Homeward

February 18, Monday. It’s been awhile since my last post. Dami ng email requesting for new posts hehehe. Medyo natengga. Sobrang busy pa rin tulad ng dati. I have so many stories I want to tell pero hindi ko maisulat ng maayos. 2 weeks na akong puro simula lang at paulit-ulit. I hope I can finish this one. hehehe

After the world cup, the team packed the bikes. Sir Hiso and I checked out of the hotel while Steve and Mark (Steve’s mechanic) stayed because their flight back to San Francisco was on the next day. Sir Hiso paid for the extra night of the team before the race. Sir and I then went to Tita Jocelyn’s (Daddy Hiso’s younger sis) house kasi dun muna ko magstay habang hindi ko pa alam ang flight ko papuntang Chicago. Mauuna si Sir sa akin kasi puno na yung flight nya. After completing everything saka ako pinasyal ni Sir kung saan-saan, nagpunta muna kami sa down town LA, namili ng caps, and bamboo tree na dadalin sa Chicago. Mahilig kasi sya sa halaman. He also brought me to Wild Card Gym of Coach Freddy Roach where Champ Manny Pacquiao trains but it was closed kaya picture na lang. We then went to Universal Studios. Wow! Hollywood na hollywood ang dating talaga! Puro picture taking ako para me remembrance. Namasyal kami ni Sir gamit ang service nya na Pontiac Grand Prix. Nalulula ako sa sobrang bilis. Parang eroplano kung humataw. hehehehe. Sayang d ako nakakuha ng international driving certificate para nasubukan, hehehe

I flew to Chicago on January 22. I was invited by Sir Hiso to visit his home. Mam Florita was expecting me and prepared for my arrival. VIP hehehe. She was consistently keeping in touch while I was still in LA with Sir, and was even deeply concerned about my health and jet lag. Hinatid ako ni Tita Lina (bilas ni Tita Jocelyn) sa airport, dun kasi sya nagwowork. Suot ko ang bigay ni Tito Bebot (Tita Lina’s husband, Tita Jocelyn’s broter-in-law) na sapatos. Souvenir daw nya sa akin. Dito ko na lang sa Pilipinas nalaman na Cole Haan pala at sobrang mahal. Ignoramus eh, hehehe astig! Matagal din pala ang byahe papuntang Chicago, inabot ng 6 hours due to the stop over in Las Vegas. Sir Hiso fetched me at the airport. Mam Flor was waiting for us at home and cooked special lugaw with tokwa’t baboy on the side. Pinas na Pinas ang dating, ang daming food hehehe. In the evening, Roland (Sir Hiso’s younger son) showed me around. We first visited his pit bull in his gf’s house. He was able to train his dog to do tricks. Nakakatuwa at ang bait. Di tulad ni Zeus (my German Shepherd) na nangangagat at nila Lucy at Rowan (Pugs ni Victor) na saksakan ng kukulit. After feeding and walking the dog, we went to a mall, then to an arcade. We played some games at nagbalik bata kami muna kahit sandali lang hehehe. Before heading back home, we went to White Castle. The little burgers were delicious! Pagbalik ng bahay ay pinakitaan ako ni Roland ng kanyang pag DJ. He works part time as DJ and quite popular in Chicago. He is taking up Electronics Engineering and will graduate in March.

Nakaschedule na agad ang lakad namin ni Sir kinabukasan. Sir and Mam showed me around. Pinuntahan agad namin si Idol Michael Jordan sa United Center kahit kasagsagan ng lamig hehehe. We also went to down town Chicago lumibot din dun saka konting picture taking. Pinasyalan nga pala din namin ang doktor nila Sir, si Dr. Ricardo Dizon. He was glad to meet me at napanood nya daw ako sa TV. Napapanood pala ako sa States hindi ko alam. Ignoramus talaga, hehehe. We then went to Performance Bikeshop. Sir bought me supplies I’ll need in my upcoming races. Ang gaganda ng mga gamit. I was drooling and wanted to check everything. Pero lahat ng makita nyang hinahawakan ko at iniinspect ko binibili nya. Sa sobrang hiya ko, di na ko naghawak pa. Wag abusado hehehe. Pero start pa lang pala yun. We also went to GNC para bumili ng mga vitamins na kailangan ko. After shopping for my bike supplies, nagpunta kami sa outlet ng mga sapatos at mga damit. He bought me my winter clothes. I only had few pieces of clothes because I opted to bring 2 bikes. Sir and Mam also bought pasalubong for my son and my wife. There were few people outside, sabi nga ni Sir kami lang daw siraulo ang nagshoshopping sa ganung kalamig. -20 degrees Celsius kasi. I was very thankful to Mam Florita. May mga asawa na nahihirapan intindihin ang pagbili ng mga gamit at pyesa ng mga asawa nilang siklista dahil sa sobrang mahal, pero si Mam kasama pa talaga ni Sir sa pagbili ng mga gamit hindi para sa sarili nya, kundi ibibigay lang sa akin. I never felt like an outsider in their home.

I was in Chicago for almost a week. I had my first winter experience. First time makakita ng snow at makaranas ng negative degrees. Sabi ni Mam “Hayan, gusto mo makakita ng snow, nung dumating ka dumami ang snow.” Now I know how to live in the freezer hehehe. I am expecting that I’ll get sick pero effective talaga ang flu shot na binigay sa SMAP before the SEAG. I did not get sick but still adjusting from jet lag. One time I helped Sir in shoveling the snow in the driveway. When we were done, we went inside the house to drink some coffee. while I was preparing our coffee, I thought the water was not hot and told Sir the dispenser might not be working. I put my finger in the water to check again and felt the water was still cold. Sir told me it can’t be the dispenser and ask me to check the water again. Uminom ako ng konti at mainit nga! I was so cold and numb na balewala ang init ng kape. Sa sobrang lamig, tumutulo ang sipon ng di ko namamalayan. hehehe.

Sir Hiso, Mam Florita, and their younger son Roland took turns in showing me around the Windy City. Roland also gave me a lot of pants and shirts, while Walter (Sir Hiso’s older son) and his wife Danielle gave me toys for Victor. I felt welcomed by the whole family, even Sir Hiso’s grandchildren, Jay, Tyler (almost the same age as my son), and Maxwell. We were always playing. Jay, Tyler, and I will start to play when they come home after school. Hanggang hating gabi ay gusto makipaglaro. Naalala ko tuloy ang little Victor ko. I also went with Roland one night at the clubs where he work. He was really good.

Napaka memorable ng stay ko kila Sir na every single day is important and meaningful. Wala akong pinalagpas na araw dun na masasayang dahil baka di na maulit ito. The night before my flight to LA, Mam and Sir hosted my despedida party. Their closest friends attended the party and I was formally introduced. Naikwento na kasi ako ni Sir sa mga kaibigan nya. All of the guests have something for me. Nahihiya na ako at tumanggi sa ibang regalo. Pero biniro ako ni Sir na bakit sa kanya ay hindi ako nahihiya. hehehe Unang dumating si Tito Ben na may dalang mga t-shirt para sakin, sumunod-sunod na sila nagdatingan Tito Ed na may Jeff Gordon Dupont Nascar para sa anak ko at Jordan shirt para naman sakin. Niresearch daw nya favorite ni Victor at nalaman nya na mahilig ito sa toy car. Tito Rey Wy friend ni sir na dance instructor na grooving groovy ng dumating hehehe. Pinabaunan din ako bago ko umalis. At ang huling dumating ay si Kuya Edgar, a Chicago police, astig!

January 28, Monday. Sir, Mam, and I had our usual breakfast together. Jay and Tyler woke up early to bid me goodbye. Sir and I also called my wife. Sir was always assuring her my safety at ako ay nasa mabubuting kamay. hehehe. Kamustahan at kwentuhan. Phone pal sila ni misis. hehehe. Before noon, I was at the airport for my flight back to LA. My flight was cancelled without prior notice so I rebooked a flight that same afternoon. Tito Bebot and Tita Lina fetched me at the airport in LA.

After a short but meaningful stay in Chicago, I have to go back to LA. At doon naman sumalubong ang isang potluck dinner na hinanda ng mga ADOBOvelo team. Kuya Deo fetch me in Tita Jocelyn’s place were I stay and go straight to Ryan’s place, also a member of ADOBOvelo. I was so surprise from what I’ve seen. They were all waiting for us to arrive. It’s a surprise party for me. I feel very special that night and I’m very thankful to the whole team. Ang daming food. Pinanood namin ung video nung karera ko kakahiya parang ayoko panoorin lagi ako sa hulihan hehehe. Nakatanggap ako ng mga souvenirs sa kanila. Ate Rosalie gave me a pair of continental tires, gloves and polka dot cap from Arden, helmet and shoes from Ryan and a t-shirt from Kuya Deo. Nagprepare talaga ang lahat para sa party. Salamat sa ADOBOvelo lalo na kay President Jesse.

Kinabukasan ay maaga naman akong ipinasyal ni Tito El sa mga bikeshop at mga ensayuhan nila sa LA. He bought 2 bell helmet para daw me souvenir daw sya sakin and the other helmet is for his pamangkin Gerald, na sinusuportahan nya sa dito sa Pilipinas. He also bought socks and water bottle para daw may ipasalubong. After that we went to Antonio Ragatz bikeshop and show me the Ragatz cycling shoes, sabi ko kasi ke Tito El na ganun sana ang supply naming cycling shoes nung SEAG but unfortunately there were no available size that will fit me. The shoes were either too big or too small, so I opted to have the shoes in cash and buy myself a pair that perfectly fits me. Upon learning this, Tito El insisted to buy me a pair of Ragatz. Hiya na ko talaga. He introduced me to Mr. Ragatz. He was very pleased to meet me and even asked for an autographed jersey that he can display in his shop. I was very flattered. Afterwards dumating si Ate Rosalie. She lives near by. Just before leaving the shop, we saw a high tech speedometer. She ask me if I’m using cadence, sabi ko oo gumagamit ako nun kahit dati pa. Not knowing that she was planning to buy the gadget for me. She then left in a hurry to go to another bikeshop before it closes since it was getting late.

Matapos ang mahabang pagliliwaliw namin ni Tito El, we went to the teams training grounds, hehehe. The team usually trains at night. Sobrang lamig at medyo madilim yung ensayuhan nila but very safe. The roads were wide and only few vehicles passed by. They start their training around 7 PM at ends it around 8 - 8:30 PM. They have a timer that blinks after an hour which is their signal to complete their last 5 laps. Bilib ako sa kanila kahit sa tindi ng lamig, which was around 8 degrees C, ay nakukuha pa talaga nila magensayo dahil na din siguro sa kagustuhan sa sport na ito.

After their training, konting kwentuhan, picture taking at signing ng mga picture at t-shirt nila. Wow celebrity ah! Binigyan ako ni Jeric ng souvenir picture na kuha nung world cup, souvenir din ke Sir Jessie (presidente ng ADOBOvelo team) yung raincoat, jersey naman ke Kuya Henry. Grabe para kong nagshopping to the max! Nakakailang at sobrang nahihiya ako talaga. Kay Sir Hiso lang makapal ang mukha ko eh, hehehe. Tatay ko na kasi yun, hehehe. Pagkatapos nun ay nagdinner kami nila Tito El, Ate Rosalie at Kuya Deo sa isang pinoy resto. While having our dinner, Ate Rosalie gave me the speedometer. I was surprised dahil tinitignan lang namin yun kanina. I am hesistant to accept it dahil nahihiya na ako talaga, but she insisted and told me I deserve it. Sobrang tuwa ko talaga at very thankful sa lahat.

January 30, Wednesday. I arrived at the LA airport before 1PM. My flight was at 7:30 PM. Tita Jocelyn drove me to the airport. I was worried that my 2 huge bike box won’t fit her Lexxus. Buti na lang nagkasya. I am very thankful for her kindness nad generosity. VIP talaga ang pakiramdam ko, kasi talagang napakaraming tumulong sa akin at pinag-aksayahan talaga ako ng panahon ng mga taong noon ko lang nakilala kahit na busy talaga sila. At hindi ko rin makalimutan experience to be able to ride in luxury cars. At syempre travelling alone without getting lost, at makipagdiskusyon sa airlines about my 2 bike box. I am also thankful sa mga nag-invite sa akin pero wala ng pagkakataon na mapuntahan ko, kila Kuya Blann. And to Pareng Raul, thank you so much for your help and believing in me. Sayang talaga at hindi na tayo nakapag meet. Malayo ang nararating ng inyong suporta. Maraming salamat din sa invitation at sa tawag. Gumaling na sana ang mother nyo. Kasama sya sa mga dasal ko sa Manaoag.   

February 1, Friday. I was back in Manila. I arrived at 3:45 AM. After a 16-hour flight as self-appointed seatmate and chatmate of Lola Aida (widow of a veteran and was travelling alone like me) in a half empty plane; after watching how the sky turn into morning very shortly then into darkness again for the first time in my life; and wondering paano dumaan ang January 31 ng hindi ko namalayan, madami-dami akong natutunan at narealize. Even though I knew from the start that the race will be very hard for me and I need a miracle to win because of my situation, I still feel bad that my performance was not enough to bring honor to our country. Even though I did my best, sayang at kulang pa din. Nahihiya ako sa lahat ng tao na tumulong at nag-abala para sa akin. Pero masyado ng mahaba kaya to be continued na yun in my next post.