Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Asian Enduro Series Round 2: Stoked in Bohol

ASIAN ENDURO SERIES ROUND 2: STOKED IN BOHOL
By: Ione Baron-Mejia


STOKEDDDD!!!

Nick Angelo De Guzman Velasco


Photos are great memory-promp. Some weeks may have passed after the Asian Enduro Series Round 2 was held in Calape, Bohol but all it takes is a single shot i took using my cellphone to transport me back, to perhaps the most exciting event the Enduro Pilipinas and Asian Enduro have ever held yet,  that was last September 10  and 11, 2016. I could quite guess I am not alone scrolling occasionally to relive the event. While i normally blog right after the event, i decidedly went experimental this time, using my photo and the stunning action shots of  Mr. Ericson Corpus as memory-promp,  weeks after the event.

September 7, 2016, Wed was the start of my amazingly crazy weekend. Used to the thick traffic, I ninja-ed myself to the airport at 9AM and almost disappointed the traffic was not as bad. I would have been slightly ruffled yet aglow with post adrenaline rush  by the time my plane was taking off but judging my perfunctory selfie inside the Cebu Pacific plane, i look collected and calm. The flight was uneventful almost. Having been a traveler, i have considered a bawling baby in front of me a non event, in fact it is a de rigueur. In fact i have come to appreciate the brave and patient parents travelling with kids. I wish i was like you.


After about an hour, we landed in the charming  Cebu city,  I happily bumped with the Team Groundzero in the Cebu airport. From left is March Aleonar together with his lovely wife, Ms. Ann Aleonar and Nino Martin Eday.

From the airport, i went straight to Ayala Mall for the presscon and briefing. Thanks to Recreational Outdoor Exchange - R.O.X. and Ayala Mall Cebu City for accommodating us there. 




It was also the chance for me to visit my nephew who is studying in Cebu.

The next day, Thursday,I went Cebu port  to go to Tubigon, Bohol.
 I saw  these guys in the port.The rain was drizzling in Cebu that  time, which prompt me to seriously pray for a calm sea.

This ferry transported us from Cebu to Tubigon, Bohol.

My prayers were answered, the sea was calm, we had an uneventful journey. We were already in Tubigon after an hour.

This truck fetch us from Tubigon port to the town of Calape.





Before lunch we were in Calape already. We headed to the Calape public market to check some local cuisine.


This is the Calape's  version of bulalo instead it included beef intestines and the likes.


This is where we stayed during our four day visit in Calape. It is the guest house of the  Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.


Naturally,  it is surrounded with hectares of ponds.



And with different plants and herbs, like this pepper. Have you ever seen this pretty violet pepper, it turns to cherry red when it ripens? They have it there in BFAR Calape. 


Friday was track reading day!
Here are the pictures of some of the riders and their bikes basked in muddy glory.


FLORENT POILANE from France representing Vietnam. Asian Enduro Series - Round 1 and Round 2 Champion.







DRU DEL ROSARIO Team Rotten Wheels -from Manila


Mark Ibon and Joseph Obra from Palawan


RIDERS BEFORE THE START OF THE RACE
                                        
Nino Martin Eday, March Aleonar of Team Groundzero and Mark Ibon of Team DERP


Nathaniel Acain (sitting) from Team ZERO and the Team Humpers, Heydar Hosseini, Dante Francisco and Tenten Yu



TEAM BILIRAN



The tale of Vincent Platitas of Team ZERO from Zamboanga and Joseph Obra of Team DERP from Palawan. Day 1, Vincent Platitas had an unfortunate crash in Stage 2, it was bad, we were not expecting him to finish the race, but being true enduro warrior, we were surprise that he still choose to finish the race, despite the fact that he knew,  he already lost a significant amount to time that cost him the possibility of being in the podium while competing in the elite category. In the end he still finished in 14th place despite the crash. Congratulations Vincent, all of us are proud of your sportsmanship and steel strength and determination. You are a true champion.  Day 2, Joseph Obra also crashed in Stage 5, we had to bring him to Tagbiliran hospital for x- rays and other tests, thankfully their was no significant physical damage to him. He was back in Capale,  just in time for the awarding ceremony. I felt really bad for Joseph because he was a strong contender too, he was  top 6 in the elite category during the Day 1 ranking. But now,  we are just thankful nothing serious happened to him. See in the trail soon, Vincent and Joseph. 

Joseph Obra from Team DERP


They say  a picture is worth a thousand words. Let me show you these pictures of the riders,  these are action shots of the riders having fun in the trail. Can you feel the excitement and the   adrenaline rush during the race, can you imagine how high they get from speeding down those gnarly trails, can you believe those awesome view from the trail? That was our weekend weeks ago, the Asian Enduro Series Round 2 in Calape, Bohol. It was incredible! 

Thank you to Ericson Corpus aka @unbreakableeric for the amazing action shots and for allowing me to use these pictures.


FLORENT POILANTE from France representing Vietnam - Champion - Elite Category

GABRIEL AMIGO III of Team Bislig - 2nd place -Elite Category



ROEL QUITOY OF Team ZERO from Zamboanga - 3rd place - Elite Category


NICK SHANE from Canada - 4th place - Elite Category

NINO MARTIN EDAY from Team Groundzero 5th place - Elite Category


PELDEN BORJI from  Bhutan - 6th Place - Elite Category


JAKE ARVIN FUDOLG of  Bike Ta Bai - Champion - Aficionado Category

HEYDAR HOSSEINI of Team Humpers from Cebu 2nd Place - Aficionado Category


DRU DEL ROSARIO - Team Rotten Wheels from Manila  2nd place - Aficionado Category

MICHAEL HAMID of Team ZERO from Zamboanga 4th place - Aficionado Category

ROMEO QUITOY SR. from Team ZERO of Zamboanga 2nd place - Legend Category


JAYSON PICKETT from Australia - Elite rider


Kenneth Wee from Singapore - Elite rider

Nick Angelo Velasco Team DERP of Palawa - Elite rider

 DR. MILTON MACANAS   from Team FACE of Tacurong City - Elite rider


MARK IBON of Team DERP from Palawan - Elite rider

AARON KISLER of  Team SF Trail Blazers from Cebu City - Elite rider

ADRIAN ABELLA aka BAI ANDY  of Team Humpers from Cebu - Elite rider

ALLAN DALMAO of  Team Bike Ta Bai


ZENITH LLOYD LOMOD aka Ako si Zen of Team Duro Brothers - 2nd place Curious Category


BUTZ  FRANCISCO of Team Humpers from Cebu City - 4th place - Curious Category


CHRISTIAN ANGELO GO FERNANDEZ of  Team Biliran


DANDAN  TUI of Team Humpers from Cebu


DAVE CHONG  Team V12 from Cebu City

DWIGHT ANTHONY TAN INCHICO of Team Biliran

GERRY MARMITO 

JOSEPH FALCONE of Team Humpers from Cebu - 3rd place - Curious Category

JOSE PIDAL MARIO


ROMEO KEVIN LANZADERAS of Team Calape Bikers from Bohol

LEO BARDA ECALLA from Leyte - Elite rider


LEONEL ERASMO of  Team Biliran

MANNY PLAZA of  Team Biliran

MARVIN LLANOS of  Team ZERO from Zamboanga


MATTHEW ALAMANGOS from Australia


NING KAKAY of Duro Brothers from Bohol

NOEL DEFENSOR of Team FACE from Tacurong City - 4th place  Legend Category

OGIE FLORES of Team FACE from Tacurong City 5th place - Aficionado Category

PATRICK PARRENO aka LNP bike of Team FACE from Tacurong 


PENNY LLOYD BATOTO of Team Biliran

RAMON QUIJANO  from Cebu City


REXTER CORTO

ROMMEL RAGASA of Team ZERO from Zamboanga

ROMULO JOHN JR. ESPINA of Team Biliran

RYAN ASUR


SHIRWEN RALAR AKA SIMPLY RUGGED from Team Biliran

VANZI GUB of Calape bikers is the bullet rider. Congrats Van.


VELMAR CANETE from Leyte


VINE PEROCHO of Team ZERO from Zamboanga



Finally, the fearless, she-shredders!
From the left: DOC MARIA JOSELA DEFENSOR , in the middle with her bike JOYCE DEL SOCCORO , at the back is JOY GUINAN and STEF PHEASANT





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