Win or lose, he gets high out of kite-flying

He spent close to P5,000 building his kites and another P2,500 renting a jeepney that took him and his family from their home in Mabalacat, Pampanga to the Rizal Park in Luneta.

Joselito Martin, a 38-year-old electrician at the Clark International Airport, was of course hoping for a victory in the adult category of yesterday’s grand finals of the Bear Brand Kitefest.

Joselito fielded five colorful entries, the Bicycle Glider, Cyrstal Ball and Jungle Spider among them, that needed more than a month to finish. He worked on them three hours a day.

Unfortunately, not one of them came out a winner.

The Bicycle Glider, a makeshift bike that was turned into a kite, came in second in the figure class of the adult category won by the Firebird Rooster of Francis Mallari who took home P10,000.

Joselito’s runner-up finish on a hot, humid day was worth P8,000. It was barely enough to cover his expenses for the kitefest which he has missed only once in its 15 years of existence.

But Joselito offered no excuses and was far from showing any disappointment, too. For him, it was just another experience and another chance to be part of the Bear Brand Kitefest.

"Okay lang. Eh di next year ulit di ba?" he said.

Joselito admitted that the annual Bear Brand event, which yesterday drew a record number of 695 kites flown simultaneously, simply runs through his veins.

"Ewan ko ba. Parang hindi ko kayang matiis na hindi sumali dito taon-taon," he said as his wife Rivera, and four kids, the oldest at 14 and the youngest at three, watched from the sidelines.

"Sa labing-limang taon ng Bear Brand kitefest, last year lang ako hindi nakasali. Nagkasakit kasi ang anak ko at walang pang-gastos pang-gawa ng entries. Perfect record sana ako dito," he said.

"Noong unang sali ko nga dito noong 1991, pinanganak ang panganay namin habang lumalaban ako sa Baguio. Ang nakakatawa pa, na-zero ako noon. Walang panalo," Joselito said laughing.

"Kaya kasama na talaga sa pamilya ko ang kitefest na ito. Taon-taon, sinalihan ko na ito at kasama sila palagi kapag dito sa Maynila ang finals. Hindi ko na titigilan ito," he added.

Other big winners yesterday were My Jamaican Cat Fish of Ian Cano (elementary flat kite), Tropical Bird of Michael Gomez (high school flat), Anaconda of Wesley Siapno (college flat), World peace of John Torres (college geometric) Giant Grasshopper of Henry Cajulao (college figure), Ati Atihan Keng Tribung Kapampangan of Jing Torno (adult flat), Fancy Kite of Jim Bentol (adult geometric), Ethel Booba ang Pasaway na Sirena of Mark Cristobal (theme kite award), Flyign Rooster of Delfin Pilones (family kite), Alien Fish of Ben Cajulao (superkite award) and Ang Parachute ni Bear Brand of Nap Terrado (saranggola ni Bear Brand).

"Madami din kasi magagaling gumawa. Ang sa amin naman kasi, parang yearly outing na din namin ito," Joselito added as pointed to his eldest daughter, Rizza, who once placed second in the elementary division of the Bear Brand event.

One of Joselito’s entries in 2003 also came in second in the figure class of the adult category — the centerpiece event of this summer event for both the young and the old.

"Tinalo ako ni Spiderman noon eh," he recalled.

Winning, or so it seems, isn’t in Joselito’s veins. But competing, giving his best, and at the same time having fun with his wife and kids surely is.