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Wednesday, July 11, 2012

RIDE YOUR BIKE TO WORK (in a ‘Foldie’)

Many people now consider biking as their means of transportation in reporting for work primarily for financial consideration and to some, for health reasons, or both. However, parking poses a bigger problem  to interested individuals especially in Makati where most of the establishments don’t have secured bike parking spaces.  No one in his sanity would simply want to leave his precious bike around the corner (even with locks) for fear of losing it in parts or as a whole to thieves.  Bike snatching is very common these days, remember.

Fret no more, folding bikes are here, or actually long been here. Folding bikes are called in many names, FB, foldie, tupayb (surplus bikes), to name a few. It also comes in different sizes; 26”, 20”, 16”, 14”, 12” and 10”. The 20” & 16” are more popular due to practicality of use. Only a few prefer small wheels on a long ride.  And contrary to some beliefs, this type of bike is designed to fit both small & tall riders.  With an FB, you may choose either bi-modal (ride a public commuter & then bike) or padyak-ol-da-way.  Another good news is, LRT & MRT now both allow 'foldies' (max. 20"), so bi-modal transportation becomes more easy.  Consider some of the advantages of using an FB enumerated below as against the regular bike:  

 FBs can be ‘park’ under your working table/desk or to a corner of your cubicle.

 When you’re tired after a long ride, you may hire a cab. Fold the bike then slid it to the trunk.

 Easily, you can carry it on a provincial trip. Take it beside you or use the bus baggage compartment. Just secure it against bumps.

 You can use the elevator without occupying much space. That way, you’ll not be disturbing your co-passenger. Make sure though that you don’t smell horrible.

 Bringing up ‘foldies’ while climbing the stairs of an LRT station or going to your workplace is no sweat.

 Some malls allow entry of folded bike. Just leave it to the baggage counter & you’re free to go shopping.

It is important of course to be clean & fresh when in work, so in my case, I brought a towel & toiletries in the office. There’s no shower room in the building, so the famous ‘tabo’ solved the problem. (I could only hope that the building management would provide at least one shower stall per floor in the near future to entice more employees to follow.)  It is  also highly recommended to bring extra clothes (and undies, too) for contingencies just like bringing tools & safety gears. And who’s afraid of rain? With the used Divi plastic bags over my small traveling bag, the uniform won’t get wet.  If you don't have a budget yet for a quality rain gear, you may opt to use the garbage bag as your rain cover for your body & a small used plastic bag for your head.  Don't worry about getting wet, just in case, as you'll be taking a shower afterwards anyway.

So, come on and let's join the green campaign by helping in the reduction of carbon footprint. Get out & ride your bike to work, in a ‘foldie’.  Enjoy your rides & keep safe.

My ever reliable tupayb FB, "Jeep Wrangler".


My line-up of foldies.  Alternatives in my "bike-to-work".



* The writer lives near Banawe, Quezon City and has been doing bike-to-work almost everyday in a ‘tupayb’ FB since March 2012, rain or shine.  Saved about P4,000 a month on fuel consumption.

Monday, April 25, 2011

Villa De Castro

After observing the Good Friday procession in Paete, Laguna, we decided to had our overnight stay in Binangonan, Rizal instead of finding one in Liliw or Nagcarlan as it is on the way to Metro Manila. It was never our plan to visit & try Villa De Castro as previously, it's seems isolated to me if we look at the google map or wikimapia.  So prior to the decision, I sent an SMS to John De Castro if the rooms in their resort were fully occupied & luckily there are still some rooms available and offered us a discount we can't resist. And on top of that, he told me that we can extend our stay until the following midnight if we arrived late that Friday night.  After squeezing our way out of Paete & Pakil, we arrived at Villa De Castro at around 10:30PM.

To make the story short, the place is somewhat attractive once your inside.  Here's our takes for the place.











To be continued & edited...

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Magallanes, Sorsogon: Rediscovered

Magallanes is one of the 15 towns of Sorsogon province and a 4th class municipality.  It is located at the southernmost tip of the island of Luzon which is about 48 kilometres from the Sorsogon City, the provincial capital, passing through two towns and a meandering road that snakes around Mounts Juban and Bintacan.

It's never an easy road to reach the place. Unlike other towns of Sorsogon, Magallanes is relatively isolated.  "but definitely, going there is a great adventure," said Pinoy Traveler, a blogger who featured the town in one of his articles.

The rest of the journey is just lush tropical rainforest dotted by villages, schools and community churches.

Magallanes is a fishing town, popular for fresh and dried fish.

This is the place where I grew up, so please join me while I rekindle my childhood memories as I revisit some of the places of my little hometown,
....... MAGALLANES

The sun still shines in Magallanes.
To experience full view of sunrise, we need to wake up by 4am and forget the usual breakfast of Sinangag & Kusido (the favorite local version of Sinigang sa kalamansi) as we need to cross a sea to Bagatao Island and has to climb its highest peak.

To reach Bagatao's peak, one must conquer this steep stairway to heaven...

I mean, to Our Lady of Sta. Lourdes Grotto
this place is known to locals for its miracles.

Bagatao Island is also a haven for photogs.

Based on our interview with the locals, the bottom of this boat was made from layers of styrofoam while the outboard engine was converted from a press drill.

Some of our finds while exploring the shores of Bagatao

black pearl

nueve

While on our way to the other side of the island, we met these kids






Midway, we passed this wooden bridge connecting Pansud and Brgy. Behia.  The beams were supported by the trunks of mangrove.  People used to hike a mountain trail when this was not built then.


A little bit farther, we stopped on this historical site, the REAL ASTILLERO DE BAGATAO.
It is reputed to be the biggest Spanish shipyard in the whole Bicol Region where some of the biggest and most magnificent galleons during the Manila-Acapulco trade were constructed. 


It is situated atop of this...

Oh, we almost forgot to take breakfast.  We headed to a sari-sari store of a near village to have this simple...
Giniris at Kape

Our next stop should be the Parola, but due to time constraint, we decided to defer and instead holed up in this place while waiting for our banca...

playing like kids

oh, i love the clear waters



After rushing back to town, we had our merienda with these...
Sinapot 



And we called it a day.

On the 2nd day,  with our dubai-based journalists/friends we decided to roam around the eastern part of Magallanes
                                      



The daily catch of the easterners






Once again, we have to skip our fav breakfast with this...
and of course, with coffee.

Here are some more landmarks of the town...
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish


Belfry


Due to shortened vacation and plenty of activities, we weren't able to complete the whole picture of my town. Cry

I hope next time, I'll be able to show more of the beauties MAGALLANES can offer.

Thanks for bearing with me!  Dios mabalos sa gabos!!!