"If something can go wrong, it will." This is the original and classic Murphy's law which points to the universal nature of ineptitude that results in bad outcomes. Rather than looking at this fluke law with a pessimistic view. I rather look at it as a word of caution and a life lesson. And of course, i do think that there is such a thing as "anti-Murphy's Law": "If something can go right, it will."
Stuffs do happen but the thing is that life goes on and that perfectly sums up my Davao enduro experience. May 26, Thursday, I was at the Manila Domestic Airport by 12PM noon waiting for our flight to Davao.I was greeted by The Enduro Network founder, Sly Lumbao, saying he won't be able to go to Davao because of some personal emergency. I was surprised but we have been doing these for awhile now so i still expect everything to be fine. In any case, if your fellow human being has some personal emergency, it's your duty as another human being to show compassion to that other person and be more understanding. I think that is the essence of this whole humanity, being compassionate and helping one another. Bashing and all sort of negativity just won't fit. In some sort of anti-Murphy's law, I was greatly relieved when Sly told me that the Tacurong gentlemen will be there to help us. He told me the head of Enduro Mindanao Network, Doc. Milton will be there to fill in for Sly as the race director. I boarded the plane musing on my personal brush with anti-Murphy's law: " If something can go right, it will."
Friday, was a happy day, The scheduled briefing of the riders was 6PM at SM Lanang, Fountain Area, I have the whole day by myself, I met with my old friend, Thea Revuelta, who was assigned in BDO Davao. The highlight of my Davao trip was the Glamour Crab Buffet, because crabs are heart. Seriously, i hope we can find a place like that in Manila.I can still remember it's sweet, spicy, curry flavor of those yummy crabs. The restaurant was a little bit far from Red Planet, it was in Claveria area. We finished lunch at 2PM, then i headed to National Bookstore to buy some stuff for the race, went back to Red Planet then went to airport cargo to pick up stuff, then back at Red Planet after 5PM, by 6PM were on our way to SM Lanang for the briefing.
Saturday, was the race day. we were picked up by Mr. Suarez at 4AM. We drive up to the staging area, while listening to the "Buttercup" song, (must be his favorite perk me up song) and a slew of other pop song. I wish he had Barbara Streisand playlist though, i know i'm an old soul, right?
I'm most happy during the race day, i got to see old friends, You see, Enduro race is like a huge reunion of friends. Most of them join the race for the fun and camaraderie more than anything else. The cash prize for Open category is only 10,000 pesos while some of them spent more than that amount for plane ticket and hotel just to join the race. Few people will understand the feeling, the adrenaline rush, the experience of the pure thrill while shredding that trails and the nervousness, anxiety, fear, excitement you feel before you are being released at every stage.It takes balls to navigate those dangerous and daunting trail. But why do we do it? Because it's fun. Also, it gives us the honor of being the best. It gives us this feeling of fulfillment after conquering that trail, it is our personal achievement. Also for some it's a form of release from the demands of their jobs while others it gives them the break they needed from their business and the myriad responsibilities it entails. . The most fun part is the camaraderie forged among the riders. I hope everyone remembers that. I think we are some sort of unique, special community bound with our love for enduro. May we stay united and stand for each other, rather than against each other.
During the race, I saw friends from Tacurong, the Causing and Defensor couples, of course Doc. Milton, Noli Bayya,Ogie Flores, Gorge Bayya, Ricky Dayon, Eric and others. The enduro superstars were there, Nilo Estayo, Joey Barba, Gab Amigo, Wendel Barba, Sikad Davao's very own, Patrick Alfonso, also the Team Zero's bet Dhain Acain, Jerald Caputol of Team Digimark and Ferdinand Recaborda. I saw Eleazar Barba Jr there but he wasn't able to register so he wasn't able to play. The harkors from Manila were there, Rene Lutching, too bad Rene suffered a crash during the race, Dru Del Rosario, Matthew Romualdez, Alec Dy Liacc, including the bad boy of enduro, Renan Recafrente. The Datu's from Cotabato was there, Datu Duma Sinsuat of Cotabato Offroad Enthiusiast and Datu Radin Ampatuan of One Trail Enthusiast. I remember, telling Datu Radin to stay for the awarding,in case he wins, he said it's impossible because he had crashed many times. turned out he was right, but still ranked 18 out of 74, not bad Datu Radin. Friends from Cagayan de Oro were there, headed by the 2nd placer in the Legend category, Renax Lim together with his other team mates, plus this talented young man called, Raul Tabil Jr., i won't be surprised if he become one of the the next generation's enduro champion. Almost 200 participated in the event, Team Bislig, Team Digimark, Team Zero, Team Hagunuy, Davao Rascals, Bikelab, Sikad Davao, PALAMAN, Team FACE, AKS/Team huhu, Biboo, LNB, Team Padyak Davao, Rottenwheels, Sikad Boys Isulan, Ladybug, Cotabato Offroad Enthusiasts, Team Expendables, Reklamo Racing Team, SDMR (South Davao Mountain Riders, AKS Syndicated, EatSpeedRide (ESR) Pagadian Best, Team Utog, Taokas Philippines, Iligan DH riders, MOAB Ozamiz were some of the team present during the event. The feminino category has 12 riders, Joyce Socorro and Fayfay Viernes joined the race, I have to congratulate Stef Pheasant, Dru Del Rosario's other half, it was the first time, i saw her in the race but she finished strong. She placed 4th among the 12 ladies. Roxanne Albano of Sikad, Mam Lena Quintos of FACE, Joy Guinan. and the newbies from Iligan, Ms. Jeanalyn Marzo and the Ozamis ladies Ms. Alilie Abucay and Ms. Arlyn Ladit joined the feminino category, including my favorite femininos' from team FACE Dr. Josela Defensor and Myra Causing.
After the race, we went to Marquella for the awarding, but we had some technical difficulty so we have to put off the awarding ceremony. I would like to sincerely apologize to everyone who joined, because we were not able to announce the result nor the winners right away. It was beyond our control. I was disappointed with what has happened myself but like i said it was beyond our control. We could have push through with it but it would take us time and it was late already. The thing is shit really happens but life has to go on. Nothing will come out good with the blaming, we never expected that to the happen. We had 34 successful races so far and this is an isolated event, I just felt bad after receiving text messages from numbers i dont recognized, threatening us and accusing us of "daya". First, what good will it bring us kung magdadaya kami, for what purpose. The riders have their own action cameras and they can verify their time with it. Only SS1 finish was manual we have to synchronize it with the digital SS1 start that took us sometime, we had to make sure it was as accurate as the digital, same with some in SS6. You can check it with your go pro if your are using one. I have ask Renan Ricafrente, he used go pro, true enough his time with SS2 to SS6 was the same with the records in his go pro only with the initial result in SS1 his time was different, because in the initial result we were not able to sync in the manual to the digital but this was only one stage. The reason we were delayed was we have to rechecked the SS1, we had to sync in the manual and the digital time, we are almost done with the final result there's only about 2 or 3 riders time we have to verify.
Lastly, it was an unfortunate incident and we bow our heads to apologize for it. But i was more sad with how some people have reacted to it. Maybe it's time to remind them, the first and most important of the Enduro Riders Creed, "I am a first a gentleman,second an athlete." Guys, stay cool. Thank you, Davao. We had a blast!
Thank you Angie Maestrado and Francis Colmenares for the pictures.
Cabs buffet, i'm still suffering from serious indigestion because of these.lol
Mr. Stanley Suarez and I during the briefing.
The participants with their bikes during the briefing
Saturday, was the race day. we were picked up by Mr. Suarez at 4AM. We drive up to the staging area, while listening to the "Buttercup" song, (must be his favorite perk me up song) and a slew of other pop song. I wish he had Barbara Streisand playlist though, i know i'm an old soul, right?
I'm most happy during the race day, i got to see old friends, You see, Enduro race is like a huge reunion of friends. Most of them join the race for the fun and camaraderie more than anything else. The cash prize for Open category is only 10,000 pesos while some of them spent more than that amount for plane ticket and hotel just to join the race. Few people will understand the feeling, the adrenaline rush, the experience of the pure thrill while shredding that trails and the nervousness, anxiety, fear, excitement you feel before you are being released at every stage.It takes balls to navigate those dangerous and daunting trail. But why do we do it? Because it's fun. Also, it gives us the honor of being the best. It gives us this feeling of fulfillment after conquering that trail, it is our personal achievement. Also for some it's a form of release from the demands of their jobs while others it gives them the break they needed from their business and the myriad responsibilities it entails. . The most fun part is the camaraderie forged among the riders. I hope everyone remembers that. I think we are some sort of unique, special community bound with our love for enduro. May we stay united and stand for each other, rather than against each other.
During the race, I saw friends from Tacurong, the Causing and Defensor couples, of course Doc. Milton, Noli Bayya,Ogie Flores, Gorge Bayya, Ricky Dayon, Eric and others. The enduro superstars were there, Nilo Estayo, Joey Barba, Gab Amigo, Wendel Barba, Sikad Davao's very own, Patrick Alfonso, also the Team Zero's bet Dhain Acain, Jerald Caputol of Team Digimark and Ferdinand Recaborda. I saw Eleazar Barba Jr there but he wasn't able to register so he wasn't able to play. The harkors from Manila were there, Rene Lutching, too bad Rene suffered a crash during the race, Dru Del Rosario, Matthew Romualdez, Alec Dy Liacc, including the bad boy of enduro, Renan Recafrente. The Datu's from Cotabato was there, Datu Duma Sinsuat of Cotabato Offroad Enthiusiast and Datu Radin Ampatuan of One Trail Enthusiast. I remember, telling Datu Radin to stay for the awarding,in case he wins, he said it's impossible because he had crashed many times. turned out he was right, but still ranked 18 out of 74, not bad Datu Radin. Friends from Cagayan de Oro were there, headed by the 2nd placer in the Legend category, Renax Lim together with his other team mates, plus this talented young man called, Raul Tabil Jr., i won't be surprised if he become one of the the next generation's enduro champion. Almost 200 participated in the event, Team Bislig, Team Digimark, Team Zero, Team Hagunuy, Davao Rascals, Bikelab, Sikad Davao, PALAMAN, Team FACE, AKS/Team huhu, Biboo, LNB, Team Padyak Davao, Rottenwheels, Sikad Boys Isulan, Ladybug, Cotabato Offroad Enthusiasts, Team Expendables, Reklamo Racing Team, SDMR (South Davao Mountain Riders, AKS Syndicated, EatSpeedRide (ESR) Pagadian Best, Team Utog, Taokas Philippines, Iligan DH riders, MOAB Ozamiz were some of the team present during the event. The feminino category has 12 riders, Joyce Socorro and Fayfay Viernes joined the race, I have to congratulate Stef Pheasant, Dru Del Rosario's other half, it was the first time, i saw her in the race but she finished strong. She placed 4th among the 12 ladies. Roxanne Albano of Sikad, Mam Lena Quintos of FACE, Joy Guinan. and the newbies from Iligan, Ms. Jeanalyn Marzo and the Ozamis ladies Ms. Alilie Abucay and Ms. Arlyn Ladit joined the feminino category, including my favorite femininos' from team FACE Dr. Josela Defensor and Myra Causing.
ALILEI ABUCAY
MA. GLAIZA ABUCAY
ARLYN LADIT
JOYCE DEL SOCCORO
DR.JOSELA DEFENSOR
ROXANNE MARIE ALBANO
JEANALYN MARZO
JOY GUINAN
LIZA FAY VIERNESS
MYRA CAUSING
LENA QUINTOS
STEF PHEASANT
KUDOS TO THESE FEARLESS PINAY SHREDDERS!!!!
After the race, we went to Marquella for the awarding, but we had some technical difficulty so we have to put off the awarding ceremony. I would like to sincerely apologize to everyone who joined, because we were not able to announce the result nor the winners right away. It was beyond our control. I was disappointed with what has happened myself but like i said it was beyond our control. We could have push through with it but it would take us time and it was late already. The thing is shit really happens but life has to go on. Nothing will come out good with the blaming, we never expected that to the happen. We had 34 successful races so far and this is an isolated event, I just felt bad after receiving text messages from numbers i dont recognized, threatening us and accusing us of "daya". First, what good will it bring us kung magdadaya kami, for what purpose. The riders have their own action cameras and they can verify their time with it. Only SS1 finish was manual we have to synchronize it with the digital SS1 start that took us sometime, we had to make sure it was as accurate as the digital, same with some in SS6. You can check it with your go pro if your are using one. I have ask Renan Ricafrente, he used go pro, true enough his time with SS2 to SS6 was the same with the records in his go pro only with the initial result in SS1 his time was different, because in the initial result we were not able to sync in the manual to the digital but this was only one stage. The reason we were delayed was we have to rechecked the SS1, we had to sync in the manual and the digital time, we are almost done with the final result there's only about 2 or 3 riders time we have to verify.
Lastly, it was an unfortunate incident and we bow our heads to apologize for it. But i was more sad with how some people have reacted to it. Maybe it's time to remind them, the first and most important of the Enduro Riders Creed, "I am a first a gentleman,second an athlete." Guys, stay cool. Thank you, Davao. We had a blast!
Thank you Angie Maestrado and Francis Colmenares for the pictures.
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