve proven yourself again despite all the hassles. Everybody knows how great a cyclist and a person you are. We are proud of you! Hiling ko lang sa iyo uwi ka ng buo at walang sugat, pero may malaking bonus ka pa, your victory. Congatulations Victor. We love you!
from your wife and kuwa victor
Peace tayo ha ![]()





Sir Thorvic The Great,
It’s great that you accomplish so much in such a short amount of time. With your deep belief in good nutrition, having a lung busting training program, proper recovery time and diet, bright scientific knowledge and technical know how, a great supporting wife, family and friends, the continuance in believing in yourself that you can still do it, and most of all, the greatest help from ABOVE (through your wife’s daily trek to Antipolo), you’ve made it the GREATEST COME BACK CHAMPION OF ALL TIMES!!! This will be a legacy you will cherish forever.
A good timing was the blog you had set up months before the race culminating in achieving what the title exactly says “The Victorious One” indeed.
To the lucky seven team members, coach, owners, managers, staffs and the other supporting sponsors, I commend you!
Yours truly,
An Avid Fan
Comment by Anonymous — May 27, 2007 @ 9:57 pm
To Mrs. Victor Espiritu,
A salute to you! As they say,
“Behind a successful husband is a supportive
wife!”
Mabuhay kayong magpamilya!
Btw, may hihingiin sana akong big favor
from you… I have this poster of Sir Victor
from 10 years ago that I keep in
my garage wall together with other
cycling legends that I collect,
can you print it and have him
autograph and re-scan and email to me
please. I will reimburse you for your
cost if you have to do this outside of your
house.
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k111/fgatdula/frankandvic.jpg
Maraming salamat po!
Frank Gatdula
Stockton, California
Frank Gatdula
Comment by Frank Gatdula — May 28, 2007 @ 3:48 am
CONGRATULATIONS, VICTOR!!! you really are THE victorious one when it comes to cycling and your family.
Despite all the pain and suffering you and your wife have been through, there’s always a treasure waiting for you. it’s not money, but SUCCESS and happiness. A couple of things a humble person like you truly deserves.
Cheers!
Comment by maya — May 28, 2007 @ 10:56 am
To Mr. Frank Gatdula,
I’ll take your photo with me and have it printed tomorrow.
- Webmaster
Comment by Webmaster — May 28, 2007 @ 4:22 pm
CONGRATULATIONS from DUBAIRACERS you guys deserve it coz you guys work very very hard,and the fact that you ask help from GOD above,MABUHAY KAYO……
Comment by ironman — May 29, 2007 @ 1:10 am
When I saw your photograph in 1996 hanging at Manang’s store located on top of the hill of Bugarin (that was the time when you won the Marlboro Tour), you gave your avid admirers in cyling the inspiraton and motivation to continue their passion in cycling and I was one of them who had continued this passion all along. I still remember when you slipped during the “Tour ng Pilipinas - year 1997″ you placed second overall because of this unexpected incident. But for me you are the unbeatable CHAMPION and will remain CHAMPION. After Eight years, that was in 2004 I finally met you and I have proven myself that you are really my CHAMPION as you exude the traits of a CHAMPION being humble,friendly and always with a big smile.
Comment by Willy Baysauli — May 29, 2007 @ 1:58 am
I met Amor Baluyot in Dubai and he shared inspiring stories about your achievements and your naughtiness as well. It is quite pleasing to the ears listening to his stories about you all the time.
I am very excited to go home in July ‘07, as you mentioned in your e-mail, that if you are not busy, that we could join your cycling practice before the big race in our town Laguna! But you do not have to beat me at the finish line he, he, he….. I am looking forward for this unforgettable day to come………
Comment by Willy Baysauli — May 29, 2007 @ 2:24 am
Your success story inspires not a few people I know. More power!
Comment by 2per Santos — May 29, 2007 @ 11:28 am
I just want to express how inspiring you are both as an athlete and a person. For someone who has done SO MUCH for Philippine cycling both nationally and internationally, I appreciate your humility. I just want to say that you truly represent the Filipino both in your athletic potential, but most importantly as an exceptional human being. It makes me even more proud to be a Filipino. You truly are a role model.
Comment by Cyclist from the U.S. — June 7, 2007 @ 3:11 pm