‘Visita Iglesia on wheels’ on

CEBU, Philippines - The “Penitential Ride” set for tomorrow, Maundy Thursday, will push through after Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama granted the permit of Sugbo Bikers to conduct the event.

This was after Rama met with the participating bikers’ organizations Sugbo Bikers, Cebu Journalists Bikers and Tindak Sugbo last Monday night.

Rama earlier put on hold the permit for the event after he was “upset” about the night biking activity during the observance of Earth Hour last Saturday, which was participated by over 5,000 bikers, many of them unregistered.

Rama said that he granted the permit with the commitment of the organizers of the Penitential Ride to follow the conditions presented by the city government.

“We had a meeting with the bikers and they have committed. But I need to put all these in documentation that we undertook the following. I was telling them that barring this commitment, they cannot proceed. They should comply,” Rama said.

City Councilor Gerardo Carillo, founder of Sugbo Bikers, said that the mayor asked them to have safety measures to secure the participants of the event.

The Penitential Ride, which is a 30-kilometer ride, is promoted as different from the night biking activity last Saturday.

“Sugbo Bikers, Tindak Sugbo, and Cebu Journalist Bikers kay nag-coordinate for the first penitential ride. The purpose of this ride is to promote our healthy living community in a way showing our sacrifice in observance of the Holy week,” Carillo said.

At least 14 churches will be the destination of the bikers for the Penitential Ride.

“Instead of walking, mag-bike mi for Visita Iglesia and mag-pray pud mi sa rosary while biking from one church to the other,” Carillo said.

As of yesterday, over 200 bikers have committed to join the Penitential Ride. Sugbo Bikers has 1,200 members.

Carillo said that the organizers require all participants to wear safety gear and blinkers since the activity will start at 4 a.m. to 8 a.m.

“We will not allow the participants who will not wear safety gears. To avoid pareha sa night biking nga naay mo-apil nga wala naka-register, among gi-require ang Sugbo bikers to wear their uniform para maka-identify ta sa participants,” he said.

At least 20 marshals will be deployed by the organizers.

The Quick Response Team, headed by Alvin Santillana, will also help to secure the safety of the participants.

The first stop of the route is the Basilica del Sto. Niño then St. Joseph Parish in Mabolo, St. Therese in Lahug, Our Lady of Guadalupe in Guadalupe, Our Lady of Remedios Parish in Labangon, Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Punta Princesa, Holy Cross in Basak-Pardo, Santo Tomas de Villanueva in Mambaling, Sñr. San Roque Church, San Nicolas de Tolentino in San Nicolas, Sto. Rosario Church, Redemptorist Church, Sacred Heart Church and Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral.

Registration is free. — /BRP (FREEMAN)