Last March 19, biking enthusiasts from all over the region converged at the Iloilo Business Park for the Fun Ride of the 3rd Iloilo Bike Festival, the biggest gathering of cyclists in Western Visayas. With the theme “Bike Safe Iloilo,” the event is envisioned to emphasize the concept of road sharing and promote a bike-friendly Iloilo City.
The week-long Iloilo Bike Festival officially started on March 13 and the highlight was the Festival Fun Ride, where an estimated 3,000 local and international bikers participated and toured around the scenic locations in Iloilo.
Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, who graced the main event with Vice Mayor Joe Espinosa III and other local officials, declared the Iloilo Business Park as the official starting point that day.
“We see the sustainability of biking here in Iloilo City through the Iloilo Bike Festival, making the city as the Bike Festival of the Philippines. Let us continue this. Let us show to the whole Philippines and the world that we are responsible bikers, that we know how to share the road, and we are promoting safety, health and the environment. Here in Iloilo City, we make our dreams in biking come true,” said Mayor Mabilog.
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(L-R) Pablo
Nava, president, Federation of Iloilo Cycling Organization; Councilors Jay Treñas
and Inday Lee Zulueta-Salazar; Reyland Hervias, president, Liga ng mga Brangay; Vice
Mayor Joe Espinosa III; Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog; Usec. Cesar Drilon;
Councilor Love Baronda; Jennifer Ann Palmares-Fong, vice-president for sales
and marketing, Megaworld Iloilo Business Park; Dr. Ronald Raymond Sebastian,
CEO, John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University; and Kin Baterna, Ronda Pilipinas
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For its 3rd year, organizers introduced the “Bike on Lights” parade contest, an innovative side event that features bikes decorated in colorful lights and then showcased creatively. Individual participants or groups participated in the contest, lighting up the Megaworld Boulevard just in time for Earth Hour that evening.
The top 3 winners went home with gift certificates from Richmonde Hotel Iloilo worth P20,000 for the first placer, P10,000 for the 2nd placer and P8,000 for the 3rd placer.
"Iloilo Business Park is committed to making Iloilo the most bike-friendly city in the country. We welcome all participants to our township, which is a sustainable development that promotes the use of bikes," says Jennifer Ann Palmares-Fong, vice-president for sales and marketing, Megaworld Iloilo Business Park.
Through the partnership of Megaworld with the Iloilo City government, the 72-hectare Iloilo Business Park will serve as the official home of the annual Iloilo Bike Festival until 2023. This is to further promote road sharing and public safety practices as bike lanes emerge in Iloilo City.
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