One arm, all heart: Coach Sid Vildosola

Coach Sid is offering coaching services for both newbie runners and experienced athletes who want to improve their performance. If you’re interested in getting his services, or if you simply want to provide sponsorship or donate to this inspiring Paralympian, you may contact him or GCASH through this number: 0950-1147976

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Isidro Vildosola, or Coach Sid, is known among avid runners as the one-armed super runner. By winning various running competitions here in abroad, Coach Sid has proven that shortage of funds or even a missing arm can’t stop him from running, winning, and reaching his life goals.

Coach Sid was born in North Cotabato, and later on moved to Koronadal City together with his family. A freak accident while using a rice mill lead to the amputation of his arm when he was just 14 years old.

“Agaw buhay na ako nun sa dami ng nawalang dugo. Kung iisipin parang pangalawang buhay ko na ‘to,” he recalls. Isidro may have lost a limb, but certainly not his incredible fighting spirit.

When did you discover your love for running? Have you always been into sports?

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“Hindi ako athlete nung elementary. Nag start lang ako magkaroon ng knowledge sa sport nung high school na ako. Nung totally healed na yung sugat ko. Before accident, wala talaga akong sport. Naka focus lang ako sa pag-aaral.

Third year, nag observe ako sa intramurals kung saang sport ako pwede sumali. Sinubukan ko mag-basketball, volleyball…Pero siyempre di naman ako nakuha dun.

Tapos nakita ko may takbuhan. Sumali ako. Yun, first event ko 800m. Nakayapak pa nga e. Wala pa akong knowledge noon sa running. Basta tumakbo lang ako. Nanalo ako, 2nd place. After nun, lumapit sa ’kin yung coach ng varsity, kinuha niya ako bilang part ng team. Dahil dun nagkaroon ako ng scholarship.

Tapos nung 4th year, may naka scout sa ’kin sa school na agriculturist sa University of Southern Mindanao. Siya yung nagsama sa’kin sa university kasi wala daw silang runner dun. Sumama naman ako kasi gusto kong tapusin ang pag-aaral ko. Naging varsity din ako dun. Yun yung naging paraan para makatapos ako ng college. BS Secondary Education major in Social Studies ang course ko. Teacher din ako.”

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Why did you decide to get into sports after your accident?

“Inisip ko na para hindi ako ma-discriminate sa school, para ma-involve pa din ako sa community, sasali ako sa sports. Kahit kinakantyawan nila ako na “Putol! Putol ang kamay! Mananalo ba yan?”, nilunok ko na ang hiya ko. Parang naging challenge na din sa ‘kin. Parang gusto kong ipakita sa kanila na kaya ko.

Tsaka kasi nung naaksidente ako, parang nawalan ng pag-asa sa ’kin yung parents ko kasi siyempre ako yung panganay tapos 11 kaming magkakapatid. Kaya sabi ko tatapusin ko talaga ang pag-aaral ko. And yung pagtakbo nga ang ginamit kong paraan para magawa yun.”

How did you start running professionally?

“Nung 2005, nalaman ko na may Milo Marathon eliminations sa General Santos City. 21K. Sumali ako, tapos ako yung nag-champion. Dahil din dun kaya ako nakarating dito sa Manila. Kasi nung nag-champion ako, may free ticket papuntang Manila para mag-compete sa National Finals.

Dun ako nag start maging pro sa running. After kasi ng Milo, may lumapit sa’kin para kunin akong member ng National Team ng mga atletang may mga kapansanan, yung PHILSPADA (Philippine Sports Association for the Differently Abled).

Pagkatapos nun, tuloy-tuloy na. Sumabak na agad ako sa training para sa 2005 SEA Games kasi tayo ang host ‘nun. Ang laro ko ‘nun track, hindi marathon. Pero na-break ko records ‘nun, both sa 800m and 1,500m. Dalawang golds agad.”

We know that training and competing especially outside of the country can be quite costly, how do you raise funds for them?

“May natatanggap naman kaming allowance, kaya lang tuwing 3 months prior sa competition lang. Meron ding medal color incentive. Pag gold medalist may P25K, silver P10K, and bronze P5K. Pero parang di pa din siya sapat, kaya kailangan din talaga ng personal initiative. Ako na ang naghahanap ng sponsors, ng mga taong pwedeng makatulong sa’kin.

And yung talent ko, yun na din ang ginagamit ko para mabuhay and ma-support ang sarili. Naghahanap ako ng mga tao na pwede kong i-coach.”

What’s next for you—what are your goals for 2015 and beyond?

“Goal ko makapag-establish ng time record na mahirap burahin. Target ko makasali ulit sa Paralympic marathon and makapag-uwi ng medal. Yun yung pinka target ko sa ngayon. Kasi sa sprint events, mahirap na. Pero sa marathon, may laban tayo. Sa marathon ako mas kampante.”

Isidro-Vildosola-Photo-4Photo By: John Dizon

You’ve been through a lot in life, how were you able to overcome all those hurdles and become the successful person that you are today?

“Lahat tayo may kanya-kanyang way para ma-survive ang mga challenges sa buhay. Ako, hindi ko tinitingnan yung past, ang tinitingnan ko yung hinaharap. Kung ano pa yung pwede kong gawin para mas mapabuti ko pa ang sarili ko. Kaya siguro na overcome ko itong kapansanan ko, nakatapos ako ng pag-aaral, at naituloy ko pa yung talent ko as a runner.

Kailangan siguro humanap tayo ng isang bagay na mage-encourage sa atin na magpatuloy sa buhay. At kailangang humanap tayo ng paraan para malampasan natin ang mga negative na pangyayari, tapos gawin nating positive. Ituring nating challenge, hindi hindrance, yung mga negative na experiences natin.

And parang God’s will na din talaga na narating ko itong posisyon na ‘to. Kasi kung titingnan, parang siya na din talaga yung gumawa ng way para makarating ako dito.”

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What advice would you have for aspiring runners?

“Maghanap sila ng program na maganda para hindi sila magsawa or magkaron ng injury, and coach na magmo-motivate sa kanila. And huwag silang titigil, kasi ‘pag gusto na nilang bumalik, mahirap na. Malaking time na naman ang igugugol nila sa training. And dasal siyempre.”

Coach Sid is offering coaching services for both newbie runners and experienced athletes who want to improve their performance. If you’re interested in getting his services, or if you simply want to provide sponsorship or donate to this inspiring Paralympian, you may contact him or GCASH through this number: 0950-1147976

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42 COMMENTS

  1. na miss ko na c sir esidro”Sid”vildosola na meet ko cya personal dito sa dumaguete during Milo Marathon provincial leg at binigyan nya ako ng kanyang training routine at Adidas singlet i miss you coach Sid.. ikaw ang insperasyon ko sa pagtakbu ng Marathon..have a good health and God bless you coach Sid..

  2. saludo aq syo sr..! s lhat ng po runners kyo lng po ang hinangaan q.. papunta plng aq p blik n kyo..!! mrming slamat po at nging inspirasyon q po kyo.. sn s su2nod mk sbay n q s inyo… aztig..!! =)

  3. Congratulations sir!!! Grabe lakad ng cheer ko sa inyo nung makasalubong ko kayo, papunta pa lang kami, pbalik na kayo. . Idol!!!

  4. Congratulations isidro…he was my classmate in college at USM Kabacan Cotabato…proud here!!!
    Joylyn Vergara Somejo
    Emee Benabese-Paredes
    Anacleto Labio Jr.

  5. Joylyn Vergara Somejo
    Emee Benabese-Paredes
    Anacleto Labio Jr.
    Mirasol Mirasol G. Ballo
    Si classmate ohh…wow sikat na siya…happy and proud classmate here.

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