Nilo Barbalose in action in this contributed photo.
THREE years ago, 50-year-old Nilo Barbalose was not sure if he would race ever again on a bike after suffering multiple injuries when he got hit by a speeding motorcycle while doing practice runs.
But now, he’s back to racing and even collecting medals along the way.
His recent wins, all in the golden category, were the 13th San Francisco Camotes Cross Country Mountain Bike Challenge last Saturday, the 15th President Ramon Magsaysay Sr. Mountain Bike Challenge in Mount Manunggal last week, and the National Mountain Bike Invitational – First Circuit Challenge in Sagay, Negros Oriental last March 10.
Recalling the time when he got injured, Barbalose said he thought it was the end of his racing career.
“Dako kaayo og kadaot sa akong lawas nga akong nahiaguman,” he said. (My body suffered a lot.)
Barbalose, an active member of the Keith DeFiebre cycling team, said that he was doing practice runs on Oct. 16, 2014 from his hometown in Toledo City to Aloguinsan in preparation for the Juscar Cup in Talisay City, Cebu. On his way home, a motorcycle suddenly sped towards him. He tried to avoid the motorcycle but it still clipped the back of his bike. Because the motorcycle was so fast, the impact immediately threw him off his bike.
“Nilupad ko. Unya wala na ko makahibalo sa tanan,” he said. (I flew off my bike. Then I didn’t know what happened after that.)
He suffered multiple fractures on his left collar bone, left jaw and forehead — all of which are now replaced with titanium implants.
“Paggawas nako sa hospital, mga one year kapin ko naa ra gyud sa balay. Unya sa one year kapin, sa akong paminaw nga naa ra ko sa balay nga wala na koy pasingot, mura man nuon og kapoy ang akong lawas” (When I got out of the hospital, I just stayed in the house for more than a year. And in that one year wherein I didn’t do any activity that would make me sweat, I felt lethargic.)
He then decided to return to biking, which upset his wife Edna and daughters Leslie Ann, Carmel and Catherine. However, they soon learned to accept his decision.
“Nalipay gyud kog dako nga gitagaan pa ko og second life sa Ginoo,” he added. (I feel great joy that God has given me a second life.)
Barbalose said he had accepted what had happened to him and now is ready to continue racing.
“Okay ra man, kay nakadawat man gyud ko sa tanan kay dili man gyud ta makabuot sa mga panghitabo. Kay ang makabuot sa tanan nga mga panghitabo ang Ginoo ra man gyud.”
(It is okay because I have accepted everything that happened. We do not have a hand in whatever happens because only God can decide what will really happen.)
Since 2015, team owner Keith DeFiebre has organized the annual “Race for Nilo Barbalose,” a fund-raising competition for Barbalose’s strengthening therapy sessions and medications.
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