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The PAN-ASEAN TOURING event began in November of last year at Indonesia, and after crossing Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, and the Philippines, we are finally down to our last day of the tour. Our goal, Manila, is just 88 km away.
At 11:00 am, after taking an early lunch, the riders gathered at the hotel parking lot to warm up for the day's run. Actor Gary Estrada, who has accompanied the team on this Philippine leg, was called into the middle of the huddle for the morning cheer.
The team re-grouped after moving from the hotel to a gas station along their scheduled route. At 11:15, the flags were waved, beginning the final run of the tour. Although the distance itself was short, the journey was grueling for the riders. Even with the help of our motorcycle police escort, heavy traffic jams hindered the riders greatly in each town along the way.
Even outside of the towns, they were unable to ride very fast, unlike previous days. And the slow speeds meant little wind to cool the riders, and the temperature was near 40 degrees C. Maico, riding at the head of the team, asked for water, and it was passed to him from the committee car. When our Vietnamese rider Hoa passed the others to ask for water as well, our lead car made the decision to stop at a gas station in Malolos.
Retreating into the air-conditioned store of the gas station, the riders rested after taking some water and a small meal. The tour boss, Filomeno, also known as "Mr. Five Minutes," gave his last five minute warning to the resting riders (he acquired this name somewhere along the trip after making countless "five minutes till departure" calls). Malolos is halfway to Manila. We expected the bad traffic to continue, but as we came closer to Manila, lanes went from one to two, and then to three, and the flow of traffic became smoother. We met up with a users' club along the way.
With increased numbers, we headed for our goal. The landscape became noticeably different from what it had looked like before Malolos. Soon, skyscrapers began appearing up ahead. As we were passing through small towns that did not even merit an announcement, we knew that Manila was close. Arched bridges, overpasses, widening lanes, and the ever-nearing skyscrapers. Finally, at 2:30 pm, we took a right turn following an "It's EXCITING" flag, and came to an enormous shopping mall. A gate and stage stood in the middle of the mall's immense parking lot. As the riders passed through the gate, each of their names were called, and the gathered crowds gave a large round of applause.
It was the final moment of the 11-day, 2,328-km Philippine round, and of the entire PAN-ASEAN TOURING event, totaling 14,310 km. Parking their bikes, the riders gathered to embrace one another. The tour boss, Mr. Five Minutes, who just yesterday had been thrown into the pool, was surrounded by the riders and drenched in water. They then began lofting him into the air in celebration. Pouring water on each other, and, finding cameras from the media, they continued to express their joy, so much so that the staff did not call for the ceremony to proceed, but allowed the special moment to unfold itself.
At night, a farewell party was held at our hotel. Everyone enjoyed the dinner amidst a medley of traditional Filipino dances performed by a professional dance team. The riders from each country mounted the stage to attempt the tinikling (bamboo dance), the Philippines' most distinctive traditional dance. However, none were able to pull it off with as much skill as they had shown riding their T135 bikes. After this, Manuel Gaspar Albos of Norkis presented each of the riders with a certificate for completing the tour. Chuchat, Roy, and Hardi, who had participated in the entire tour, were presented with larger certificates that included their portraits, and the other riders expressed their envy at what handsome certificates they were.
The party ended around 9:30, wrapping up the official program, and the PAN-ASEAN TOURING event came to an end. Even after the guests had left their seats, the riders remained in the room, taking pictures and exchanging e-mail addresses, reluctant to leave.
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Dau∼Manila
The group huddle before the flag-off. Gary is bent over with everyone's hands on his head
The number of lanes in the road increased as we approached Manila, and traffic began to flow faster
Passing under the finishing gate in Manila. The tour reached its goal after a total of 14,310 km
The riders gathering around a camera after the goal. Their expressions are full of joy
A photo of the team surrounding the tour boss. The water fights continued for a long time
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