Born on the 4th of September, 1935, in Calaoagan, Laoac, Pangasinan, RUFINO NERONA GABOT lays claim to the title of Champion in the 1957 Tour of Luzon. Not a simple achievement considering that he bested over a hundred other aspirants from all over the Philippines for the title.
The 1957 Tour of Luzon was the second Tour of Luzon. The first time it was held was in 1956, at which time then 21 year-old Gabot also participated, placing second to Tour Champ Antonio Arsala of Sta. Cruz, Laguna.
He also participated year in and year out in all succeeding Tours until 1965, and was consistently among the Top 10 to complete the grueling week-long Tour of Luzon.
It was a hot Saturday afternoon when BIKEtayo Inc. went to see Mr. Gabot at his home in Calaoagan. Clad in shorts and a T-shirt, the still sprightly 75-year old Rufino Gabot graciously accommodated us inside his house to show the plaques he has received for his achievements. Already blackened and a bit tarnished with age, the plaques nonetheless occupied a place of honor in the Gabot living room, in plain view for all visitors to see.
Regrettably, all the photographs and newspaper clippings that may have given this story more color have succumbed to age, ravaged by moths and termites, and had to be disposed off, leaving the tarnished plaques alone to give testimony to the greatness of this Lawakenian cyclist.
His memories of the various Tours that he competed in, however, remain fresh even after over five decades; and he recounted dates and personalities with ease and an undeniable feeling of love for the sport that he has excelled in.
“Nung 1955, nag-aaral ako ng Mechanical Engineering sa Guzman Institute of Technology sa Manila, tapat ng Central Market. Nung taon na ‘yun ginanap yung Manila-Vigan Bike Tour. Nung napanood ko ‘yun sabi ko sa sarili ko na sasali ako sa ganyang competition.
True enough, in 1956, Gabot participated in the First Tour of Luzon, the first serious cycling competition he joined.
“Nung high school ako nakikipagkarera na ako sa bisikleta pero sa mga pustahan lang. Nananalo na ako nun. Tapos sa mga piyesta, pag may karera ng bisikleta sumasali ako. Bata pa lang talaga ako mahilig na ako magbisikleta.”
“Pagsali ko sa First Tour of Luzon (1956), tumakbo na ako papunta sa finish line. Iniwan ko na yung bike ko. Mga 100 meters na lang yun papuntang finish line kaya tinakbo ko na. Binangga kasi ako ng isang scooter nung malapit na sa Finish Line. Tumalsik ako, pati bike ko tumalsik din. Di ko na makita bisikleta ko kasi maraming tao.
“Wala akong kilala nun nung sumali ako. Nung second Tour of Luzon, nung nag Champion ako, tatlo kaming taga Pangasinan. Kasama ko sina Servillano Pama na taga Manaoag at si Ignacio Jacinto na taga Laoac din. Taga Talogtog. Siya ang nag second place nung nag Champion ako sa 1957 Tour of Luzon. “
The week-long Tour of Luzon, according to him, starts in Luneta and ends in Rizal memorial Stadium. He says it was more difficult to compete then as only few of the roads were cemented. They had to traverse miles and miles of rough road, and literally eat dust.
“Ang pinakamahirap na part yung paakyat ng Baguio. Ang bisikleta ko nun yung PERSON na racer, continuous, walang kambyo pa nun kaya mahirap talaga pag paakyat. Nung 1958 lang nagkaron ng bike na may kambyo. Binuhat ko lang yung bike ko nung paakyat na. Mabigat pa yung mga bike noon, di tulad ngayon.”
“Ang baon ko nun madalas kundandit galing sa Manaoag, suman at saka itlog na hilaw. Nilalagay ko yun sa parang belt bag na gawa sa tela. Maraming lalagyan yun, dun ko nilalagay ang mga pagkain na baon ko sa daan. Tinahi ng nanay ko para sa akin yung bag na yun.”
“Yung tubig na dala ko mga dalawang litro. Ang lalagyan ng tubig improvised na kinabit sa bike ko tapos may hose para pwede ako sumipsip ng tubig anytime. Pag naubos yung dala ko, wala na akong tubig. Di tulad ngayon na may nagbibigay ng tubig sa daan. Pero di ka din naman pwede uminom ng maraming tubig pag nasa daan kaya okay lang.”
Each day, he said, they had to travel an average of 200 kilometers. This usually means about five hours of almost non-stop pedaling. There are designated finish lines for each day’s race where they are met by Tour officials who then record their official times. This is where they would also spend the night, and are provided with food and lodging by Tour organizers.
On the specific Tour in 1957 when he became Champion, Gabot and some other contenders had to have a deciding race around the Rizal Memorial Stadium in order to determine who will be Champion. They went around the track 5 times, and, as history would have it, Gabot won and was declared Tour of Luzon 1957 Champion.
“Masaya ako nung nanalo ako. Maganda rin kasi nakilala ako hindi lang ng mga taga Laoac kundi sa buong Pilipinas.”
For his feat, Gabot received a Plaque from the Philippine Sportswriters Association and the prize money of Three Thousand Pesos (Php3,000.00). During that time, the exchange rate was two pesos to the dollar, and so the sum was already considerable. He used his winnings to purchase a fish pond in Dagupan, which sadly, he had to sell later on.
Although he has lost this particular investment, Gabot has no regrets and has successfully raised a family with his wife, Carmen Lopez Gabot who hails from nearby Pao, Manaog. They have seven children, Richard, 52; Ylangy, 51; Rufino, Jr., 50; Marlon, 46; Judy, 44; Andrew, 34 and Erikson, 26.
RUFINO GABOT WITH WIFE CARMEN INSIDE THEIR RESIDENCE RUFINO GABOT POSING WITH GRANDSON
His love for cycling, also, did not diminish with age. He still joins BIKEtayo members in some bike runs, even going as far as Damortis, a town over 40 kilometers away from Laoac.
“Ang maipapayo ko lang sa mga gustong maging Cycling Champion din, wag silang gumamit ng mga (illegal) na pampalakas ng katawan . . . yung steroids . . . at wag gumamit ng droga. Wag silang magbisyo, wag manigarlyo at uminom ng alak. Magpraktis ng maigi, at wag aabusuhin ang katawan para laging handa sa competition. Wag din kalimutan ang Diyos at palaging manalangin”.
“Maganda ang simulain ng BIKEtayo, Inc.”, he further adds. “Gusto ko yung maraming nakikitang nagbibisikleta dito sa Laoac.”
Indeed, Rufino Nerona Gabot has given Laoac a name in Philippine Cycling. His quiet ways and unassuming stance belies a strength and determination few people could hope to have. This Silent Champion, as he is fondly called by BIKEtayo Inc Founder and Adviser General Silverio D. Alarcio, Jr. (Ret), has achieved greatness in a sport that he loves; and his achievements in Cycling will always hold a significant place in the annals of Laoac history.
