Army-Bicycology team donates wheelchairs to ailing soldiers

MANILA, Philippines — Members of the Philippine Army-Bicycology Shop who finished second overall in the recent Ronda Pilipinas donated 10 brand-new wheelchairs to their fellow soldiers confined at the Armed Forces of the Philippines Medical Center in V. Luna, Quezon City.

Army-Bicycology Shop rider Sgt. Alfie Catalan, Sgt. Merculio Ramos Jr., Sgt. Alvin Benosa, Sgt. Reynaldo Navarro, Cpl. Lord Anthony del Rosario, Pfc. Marvin Tapic, Pfc. Kenneth Solis, Pfc. Chris Joven, and coaches SSG Paterno Curtan and SSG Jhomilodin Lucman personally delivered the wheelchairs. Col. John Divinagracia, PA Director and Brigadier General Roy Devesa, Camp Commander Phil Army accompanied the group.

“Our victory is theirs, too,” said Army-Bicycology Shop team manager Eric Buhain. “I’m very proud of this team who agreed to share their winnings with their brothers-in-arms.

“It feels good seeing your comrade-in-arms happy. Our training is nothing compared with what they’ve gone through in Zamboanga and Marawi City,” said Pfc. Joven, who topped Stage 3 of the 12-stage bike marathon.

“Even before the start of Ronda, we have all agreed to share our prizes with our fellow soldiers,” he added. “Next year, we’ll try to do better to be able to raise more funds.”

For their part, Brigadier Gen. Devesa and Col. John Divinagracia commended the Army-Bicycology Shop cycling squad for their gesture and lauded them for anchoring Army’s superb stint in Ronda.