The Remarkable Enduro Davao Event

"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.  

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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My CamSur Enduro Mania Experience

Camsur Enduro Mania was held in Naga City, last May 14, 2016. It was in Mt. Isarog, Team Chocobanana ( headed by Nestor Santamaria III, Bhokie Senar, Jayson Peyra, Jabbar Tatel, John Percival Arejola, Ben Pejo Jr. ) has found a virgin trail for the enduro riders.( As per Allan Adriano, it was solid, think 8 minutes downhill)   We went there for inspection last April 30  and also on May 13 and 14 to supervise the race. The plan was, Sly will be releasing the riders in Special Stage 1(SS1) and I will releasing the riders in Special Stage 2 (SS2).  But Sly has some personal emergency to attend to, so i had to release the riders in SS1 and SS2. It would have been easier if i were not to hike going to the starting point of SS1 and SS2. In SS1 i had to hike more or less one kilometer to go to the starting point of SS1 and back , thanks to Andre and his Polaris, it was  suppose to be 3.1 KM, saved me from walking more than 2KM of the trail. My concern was the SS2, it was 3.7 KM and 2,700 above sea level, i have to climb Mount Isarog, to go the staring point of SS2 on foot. Good thing, Jabbar Tatel helped me going up, i rode in his motorcycle up to the bakahan, i think it was one third of the  trail going up, Up until now, i'm still  amazed , on how i  was able to climbed it. During that time,  I was hungry and tired already. I just remember. every time  i had difficulty going up, I would close my eyes do some deep breathing and pray, every single time for almost every ten or fifteen minutes then I would always feel energized after wards. That is how i was able to climb the Mt. Isarog by myself. Now, going down was a different story, we walked more than two hours from the starting point of SS2 at Mt. Isarog to the car waiting for us in Pinicuason. We were in a hurry going down since it's getting dark in the mountain and it's raining. I did not feel anything while we were walking down, my legs were numb, the only thing running on my mind was,  we have to get out of there,  asap. I was relieved when i saw Nestor Santamaria III aka Kuya waiting for us in the SS2 finish line. He offered me his arms, that was the time i felt my thighs & legs were shaking while i was walking.  I was dog tired, no, i was walking dead. But there's still the awarding ceremony, so we went to the city to freshen up and then went straight to the Naga City People's Hall for the awarding. we were done before 11PM , i chit chatted  with the chocoboys for few minutes then  headed to our car going to Manila. Before 12 midnight, we were on our way back home. I'm grateful to a lot of people there. Thank you, John Percival Arejola for the company, thank you for being patient with me while were going down Mount Isarog.  Thank you,  Francis Albos, for your help during our track reading. I knew you were tired already on our climb up but you quietly endured it and still managed to help me, i'm grateful to you for your help. Finally, thank you kuya for all the yummy treats when i was in Naga, you were a worthy foodie buddy. hahaha. I'm most grateful to you, for saving me in my "period catastrophe". Of course, thank you, Antet Piloneo for the yummiest laing served in the  awarding dinner. Lastly, thank you, Bhokie Senar for all your hard work, going up and down the trail, accompanying the riders for track reading. It was physically exhausting but you're exuberance was contagious, you showed them the trail even with an injured shoulders. Also to Jayson Peyra for showing up in SS2 while his wife was recuperating in the hospital. I will be praying for your beautiful family.  Finally, Javib Pena & Nhokie Senar for assisting me in SS1 also Xavier Flores and Atty. Chris Camacho for your help in SS2. Congratulations Team Chocobanana for the successful event! You guys rock! 

TRACK INSPECTION APRIL 28, 2016

This is stage 1 liaison past 9AM, it was really hot.  Francis Albo's  water saves me from dehydration here.

Half of the liaison in stage 1, we rest for a bit.

 Group picture after some rest before we proceed to starting point of special stage 1. (SS1)

Another group picture, still a bit fresh here.

This is before we got lost in the cornfields. I was with Jabbar Tatel's nephew.  The funny thing was,  i let go of the front and rear brake  here, thinking i was in the cornfield,  sure i was fast but there's no bangin or rocks, what can go wrong, right? that's why i let go of any caution. Wrong decision, i was really fast when i pass by the cornfield  and it was "bako bako", it felt like my intestines along with my uterus, ovaries and fallopian tube were about to burst out of my body. Imagine riding really fast in bako bako, it was an unpleasant experience, turns out nakalagpas kami so we have to go back. 

This is before we start climbing up stage 2, i was contemplating on

 riding the carabao instead of climbing 3.7 KM of Mt. Isarog. Plan failed, i felt like i'll fall anytime, since i don't have anything to hold on to, we decided to take a hike instead.  

RACE BRIEFING MAY 13

Thank you Bryan Kaiser Leonor,  for the picture, This was the race briefing held in the Naga City People's Hall.

May 14 - Race day

The Special Stage 1 (SS1) crew, left side in the green jersey is Jefferson, beside him is Andre Soriano,  on my left is Nhokie Senar.

Let me get you on my embarrassing secret involving the Polaris. I was really glad, Andre brought the Polaris,  it saves me from walking more than 2 kilometers of the SS1 trail. I  enjoyed being with those guys too, it was pure fun. But the thing is i have my period, any girl would know if you have your period and you walk, hike or do anything outdoor, God only knows what will  happen to your pad. I was so engrossed and enjoying the Polaris and it's speed while going to Special Stage 2  for our lunch,  that  i didn't feel or notice anything, until i get off, I saw stain on my seat. Horrific!  I panicked, I stained the Polaris!!! Saying it was embarrassing, was an understatement. I went crazy for a minute there, I went straight to the ate and ask if they have CR, then i called kuya right away, i was rambling at first,  i don't know exactly what to tell him. Then he said, "dahan, dahan lang,  ano yon," i said,  "kuya  i have to go back to change," he said, "we will be late, it would take more than a hour if you go back to the city."  Then he said wait, turns out there's some Natasha outlet in front of the eatery we went to. He bought me undies and leggings, and that's how i was able to go through the stage 2. I was starving during that time but somehow forgot about it after the incident. Andre manage to buy us some ice cream, Nhokie offered it to me but i was still in shocked of what had happened to be able to eat anything. I  was just thankful i was able to change. I told Andre about it, good thing,  he was such a gentleman and just told me not to worry about it. Being a girl, sure has it's own inconveniences when you're on trail but that shouldn't stop us from going out and having a life. Right?

May 14, Race day

Selfie before i climb Mt. Isarog for the SS2, at the back is the cutie of TCB, Allen. 

Finally, the awarding! Congratulations to Ground Zero team for bagging the first place in the Team Category, Reklamo Racing 2nd place and Team Bicol, 3rd place.  Congratulations to Nino Eday,  1st place in the elite category. To all the winners and finishers, congratulations to all of you. 

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