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| The Ride for Hope 8 Team with Jay Medina (third from right) of Bisikleta Republika. L-R: Team Principal Mon Santos, Nico Fernandez, Fred Labenia, Michael Casilum, and Team Captain C-j Indiongco. Photo property of the author |
Author's note: It's been more than four months since Ride for Hope 8, and this post is just as delayed. The sheer challenge of completing RFH8 has been quite an experience for me, more than any other Ride we have done, that the trauma still haunts me from time to time. I apologize especially to the supporters and donors looking for a report of our fundraising activities, as I took my time to put into words our unique experience those two, eventful days last November. To the reader, I hope you finish this account, long-winded as it may seem, with a new perspective and appreciation for life.
The five of us were resting in a sari-sari store in Barangay Looc in Nasugbu town, Batangas, when we
spied the two twinkling LED bike lights coming from up the road to our left. It
had been more than 15 minutes since the first of our group had arrived at the
store, and knowing that our team captain C-j and Nico—two of our stronger
riders on the Team—were the ones inbound, all five of us knew the delay was
quite unnatural.
C-j was not smiling as he pulled up at the store, with Nico
right in front of him. I got up from my seat to welcome the newcomers, and in
the quickly fading light, an exasperated C-j let loose in Filipino eight words
I had been dreading since the ascent back in Tagaytay:
“Hindi aakyat ng
bundok ang bike na ito.”
The bike he was riding on was not going to make the climb up
Mount Palay-palay.
***
Like most previous editions of Ride for Hope (RFH), the
run-up to this eighth Ride was not an easy or a stress-free one. Up until two
weeks before the November 18 event were we only able to confirm the composition
of the 2015 Team. It was also exactly two days before the Ride when we were
able to secure a bike for Nico, whose first-option bike was no longer available
for him to use.
With less than a month to go, we were also able to finalize
a plan to make limited edition shirts (a first for RFH) for riders and other
interested supporters. Proceeds of the sales would go to Bahay Aruga, the free
halfway home for pediatric cancer patients that had served as our preferred
beneficiary for the year. It was a hectic time finding the right shirts and the
right custom t-shirt maker, but one brave supplier managed to print the shirts
and deliver them right before the eve of the Ride.
Nevertheless, it was encouraging to see the Team and a new
crowd of supporters make time and give towards the cause. Friends, new faces,
and unnamed people bought shirts, pledged financial support, or rode with the
Team on race day. Whatever their reasons for joining the cause, whether
personal or trivial, what mattered was that people were doing their part.
Leading the charge was our good friend and fellow cyclist
Jay Medina, the man behind our official partner, Bisikleta Republika. Since RFH
3 back in 2013, he had wanted to be part of this event, and this year, he
wasn’t going to be denied. “Mas maganda
na yung may purpose ang
pagbibisikleta natin, di yung puro papogi lang (I’d rather we ride for a
good cause instead of spending everything upgrading a bike),” he declared
passionately to the group of bikers who were joining RFH for the first time.
 |
| Riders gather at the starting point on the morning of November 18. Photo by and property of the author |
He was also the reason for that crowd of bikers, both
seasoned and newbie, gathered at the Bisikleta Republika shop in Sucat the day
before Ride 8. Using a combination of charm, wit, and subtle force, he was able
to persuade bikers from all walks of life to join in the biggest RFH event to
date, with almost 20 riders on race day.
***
There would be five Official riders on this eighth edition’s
Team, all wearing the Bisikleta Republika sponsor kit: C-j, team captain;
Mikey, our engineer/mechanic; Team newcomers Nico and Fred; and this writer as
the team Principal. We had settled on a sort of structure to facilitate
decision-making processes in the face of the expected big group that would be
joining us on Race Day. We also had two “guest” Riders: Bernie Caguioa of Doña
Rosario, Sucat, and Agapito Puente Jr. of Las Piñas City.
For the route, we settled on conquering the Batangas-Cavite
Loop, a challenging mix of climbs, descents, flats, and—we would discover
later—sheer craziness. No one among the Team had attempted this challenge,
although C-j had experience climbing Mount Palay-palay and Pico de Loro, the
mountains that lay before the homestretch of our journey. I had earlier scouted
the route from Tagaytay to Nasugbu, which promised up to 30 kilometers of pure
downhill bliss. Beyond Nasugbu, though, no one had any idea how we were going
to proceed.
***
The peloton of almost 20 Riders—Official as well as
“Partner” Riders who have no obligation to finish the full Loop—pushed off from
Bisikleta Republika in Sucat in the early hours of November 18. It was 4:38,
eight minutes over our target roll-out, but there was not much concern at this
point. The Team figured that at race pace, we would probably be at our first
waypoint in Dasmariñas, Cavite in about an hour.
 |
| The peloton making its way along Daang Hari early in the morning. Photo by and property of the author |
As we made our way along Daang Hari, though, other Partner
Riders started joining in from various locations. To have these Partner Riders
catch up, we made several more stops along the way, each stop lasting around 10
to 15 minutes. It was when the sun started rising that I started to worry: It
was already past 6:00am and we were still nowhere near Dasmariñas.
Turning into Molino-Paliparan Road, one of the Partner
Riders suffered a flat. Again, the peloton stopped to wait. Jay started
worrying as well; among the group, probably only he knew how grueling our
previous Rides had been. “Gagabihin na
naman tong mga ito,” he insisted, pointing out that Ride for Hope 5 had
taken us 22 hours to finish the Laguna Loop.
After a few more minutes of waiting, the others reluctantly
agreed to let us go.
We had gone no farther than five kilometers when the rain
fell in sheets, soaking us to the skin in no time. We were forced to stop and
shelter for a while. There was no point
slogging on, with visibility down to a few meters.
Thankfully, it took only about 15 minutes for the main storm
front to pass. As soon as the rain let up a bit, we slipped on warmers and
resumed our upward journey.
***
It was around 8:30am when we reached Dasmariñas, two hours
behind schedule. Since we had created considerable distance from the others, we
found out via phone that the rest of the peloton had turned back towards Sucat.
At this point, Jay started to get discouraged but our two guest riders, Bernie
and Agapito, pushed him to continue. “Andito
ka na rin lang, ituloy mo na,” they said, and they were right: It would be
a waste to turn back now.
 |
| Jay (right) takes a call and learns the rest of the peloton has turned back, as Agapito (left) surveys the scene as the Team stops in Dasmarinas. Photo by and property of the author |
Our journey towards Tagaytay resumed, but less than half an
hour later, a new problem arose. Nico’s replacement bike “Utoy” developed a
problem with the rear wheel. A small collision with another Rider had pushed
the wheel out of line, causing it to rub against the frame. C-j managed to fix
the issue, but we had lost another 15 minutes or so, and Nico, who normally
kept pace with the frontrunners, was noticeably lagging behind.
For the rest of the journey through Silang, Nico struggled
to keep up with the rest of the group. We were both concerned he might
overexert himself and burn up all his energy even before we reached Batangas.
The bike was visibly slowing him down, with its uncooperative drive train and
an unstable seat. At our last stopover before the final push towards the
Tagaytay Rotunda, I was starting to consider the possibility of Nico being
unable to finish the Ride.
“Nico, palit tayo ng bike,”
C-j ordered, handing over his hybrid bike “Kalloy” to his younger counterpart.
I knew then at that moment why I had chosen him to lead this Team.
***
We reached the end of the first stage of our journey, the
Tagaytay Rotunda, at almost 11:00am, more than three hours behind schedule. It
was a fulfilling moment for most of the group, some making the ascent to the
City on the Ridge for the first time. For us in the Team, it marked the first
hurdle overcome.
 |
| Lunch at Andok's Tagaytay. Photo property of the author |
After a quick lunch and about half an hour’s worth of rest,
we started plotting our next move. Jay would lead several other Partner Riders
back home; this group included violin virtuoso and family friend Dick Saraza,
who also happened to be a bike enthusiast. The rest would continue: five of us
on the Team, plus Bernie, Agapito, and our churchmate kuya Manz.
As Jay and the others started their homeward trip, I took
the customary victory lap—a tradition started since RFH 1, when it was still
known as Padyak Pag-asa—around the
Rotunda as the rest of the Team watched. I then signaled to the others to
proceed, and our journey was back on. From this point onwards, we were finally
on our own.
***
 |
| Taking the customary town arch picture, at the entrance to Batangas. Photo by and property of the author |
A vehicular accident in Barangay Banilad in Nasugbu forced
us to stop for a while. We had been descending from Tagaytay for about an hour,
and our arms ached. It seemed that things were going smoothly up until now,
until Bernie received a phone call from Agapito, who had fallen about half a
kilometer or so behind. “Na-flat yung bike nya,” Bernie informed us. We
decided to sit down at a shed beside the road and wait for Agapito while C-j
and I discussed our plan for the climb up Mt. Palay-palay.
 |
| Taking a rest during an unscheduled stop in Barangay Banilad, Nasugbu. Photo by C-j Indiongco |
We decided to take the route around Mt. Cayluya, turning
right at F. Alix road in Nasugbu instead of proceeding northward along the
highway. We figured it would be a more conducive route for us to take, instead
of the zigzag along the coastline. With C-j riding “Utoy” and kuya Manz
determined to finish the course despite having no prior climbing experience, we
decided taking the easier road—which, despite being a “shortcut,” was actually
longer by a kilometer or two—was the best course of action.
Some 40 minutes later, Agapito finally caught up with us,
bringing us bananas, a welcome food to all cyclists. After about 10 minutes of
rest, we proceeded towards Tuy, a little over 10 kilometers from barangay Banilad. At that point, kuya Manz decided he could not go on further. “Still
have to go back to my son,” he said, almost regretfully. We spent about half an hour waiting for him to secure
a bus ride that would take him back to Cavite, as he was not familiar with the place.
When we were finally given leave, it was almost 5:00pm, and I suggested to the group that we
find a jeepney at Nasugbu proper that we could rent to take us up Mt.
Palay-palay since it was already quite late. The others felt, though, that they
still had enough strength to go on, and that we could probably reach Kaybiang
Tunnel in an hour. Little did we know the challenge that lay ahead.
***
At Nasugbu proper, we turned right onto F. Alix road, which
served as a bypass route for vehicles coming from or headed to Ternate, Cavite.
The road seemed relatively new, cutting through hectares of farmland and rice
fields. As the sun set, its rays lit up the Batangas countryside, painting it
in vivid colors and shades that could not be adequately described in print.
 |
| Who knew Batangas was this beautiful at sunset? Photo by and property of the author |
“Ara would love this,” I said to Fred, and he nodded—no, he
actually grinned. Ara and Fred had
recently started working on their friendship even as she strove to finish her
degree in medicine. She was responsible for introducing us to Bahay Aruga, and
both C-j and I guessed she had also encouraged Fred to audition for and
eventually join the Team.
At church, Ara had a reputation for being amazed at the
smallest detail of Nature, a trait that Fred also shared. As the sun set on our
journey, it threw magnificent shades of light and color that anyone with a
heart would surely appreciate, Ara and Fred not the least of them.
 |
| Taking in the sights one last time, before daylight disappears. Photo by and property of the author |
And yet I could not stave off the feeling of dread that was
slowly creeping on me as the darkness set in and the birds started roosting in
the trees. As the sun’s dying rays started to recede, we were increasingly
being enveloped by the shadow of Mt. Cayluya to our left. I rode at the head of
the group at race speed, hoping to spur the others behind. Bernie and Agapito,
sensing the urgency in my pace, broke free and opened a gap of more than five
minutes.
I soon caught up with the two Riders resting at a sari-sari store. A quick inquiry told us
that this was Barangay Looc, and the map on my phone told me that we were right
on track. But it also told us we were nowhere near Kaybiang.
I joined the two in resting by the roadside, buying several
pieces of bread for sharing, and a bottle of Coke to load up on sugar (energy,
in cycling terms). As we rested, Fred arrived, followed by Mikey several
minutes later. Fred proceeded to secure a flower he had found in a garden
nearby, which we immediately knew he was taking home to Ara as a souvenir of
his first Ride for Hope. Despite the darkness that had now set in, our spirits
were high.
That is, until C-j and Nico arrived some 10 minutes later.
***
The problem this time with "Utoy," a “Fox Trail” entry-level
beater bike, was its unstable seat, which prevented the rider from firmly
planting himself on the bike as it moved. This robbed the rider of any strength
needed for pedaling, especially during uphill climbs. With Mt. Palay-palay
looming up ahead, C-j became frustrated as he felt the odds were stacked too
much against him.
I started inquiring with the store owners for a jeep we
could rent to bring us to Kaybiang Tunnel, and if need be, to the other side of
Mt. Palay-palay. I was told there was a jeepney rental about a kilometer away.
Meanwhile Nico and Mikey worked on Utoy to see if something could be done to
improve the seat’s stability.
C-j approached me after five minutes and apologized for his
outburst. He munched on the bread I gave him and got some of his strength back.
He then checked on Mikey and Nico as they worked on the bike. As soon as it
became clear that Mikey had performed another of his engineering marvels,
stabilizing the seat with plastic twine (straw) almost as if it had been welded
in place, we set out once again. “Mag-iingat
kayo,” the old couple managing the store bid us farewell, with the husband
seeing us off as our twinkling LED lights receded in the darkness.
***
We reached the main Ternate-Nasugbu highway 15 minutes
later. We decided not to look for the rental jeepney, as C-j’s confidence had
returned and he once again took the lead. We passed by several stores selling
cooked ulam and isaw along the highway; we
had also decided not to eat first before the ascent, reasoning that it would be
hard to climb on a full stomach.
Soon enough the streetlights disappeared, marking the foot
of the mountain. We had no illumination whatsoever, save for our LED headlights
and that of a passing car or truck. Even the light of the stars above seemed
swallowed by the darkness.
We tackled the first climb eagerly. We immediately found out
that the road here, compared to our favorite haunt Bugarin in Rizal, was much,
much steeper. It wasn’t long before we started dismounting and pushing the
bikes uphill. “Di mo pala kaya eh,”
we teased each other as, for the first time, all five Ride for Hope Team
members were on foot. Bernie and Agapito, meanwhile, made short work of the
first few kilometers; we would eventually catch up with them pushing their
bikes as well.
We traded stories and jokes to keep us occupied. Occasionally
we would recall our moments with the kids of Bahay Aruga to remind us why we
were doing this. My thoughts eventually came back to Jeffrey “Mokong” Dioneda,
who had gone home a few months prior to the Ride. Thankfully it was dark and no
one saw me brushing away the tears in my eyes.
After more than an hour of walking, pushing, and riding
downhill, the Team was thoroughly exhausted. Surprisingly, none of the other
Riders had thought of bringing extra food from the store in Looc. I happened to
have an extra energy bar which the others shared among themselves.
As the others rested and took a nap on the roadside, under
the stars, I looked out onto the sea to my left, and the glow of the city in
front, across the bay. All I wanted was to get off this mountain and get home.
I prayed for strength, and that we would be able to reach the Tunnel. I
reckoned if we got to Kaybiang, the Team would somehow get its second wind as
it marked the second major waypoint.
I woke up the Team about 15 minutes later, and we resumed
our trek. Push, walk, glide. Push, walk, walk, walk, glide, push, walk. The
Team rested two more times; we were literally running on fumes.
Finally, at 9:00pm, we reached Kaybiang Tunnel.
***
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| At Kaybiang Tunnel, at last. Photo by and property of the author |
All sense of ceremony or triumph had gone at this point. We
simply took the customary picture at the mouth of the Tunnel, got back on our
bikes and pushed on. The road still climbed significantly, and as the mountain
blocked the glow of city lights to the north and to the east, we felt hardly a
shred of hope to keep us going.
Half a kilometer from the Tunnel, we rested once more, with
the Riders taking catnaps. I tried uploading the Kaybiang Tunnel photo to
Instagram, but even the data signals were weak, if at all. I felt isolated. We should have rented the jeep, my mind
told me. As Team Principal, I felt responsible for putting us all through this
purgatory that was Mt. Palay-palay.
When the others woke up from their naps, we got back on our
bikes and climbed some more. About half a kilometer later, the road started to go
downhill, although with several uphill sections. We determined we were now in
the vicinity of Mt. Pico de Loro, and a light up ahead told us that we had
reached the base camp, where backpackers jumped off for their climb of the famed Parrot’s Beak. The promise of food and much-needed rest crossed our
minds.
We eagerly approached the compound, where we were promptly
shooed away by the rangers. Could we buy some dinner? “Closed,” came the reply.
Could we at least have some water? “Closed,” came the reply. “Sarado na kami.”
Tired, cold, and hungry, we got back on our bikes, and soon
enough, the road started descending. The rushing wind numbed our tired arms
while hunger gnawed the pit of our stomachs. We silently made our way down the
mountain, with the only moment of alarm coming near Puerto Azul as Mikey
skidded onto the road’s center island. Thankfully, he kept his balance and
didn’t spill. I implored God to keep us safe as we rushed through the darkness,
that He would get us safely off this mountain, and that we would find a place
to eat.
About half an hour later, as the road straightened out, we saw streetlights. “Eyes open
for the nearest store you can find,” I said out loud, and the others perked up.
Soon enough, God would provide the answer to our prayers: A carinderia situated in front of a bus
terminal. I was near tears in gratitude and relief.
***
We ate hungrily, with the canteen’s manang only too happy to have additional customers at this time of
the night. Our arrival had been quite unexpected, as she barked orders to her
staff to heat up the rice and the viands. Thankfully there was still something
we could eat. Extra rice here, a bottle of Coke there—the girls moved about
busily, following their employer’s demands as well as the wishes of seven tired
and hungry Riders.
As soon as we finished eating, C-j and I discussed our next
move. It was clear to us that the Team was tired and beyond its limits. The
climb up Mt. Palay-palay was nothing like any of us had ever experienced, and
it had left everyone on the Team exhausted. So when I proposed to the Captain
that we were riding the bus towards our next waypoint, at the C-5 Extension in
Las Piñas, he did not object.
We considered pedaling onward to the next town, Maragondon,
and catching a ride aboard the first bus we could find. Meanwhile, we learned
the AAB Bus Line that operated from the garage behind the canteen had its
earliest trip at around 2:00am.
We were still discussing our options when we heard Bernie
and Agapito snoring from the front of the carinderia. We looked at each other and
laughed. The decision had been made for us.
 |
| An unscheduled sleepover at the bus employee barracks. Photo by C-j Indiongco |
The manang
graciously offered the employee barracks behind the canteen for us to sleep in,
not just because it was cold outside at the carinderia,
but because we were occupying all the benches, leaving no place for the bus
drivers and conductors who would be coming in early in the morning. After
arranging the bikes outside, we settled on the raised bamboo flooring that
served as the bed, lying side by side and setting our alarms. Soon enough, the
snores of tired Riders filled the barracks.
***
The sound of bus engines woke us up at 1:45am, and we slowly
willed ourselves awake. The manong
conductor helped us stow the bikes at the back end of the bus, since it did not
have a cargo compartment underneath. Ten minutes later, the bus pulled away,
and after paying our fare, the rest of the Team went to sleep.
 |
| A first for the Team: A bus ride for both Riders and bikes alike. Photo by and property of the author |
I was left contemplating what could have been, as I counted
the towns of Cavite that passed outside the window. Previous Rides had always
had us arriving at the finish line under our own power. This was the first Ride
where we would be riding towards the next waypoint. I could not help but feel a
bit guilty, cheating even.
However, the circumstances had prevented us from doing so,
and as Team Principal, I was responsible for the welfare and safety of the
Riders. It would be pointless for us to strive to raise funds for Bahay Aruga
only to use it for hospitalization of a member of the Team.
Despite the fact that Tour de France participants also ride
on a team bus towards specific stages, I found little comfort as I wrestled
with my thoughts. Perhaps this unscheduled bus ride, although necessary, left a
feeling of defeat in the face of the 200-kilometer challenge that Ride for Hope
was. I would never know for sure, probably until we conquer this route
convincingly in the near future.
***
The bus let us off at Zapote, and from there, it was a short
hop to our final waypoint at the end of C-5 Extension. We took a final Team
photo for posterity. From there, we would go on our own separate ways,
homebound at last.
 |
| One last time: At the last waypoint, and finally headed for home. L-R: Mikey, Fred, C-j, Nico, Bernie, and Agapito. Photo by and property of the author |
The remaining members of the Team—C-j, Nico, and this
writer—arrived at Bisikleta Republika at 5:00am of November 19, more than 24
hours since we first set out. It set a new endurance record for Ride for Hope,
and was eventually able to raise more than PhP7,000—more than the PhP5,000
target—in pledges and support.
Ride for Hope 8 broke records for duration (24 hours, 22 minutes), total elevation (1,830 meters, or almost two kilometers high), and total distance (195.3km). It also broke our wills and whatever confidence we may have had in our own abilities, but it did teach us a lot about humility and perseverance.
More than anything, Ride for Hope 8 reminded us of the
continuing struggle of the brave kids living in Bahay Aruga. We may be left
feeling defeated as I did on the bus ride, but we can be assured there is a God
who knows infinitely better than we do. If we are willing to trust Him, He will
guide us safely to the finish, where He will welcome us for sure, with open
arms. Jeffrey and the other kids will also be there, on the sidelines, waving
their little flags.
It would be a sight to behold.
 |
| At Bahay Aruga during the turnover of pledges last December 19, 2015. L-R: C-j, the author, Cat, Nico. Property of the author |
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| Ride for Hope 8 summary. Map courtesy of Google and Ride with GPS |
Our deepest thanks to Bisikleta Republika, Jomel and Leony Medina, Joy Christian Fellowship, Cat Zuñiga, our Partner Riders, supporters, and donors who pledged their time, resources, prayers, and whatever blessings they have extended to make this Ride possible.
