The Conquering Hero

He is not (yet) a national hero, but in the eyes of the people of Malinao he is an inspiration to all the youths of this town.

Malinao, Aklan - Jose Irabon Ijalo, 29 years of age is married with two young children and is a native of Malinao. He is one of the 18 paddlers who represented the Philippine Dragon Boat Federation in the recent competion held in Tampa Florida in the United States of America. He garnered five gold medals and two silver plaques.

His group spent ten days in the USA, four of those days being spent on the water. Despite the fact that the group received no support from the Philippine government, he was quick to explain that the reason why they received no support is because they went into the competition as a private team. But all is well that ends well for this team because the Filipino Americans in Tampa spoiled them with donations of food which they shared with other teams from other countries.

Jose won medals for 1,000 meters paddling; premier mix 200 meters; premier mix 500 meters; premier open 200 meters, and 500 meters open. The two silver plaques he won from a mixed 500 meters paddling and mixed 200 meters paddling.

He was very surpised and thrilled at the welcome afforded to him by his fellow Malinaonons, and he definitely enjoyed the attention his own people showered upon him. ‘Oting’ commented “It feels good to be able to bring something back to Malinao that my own people can be proud of.” He is hoping to join more competitions and bring home more medals. From his humble origin he is now considered by the young people as their very own hero. More on the conquering hero on page 2.

One nice thing about this young man is he has no airs and graces, unassuming, unpretentious, friendly, loyal, protective of his people and country.

According to ‘Oting’ as he is fondly called by his friends, before he became a member of the Philippine Dragon Boat Federation, he is just like anyone else around him. Nobody gave him a second glance when people met him in the street. So the welcome that the Malinaonon afforded him .was such a surprise, heart warming and inspiring.

While he was a young student in Malinao, he was one of his school’s strong representatives in various parts of the Aklan Province. In 2000, he represented Malinao in Panaad Mansilingan held in Bacolod City, in Palarong Pambansa. In this event, he garnered two bronze medals in Track and Field for 1,500 meters and 500 hundred meters consecutively.

In 2006, he was given the opportunity to try out for beginner paddlers, which training they did in Manila Bay. He passed the rigorous training just after two months and it is now five years and eight months that he had been working with PDBF.

In 2007, he was one of the representatives of the PDBF to Australia where he won one (1) gold, one (!) silver and three (3) bronze in the paddlers World Championship. In 2009 he once again competed in the Czec Republic on another World Championship and gathered two (2) gold and one (1) silver.

This year 2011, he managed to win five (golds) and two silvers.

When they arrived in Tampa, they were all jet lag. But jet lag or no jet lag they had to play on the second day of their arrival. There were 24 delegates on this trip but only 18 were athletes. The welcome of the Filipino Americans in that country bolstered their spirits, with the Filipinos giving them so much support in terms of food, clothes and cash. As they were short of everything when they left the Philippines, the aid that their country men gave them was a real blessing. They were extremely pampered and everything went well.

Oting had travelled to most of the Asian countries because of the PDBF and he said that being a paddler for the PDBF had changed his life. Also that being a member of this group had given him so much. Last word from our conquering hero: “Our people where ever we are are truly dependable, especially the private sector. The Filipinos in Tampa, almost drowned us with their love, care, support not only physical, but emotional and spiritual too. The person I cannot forget in this journey is Ms. Edna Laurente from Batan. Because of the trust that our people had showered upon me, I will do my best to win more medals, not just for my self satisfaction but for the people who afforded me with unreserved appreciation for my current achievements. I am happy to be back in the bosom of my fellow Malinaonons and I hope that I will serve as an inspiration to the young people not just of Malinao, but anyone who believes that being poor is not a hindrance when one has ambition to succeed in life. Mabuhay ro mga Malinaonon.?TE