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ON THE MOVE

Archipelago Run experience
By Segundo E. Romero
(Last of three parts)

OVER the past two columns, I have been recounting the Archipelago Run experience, a trip from Manila to Cagayan de Oro and back by 17 people on four vehicles from Nov. 7 to 15. This part presents the Naga City-to-Manila leg, plus some of the insights of the participants of their experience.

In the second to the last evening of the run (Nov. 14), the group was joined by "reinforcements" from Manila, composed of Ellen Martin of Applied Diesel Technology, Ressie Marinas of the Senate committee on the environment and other staffers of ADT. Earlier in the day, they flew into Legazpi to take in the Mayon landscape. This is because, as earlier recounted, the Tamaraw FX was out of commission and was entrusted to an auto repair shop in Sorsogon for major engine repairs. Martin rented a Kia Besta to substitute for the FX.

The group, now numbering 23, started off from the Naga City Youth Center at 6:20 a.m. First stop was Bigg's, a fast-food store that served hot delicious goto, burgers, longganisa and other breakfast items. Then, there was a last opportunity to buy pasalubong at the Naga City market.

At 8:30 a.m., the group was finally on its way to Manila, 440 kilometers away. The Sipocot stretch was not as bothersome as expected, and the Quirino highway was smooth and fast. The first hitch was in Gumaca, when the Kombi missed the right turn to Manila because the sign was covered. It went straight toward Mulanay in the Bondoc Peninsula. Sandy, Alfred and Boboy realized the mistake only after 30 km inland. They doubled back, found the right turn and raced after the other vehicles. They caught up with the group at 2 p.m. at the designated lunch stop, Kamayan sa Palaisdaan, in Tayabas on the way to Lukban.

Lunch at 2:30 p.m. was a sumptuous feast of kare-kare, inihaw na hito, sinigang na hipon, inihaw na pusit and inihaw na tilapia. Dessert for some was leche flan.

At 3:30 p.m., the group proceeded on to Lukban to buy some more pasalubongs, especially longganisang Lukban.

Originally, the Archipelago Run route was to approach Manila via the South Superhighway. In the only deviation from the route, the group decided to use the "back door" to Manila via Tayabas, Lukban, Luciana, Cavinti, Pagsanjan, Lumban, Caliraya, Kalayaan, Paete, Pakil, Pangil, Siniloan, Mabitak, Pililia, Tanay, Baras, Morong, Teresa, Antipolo and Marikina. This was a picturesque zigzag route through a lusciously green countryside, giving the travelers different views of Laguna Lake and the Laguna lake towns at elevated as well as sea levels.

The Archipelago Run vehicles entered the Riverbanks Center compound at exactly 7 p.m., an hour before the scheduled welcome back ceremonies at the Riverbend Hotel. Some families of the runners were already waiting and there were joyous reunions. The runners were out only nine days, but the way they took a major chunk of the Philippine archipelago in fast forward mode, at an average of 45 kph, made it seem as if they were out for a month.

In the closing ceremonies, Marikina Vice Mayor Del de Guzman welcomed the runners back. He rightfully declared the run a success. Jun Ellis of the Concerned Citizens Against Pollution (Cocap) reviewed the Archipelago Run route on a day-to-day basis for the media and guests.

Several participants were asked to give their impressions and insights on the Run. Doc Alfred said that his Volkswagen group (in a 1968 Westphalia Kombi) joined to prove that no matter how old a vehicle is, so long as it is well-maintained, it can successfully hurdle the challenge of a 3,000-km run. Second, he said, they wanted to prove that Volkswagens are among the most reliable cars around. His group also sought to enhance public awareness and appreciation of the Volkswagen Club of the Philippines (in the audience, Doc Cesar Martinez, president of the club, beamed proudly).

Danny Patdu, representing the group of Meralco staffers and retirees (in the L300 van) said his group is composed of experienced regular land travelers, especially in Luzon. They joined the Run to partake of the chance to go beyond their usual sorties and see Mindanao. They thoroughly enjoyed Camiguin. They have recommendations on how to improve land travel, and they will be sharing these with the Run organizers.

Lita Batista joined as a member of the Cocap. She has traveled extensively and in fact, she and husband Dr. Atilano Batista organize bus tours. She joined the Run to see more of the Philippines at ground level, especially Samar, Leyte and Mindanao. She enjoyed the ferry crossings and going through the San Juanico Bridge.

Ellen Martin spoke for her ADT team (Isuzu Hi-Lander), which set out to demonstrate the efficacy of the diesel catalytic converter they were marketing. She was proud to be associated with a product that might be the solution to the serious air pollution problem in the country, especially in the urban areas.

The Archipelago Run set out to symbolize the integral oneness of the Philippine Archipelago during the centennial of Philippine independence. The Run emphasized four themes: Safety, Environment, Time-consciousness and Local Tourism. All these the participants lived intensely during the nine days. All 17 starters returned safely. They have effectively managed the various risks that lurked in many portions of the route. They also saw firsthand the positive (verdant countryside) and negative (roadside dumpsites) facets of the Philippine environment. They set out to travel across the archipelago in nine days, and they succeeded in following a rigid schedule on a day-to-day basis, albeit with some adjustments. Best of all, they enjoyed being tourists in their own land, experiencing and appreciating the scenic spots, warm smiles and hospitality of their own people everywhere they went.

The participants were awarded certificates of completion of the Run by the organizers, Cocap and Civic Imagineers Inc. and enrolled as members of the newly formed Philippine Archipelago Run Association.

Looking back, the first batch of Archipelago Runners think that as a rule of thumb, a Filipino-as a true native of the archipelago-should have been to the three biggest island groups-Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao-by the time he or she reaches the age of 20. This is an important preliminary attempt to appreciate the metes and bounds of the archipelago, for the Filipino to build on throughout his life.

This seems, to me, a reasonable expectation. In fact, instead of the often inane debuts and coming-out parties, young Filipinos should instead be given the opportunity to travel the Philippine islands, as a new, expansive way of looking into their Filipino-hood.

Questions? Comments? Please write seromero@hotmail.com.