Mindanao riders on PH’s biggest, longest motorcycle tour

NAGA CITY -- Around 40 motorcycle riders from 16 different big bike clubs and organizations from Mindanao arrived in Matnog, Sorsogon in Luzon Sunday morning, November 6, as part of the biggest and longest motorcycle cross-country ride.

Bringing the message of lasting peace and unity in Mindanao across the country, the riders are part of the fifth Mindanao Freedom Ride (MFR) composed of 40 big bike motorcycle enthusiasts from Mindanao and 19 joining the riders in Luzon.

“This is by far the biggest and the longest ride that we will be undertaking covering the seven biggest islands of the Philippines in just 12 days. We hope that this ride will also bring the message of peace, unity and camaraderie,” said Andre Lacson, event organizer and chief executive officer of Norminring Motorbikes.

Lacson pointed out that the concept of the freedom ride was built around the perspective of lasting peace in Mindanao.

“We want to promote Mindanao as a peaceful destination not only for motorcycle riders but as well as to other people who would like to visit the island. We want to show them that unlike the stereotype that Mindanao is a place violence and conflict, in Mindanao we now have the freedom to roam, ride and experience its beauty because it is peaceful,” said Lacson

Lacson said the event aimed to “promote and change the perspective of the people in other parts of the country and hopefully remove the stigma of Mindanao that is built around violence and conflict.”

According to the motorcycle riders attending the event, the MFR, over the past four years, has been an event that has invited motorcycle riders and clubs from Visayas and Luzon to experience the freedom in riding the roads in different parts of Mindanao.

“We’ve shown them (riders) that Mindanao is easy to navigate, easy to tour and people are friendly,” Lacson said.

Riders from South East Asia nations are expected to join the crusade.

“Eventually, riders from other parts of South East Asia will also experience the open motorcycle ride in Mindanao as plans are underway for other clubs like in Malaysia to come and ride with us,” lacson added.

The journey started on November 5, as big bike motorcycle riders and Norminring motorcycle crew from different parts of Mindanao converged at the Lipata Port in Surigao City and boarded a ferry bound for San Ricardo, Leyte.

Norbideiri Edding, Municipal Mayor of Sibuco in Zamboanga del Norte described the ride as a showcase of Mindanao’s unity amid diversity.

“This is a historic ride for us from Mindanao, ever since the founding of the Mindanao Confederation of Big Bikers Club and since the advent of the MFR, because basically it shows our unity as Mindanaoan’s. Unlike the sigma placed on us from Mindanao and on our land, here as riders we are all co-equal, we leave our titles and positions behind and be just equal brothers. Here we bind through our camaraderie regardless of religion, ethnicity and social standing and be just one unified group which speaks out like our Mindanao,” said Edding.

Reverend Father Jonjie Edulyantes, parish priest of San Pedro Parish in Pagadian City and a big bike motorcycle enthusiast, said they want to share the brotherhood of motorcycle enthusiasts with the hope of changing people’s perception of Mindanao.

“For me, travelling with the group gives me a glimpse of the people and culture from different parts of the Philippines, I also love to look at the different churches that we pass by the route and get some ideas that I hope I would be able to bring back to my parish,” Edullyantes said.

Pamela Ivy Imalogo of the Norminring Motorbikes said the riders will visit the 7 biggest island in the Philippines.

“They will travel from Mindanao to Leyte, Samar, Luzon, Mindoro, Panay and Negros in 12 days. We have riders participating from Zamboanga, Cotabato, Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Lanao, Misamis Oriental, Surigao and other parts of Mindanao. The ride will reach places like Boracay, Dumaguete, Baguio, Sagada, and as far as Aparri,” said Imalogo.

From Liaya, San Juan, Batangas the riders will pass Metro Manila on their way to Baguio on November 8.