Gil Gener Palomar proves that age is just a number when it comes to staying fit—and stylish.
The 70-year-old male fashionista became an Internet sensation last week after netizens uploaded a photo of him pedaling around the streets of Metro Manila in an all-mustard outfit that matched his gold mountain bike.
He was dressed in one color from head to toe—from body bag to face mask to helmet.
Netizens soon learned that Gil owns nine bikes in different colors, and have started calling him "Mr. Terno."
THE MAKING OF MR. TERNO
Gil told Spin.ph in an interview, "Nakakakita kasi ako dati ng mga nakaterno ang suot, kaya sa akin, ginawa ko kung anong kulay ng bike, iteterno ko ang damit ko—lahat, pati helmet at ngayon, mask.
"Kung ano lang iyong kursonada ko sa araw na iyon, iyon ang susuotin ko."
He said he personally pieced together each of his nine bikes, one by one, part by part. He also painted them himself.
He said in the interview, "Meron akong siyam na iba’t-ibang colors ng bike na paonti-onti kong binuo. Ako mismo ang nagkukulay at nag-a-assemble, bumibili ako ng parts."
Mr. Terno has been traversing the streets of Metro Manila since 1988, and in 2011 decided to match his outfits with the color of his bike.
In an interview with Philippine Star, Gil said, "Kung anong kulay iyon, bibili, naghahanap ako ng kakulay. Punta ako ng Divisoria o kaya Baclaran. Umiikot ako, naghahanap ako ng katerno."
He said also, "Dati akong nagtatrabaho sa bakery, sa tiyahin ko, naglalako ng pandesal. Doon nagsimula ang pagba-bike ko..."
From job to job, he would use his trusty bicycle to work. From his house in Manila to as far as Taguig, where he used to work as a security guard, he would bike.
Now retired from work, Gil bikes four times a week on Edsa, going from Caloocan to Buendia and to Roxas Boulevard.
"Hindi ako nahirapan kasi praktisado na ako. Malakas pa ako. Nakakaayat pa nga ako ng Tagaytay, e, Antipolo," Gil remarked.
He added, "Ang maganda ngayon, dahil meron nang mga bike lane. Katulad nung EDSA, di ba? Kaya maganda na ngayon. Wala nang sagabal. Ingat ka lang talaga..."
How does he feel about the attention he's been getting lately?
The veteran biker told Spin.ph, "Maraming bata na nagpapa-picture sa akin. Pumapayag ako siyempre.
"Nakakatuwa din na marami kang napapangiti at nai-inspire, pero ang lagi kong advice sa kanila, mag-iingat talaga."
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