Maykaingalan, Rodriguez, Rizal

last 15 Aug 2010, i had a chance to bike in a remote community of maykaingalan, rodriguez, rizal upon invitation of a bike buddy, jaymz. he was looking for a local resident who could do a clearing of paths along mt. balagbag & maykaingalan. the single tracks in these areas is part of the route for philmofo xcm fun race and the cogon grass are just too tall that there is a possibility of getting lost.

maykaingalan has a reputation for bikers that is why i willfully

assented to jaymz' invitation. this is actually my second time to be in that place. the first was when we do a track reading of the entire course of the fun race. but at that time

, i was really not so keen of the surroundings since i was simply too tired to notice; i had cramps on both of my legs that my concern was only to survive the ride. besides, we were only passing through maykaingalan that time. this ride however is entirely different, both on the route and purpose and perspective.

the ride was kind of an easy-leisure mountain biking, quite enjoying every bit of it. river crossing en route to mascap is always delightful, refreshing. climbing at around 500 meters asl with the sun shining is quite daunting but the views on top easily erased the exhaustion and be simply captivated by the sceneries.

but then with eyes wide open, human as i am, questions began to linger. what is happening to this place? what have we done? can we undo what we did and unmake the things we made? mountains are now barren with only few little trees standing. but with all the charcoal that the local residents are bringing down, will there be anything left for the next generation? poverty is all written all over with the community having lesser option to take but to continue doing what they know can somehow fill their needs. is there any better options that people like me can do?

helplessness is the devil that hampers our spirit to do the things we ought to be done. this feeling stifles the very fabric of our capacity to transcend our own limitedness and impedes our consciousness and determination to respond more creatively and effectively. we are helpless, so we thought, and the malady lives on...

i bike because i know i can do something... but will that be enough?

Bike Commuting

for over a year now, i am proud to say that i am using my bike on my way to work at least three times a week. i spend PhP 120.00 for fare to and from ortigas center. this means that i saved PhP 360.00 every week or at least PhP 1,400.00 every month.

i really don't know how much do i contribute to minimize carbon emission, although i think there may be a way to know that. considering that there are already a good number of bike commuters today, our collective effort is a good sign of our common desire to minimize the impact of humans on our environment.

but there are also dangers on the road especially for bike commuters. i share the road with other people using other means of transportation: drivers of motorized vehicles, motorcyclists and pedestrians. some of them show little respect for a bike commuter; that is why, there are dangers out there which i need to be alert to every time i ride my bike.

even then, biking to work is becoming part of my lifestyle; it is becoming a way of life, not just an alternative of doing things. personal safety though is necessary, complete cycling equipment which includes helmet, shoes, gloves, back and front lighting, is non-negotiable.

Sad Day for Mountain Biking

i was supposed to do a quick ride that morning, well, just to let my thigh muscles relaxed after a long ride two days ago... to do this, i thought of assaulting shotgun, a favorite destination that will surely shock the whole out of me. beside, shotgun is just a few kilometers from home.

before leaving, my wife reminded me to be back before 0900H, since it's easter sunday and we need to participate in the church celebration... oh yes, its easter sunday, so i expected a very wonderful quickie.

i started pedaling at around 0630H, i was in a hurry to reach the shotgun's trailhead so the heat of the sun wouldn't catch me up as i rode that uphill. and then as i started the ascent, a truck filled with garbage overtook me, first strike... dust and smoke made the road partly invisible for a moment; but that was okay, had those dose several times already... but the foul stench of garbage and wastes almost made me dismount and simply collapse. the good thing is, it is easter sunday and i know that there'll gonna be a resurrection at the end of the road... so i continued on.


after reaching the sharp curve of the ascent somewhere on the middle of the whole shotgun's stretch, i need to dismount and rest a little... cleaned my nose and got ready to ride again... when another truck passed me by with all the stench, second strike... where are they heading? i wondered.
well again, its easter sunday...

quickly, i mounted my bike and pedaled hurriedly, another truck might overtook me again, i couldn't bear any longer, so i thought. reached the top really quick and started the downhill portion... and on the last uphill stretch of the road, i suddenly heard a truck's engine coming now from atop... heading towards me as i was uphilling, dust & smoke enveloped me again, but no foul stench... now i am almost certain... another one coming down... they were fast in unloading the garbage... where are they dumping those wastes?

and then as i was about to reach the top, another truck passed by with all those stinky matters and alas, they are dumping now the garbage to that "sanitary" landfill, third strike... IT IS A SAD DAY... ON RESURRECTION DAY!!!