AT 51, Ariel Cadileña Abi-Abi of Barangay Maanas, Medina town came as the oldest participant in the ‘Palo Sebo’ contest, highlighting the week-long 10th Kuyamis Festival and Paglaum MisOr-Rise CdO Cup that ended last Friday at the Misamis Oriental Integrated Sports Complex.
Standing about 40 feet high and greased with oil, reaching the top of the bamboo pole is almost an impossible task for the less-mortal ones.
Gutsy participants young enough to be called Abi-Abi’s sons tried their darndest best on many attempts but failed to do so.
At his turn, the crowd from below is ready to call him with various monikers such as ‘spider man,’ ‘bamboo snaker,’ and ‘palo-sebo king’ among other movie-like characters.
But the five-foot-tall Abi-Abi, who is blessed with athleticism and six-pack abs, resembled himself like a human frog when he starts progressing, almost virtually leap-frogging up to the top.
In triumph, he even waved his other hand off a swaying beam not minding the danger of falling.
“Pilit kaayo ang tiil ug kamot mora sa’g baki ang porma ug pagkapyot sa bamboo pole. Abilidad gyod kana,” one spectator said of Abi-Abi.
After his group is guaranteed the P10,000 purse, ‘Laro Ng Lahi’ organizer Gerry Madrid from the division sports of Misamis Oriental had given the rest a chance to finish the challenge for another P10,000.
Unable to do so, they requested Abi-Abi instead to do it for themselves with much success.
“Amo gihapon siyang bahinan sa P10,000 kay nahimo lang gyod ‘ming supporting cast pag-alalay sa iya nga mao ra gyod makahimo pagkab-ot sa gamay nga banga (jar) nga nakasab-it sa tumoy,” said his fellow participants that included Lennon Magsacay of Libertad, Lester Andam of Manticao, John Michael Tandugon of Magsaysay and Junrie Padua of Naawan.
Abi-Abi later told Gold Star Daily that he’s a ‘mamu-ongay’ (tree top branches cutter) which makes the challenge tailored-fit for him despite his age.
Asked what he’s up to do with his prize money, Abi-Abi said in half-jest “balo (widower) na ako karon maong gamiton nato ni mangita’g laing partner sa kinabuhi.”
