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Yesterday was a day of rest from riding, and the ASEAN riders toured only by bus. The day had been hot and humid, but in the evening after the dinner party some of us had gone off to see a movie and, all in all, it had been a relaxing day.
At this morning's flag-off ceremony we were joined by the mayor of Olongapo, Mr. James Goldon Jr. After his speech and presenting of souvenirs, everyone gathered around for a photograph. A children's marching band performed for us as we prepared to depart at 8:30, and as the mayor waved the flag we were off on the start of the second half of the Philippine leg of the PAN-ASEAN TOURING.
Leaving Subic the PAN-ASEAN TOURING caravan made good progress heading north along the Luzon Sea coast road for about an hour and a half to the town of Iba. We refueled and took a short rest at a gas station. Here we were greeted by Iba's Vice Mayor, Mr. Jun Farin. The temperature at this point was already well above 30 degrees C. and in the sun it was close to 40 degrees. The support staff quickly set up a tent to give the riders some shade to rest in. After a longer rest, we started out again on the road toward Candelaria.
The road to Candelaria was mostly straight and we arrived at the restaurant where we would have lunch just before noon. A welcome had been prepared for us and as we had lunch we enjoyed a performance of traditional dance by a female dance group. When the ASEAN riders had finished lunch, they enjoyed dancing with the women and being taught the dance steps.
Getting back on the road, we soon entered Pangasinan state. Along the coast road in this area we began to see fields filled with sea water for making salt. The "asin" in Pangasinan means "salt," for which this is a major producer. After riding for a while, the clouds began to look ominous and eventually rain began to fall. We stopped for a while, but since the rain wasn't very strong, the ASEAN riders continued to ride as they were.
The rain didn't stop, however, and as it got stronger, the decision was made to pull over and put on the rain gear. That seemed to do the trick, because as soon as we got back on the road and started riding again, the rain stopped and it cleared so quickly that the road was dry again in no time! But, rather than stop again to take of the rain wear, we proceeded to pour next rest stop at a gas station in Alaminos.
As soon as we stopped, the riders threw off their rain suits and got under the tents the staff set up for shade. By this time it was 2:00 in the afternoon and still very hot. After departing Alaminos we headed for Dagupan along roads lined not with salt fields but fish farms raising milkfish (called bangus in Tagalog). Pangasinan state is famous for its bangus production and you can see the fish in abundance at markets, either fresh or in a preserved form.
At 4:00 we arrived at the city plaza of Dagupan. The city of Dagupan is a sister city with Iwata in Japan where Yamaha Motor's headquarters are located, and where the T135 was developed. All of this naturally has special significance for the ASEAN riders. We were welcomed here by the mayor, Mr. Benjie Lim, who invited us into a conference room at the city hall. Our Philippine rider and press representative, Dino, served as our speaker in explaining the PAN-ASEAN TOURING event.
The mayor then explained about Dagupan's sister city relationship with Iwata. From the fact that many Yamaha motorcycles have been sold here since well over 30 years ago, the relationship between the two city's governments deepened through the exchange of engineers until it finally led to the establishment of the sister city relationship 31 years ago. "Yamaha provided us with the basis for this relationship," said the mayor in a warm manner.
After a commemorative photo with the mayor the ASEAN riders went outside to be greeted this time by a large gathering of riders from seven local motorcycle owners clubs. All the riders exchanged handshakes with the club members and a big group photo was taken. When the welcoming ceremony was over, the ASEAN riders moved on to our hotel nearby and checked in at just past 5:00 in the evening. This brought a successful end to a day's schedule that had been marked by uncooperative rainy weather.
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Subic∼Dagupan
The sound of our motorcycle police siren brought out children who cheered on the ASEAN riders
At the gas station in Alaminos children gathered around our Malaysian riders Kiong Chun Khee and Teik Ghee Tan and their T135s. Among the riders they go by the names Andy and TG
Here in Candelaria children gathered to peek in on us at lunch and, like other places, when you pointed a camera at them the number of children seemed to swell instantly
When rain falls the children just go on playing, without umbrellas or rain wear, and they wave at us as we pass
Maico, Andy and TG talk with the children who climbed the rear wall of the restaurant for a look at us
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