Life goes on for one-armed runner

He landed nowhere in the top 10. Perhaps nowhere even in the top 20.

But somehow, somewhere along the way, along those lung-busting 42 kilometers, Isidro Vildosola did make a difference.

Isidro was just one of the 12,944 runners who answered the starting gun in yesterday’s 29th Milo Marathon National Finals at the Quirino Grandstand.

Around 5-feet-5 and less than 120 pounds, Isidro looks like the ordinary runner. But he turns extra-ordinary once you start noticing that he’s an amputee.

A forgettable accident in a rice mill in Marbel, South Cotabato, almost six years ago caused the amputation of Isidro’s right arm from just above the elbow.

But it was no ordinary accident either that took place in the rice mill where he used to work.

After crossing the finish line and while he was lining up for a cup of Milo, the energy drink, Isidro talked about the incident that would change his life — forever.

"Aksidente po kasi talaga. Sa rice mill sa Marbel noong 1999," he told The STAR, by this time holding one cup of Milo, then finishing it off, and asking for another.

"Sorry, sir ha. Sandali lang. Pagod na pagod eh. Parang na-dehydrate ako kanina," said Isidro, still short of breath.

Going back to the accident, Isidro said it all happened while he was trying to save the life of his cousin who also worked at the rice mill.

"Niyakap ko kasi yung pinsan ko na maiipit na sa makina," he said, not showing any sign of emotion.

"Pero ako ho ang naipit. Siya ang nailigtas ko pero naputol nga ang kamay ko," he added.

The rest of what happened that day, he said, is just a blur.

But he has learned to move on, despite the fact that he couldn’t land a job for himself over the last couple of years. He is 28 and single.

"Wala eh. Walang trabaho. Mabuti nandun ang parents ko," said Isidro.

Isidro has turned to running and has become a big fan of RP long-distance king Eduardo Buenavista.

In fact, he’s now busy training as member of Philspada or Philippine Sports for the Disabled, and preparing for the Asean Para-Games to be held in Manila on Dec. 14-21.

He clocked a little over three hours yesterday and was happy with the result.

"Kulang pa sa lakas para mag-full marathon," he said. "Kulang pa sa training. Pero hindi naman kasi ito ang event ko sa Asean Para-Games kundi ang 5,000, 1,500, 800 at 400 meters."

Isidro hopes to do well in the coming competition so hopefully, he said, he could cash in on it through monthly allowances national athletes get from the government.

"Wala pa kasi akong nakukuhang allowance. Pero siguro sa Para-Games mayroon na. Tapos okay na tayo," added Isidro.

He may have lost his arm but certainly, not his will to survive. — Abac Cordero