Ligaw Ride x Camp at Singalong Nature Campsite Hill Rizal

May tiwala ka ba kay universe?

Ito yung ride na gusto ko na magbackout kasi daming aberya. And as I get older, I dont really like looking for danger and thrill anymore. Planned to go to San Ysiro Falls in Calawis Rizal, tapos trek and camp at Singalong Nature Campsite Hill, but ran into different challenges - from missing helmet, closed roads, bike failure to getting lost in what seemed like an uphill maze. Kinakabahan na'ko because the last time I experienced a series of challenges and didnt listen to the universe, I got into an accident and a dangerous situation 

Pero ayun, di naman si universe yung tipong papabayaan tayo basta basta, budol nga lang :))
Here's to more budol rides na malalampasan natin in the years ahead! Padayon!

Route map - https://www.strava.com/activities/4477866667

Rizal Loop with Petroglyphs & Angono Street Murals

Rizal is beautiful. You can bask in nature, history, arts, and good food. Take a friend with you, doesnt that sound like a great day already! 

The route I took for Rizal Loop is Antipolo via Sumulong, Teresa, Morong, Cardona, Binangonan (Petroglyphs), Angono (Street Art), Taytay, and then Cainta. 

Here's the Strava link (sadly this started in Binangonan coz I failed to start recording from my start point, and only noticed when I had lunch) - https://www.strava.com/activities/4461593410

Ride responsibly!

Tagaytay Ride - Ang Tunay na Malakas Nagtutulak

Manila Tagaytay Bike Ride via Aguinaldo Highway Cavite 

There are 2 routes you can take going to Tagaytay 

First is via Aguinaldo Highway in Cavite, and second is via Sta Rosa Nuvali - Revpal. Aguinaldo Highway is less steep but has a lot of vehicles, longer, and is polluted and hot in the mornings onwards. Nuvali is more shaded and has nice views, but it's about 26km of uphill. 

This is the loop I took - Manila - Aguinaldo Highway - Tagaytay - Revpal - Nuvali - Manila - https://www.strava.com/activities/4437417063 

Laguna Loop with camping at Pangil River Ecopark

I biked to Tarlac last year (around 100km, flat terrain), naubos yung willpower ko. After nun, ayoko munang magrides - 1 week masakit buong katawan ko. HAHAHA

 
This time I tried Laguna Loop with 1250m elevation at 180+ km. Proud to say walang masakit sa katawan ko and I am actually sooo excited for a next ride already! Ganun pala yun. Pwede palang sakto lang yung challenge for you :))

So slow down, wild one. There's no need to match other people's pace or expectations. Ride at your own pace.

Caliraya Mountainlake (Quick Drive from Manila)

Went to Caliraya Mountainlake Resort in Cavinti Laguna with my family for a quick escape. Caliraya can offer relaxation and tranquility but also offers a lot of other activities if you are an adrenaline junkie. You can try golf, swimming, bike, kayaking, atv, water activities, obstacle course, bubble soccer, zipline, fishing, camping, glamping, lake cruise, swan boat, etc. You can also try their newest facility, astrocamp, where you can spend time stargazing. It's a good teambuilding site or just quiet place away from the pollution and noise of Metro Manila.

Solo Bikers Volunteer to Pick up & Deliver Donations for Typhoon Victims

Last Saturday, I saw a post online asking for donations because they lost everything during the typhoon. There were a lot who wanted to send help but didnt know how (either because they cant ship it or because Marikina isnt passable yet via car that time.)

So I posted on various biking groups, baka may gusto magvolunteer with me to pick up and deliver the donations from different private individuals and deliver down to the community. And surprisingly, people did join me

Ang galing lang kasi di ko sila lahat kilala, di kami magkakakilala, iba iba ang pinanggalingan namin, iba iba yung bike namin and yung capacity namin, pero we volunteered together. One of the volunteers, because she isnt confident with her roadbiking skills yet, she volunteered to do the coordination! Di kelangan na mayaman, matalino, malakas, o kung ano pa man para may magawa tayo.

In a gentle way, you can shake the world. 

Thank you to all those who donated and helped pick up and deliver the donations! Maraming maraming salamat po

A lot of the donors were actually worried if we can really deliver the goods safely because we were on bicycles, and it was a lot. But yes, we delivered - figuratively and literally! We delivered around 150kg of donations last Sunday - from food packs to grocery packs, toiletries, diapers, clothing, shoes, bags, rice, etc., and cycled around 80km to all the pick up points - and in full pack!

Angkas Motorcycle Obstacle Course - Nakaya ko na!

We moved office from Angkas Training Center Taguig to Angkas Training Center Brixton Pasig. The skills area is wider here, hence less intimidating than the Panorama obstacle course. Trying to upgrade my riding skills little by little, because well, 1 riding is fun, and 2. riding is more fun, when you can do things safely and confidently.

Timberland Bike Ride Tips For Newbies

For newbies, timberland ascent can be very intimidating, especially if it's your first time there because you dont know when the uphill will end. It's about 2km uphill from the fork to shotgun road - short in terms of distance, but without proper pacing, that 2km is hard to finish without stops. 

Timberland Heights is located in San Mateo, and a lot of cyclists frequent the area especially on weekend. Accidents are also frequent here along with another nearby popular bike destination, Shotgun road.

Tips Para sa Newbies na 1st Time Aahon sa Timberland

1. Wag ngayon. May bagyo. Wag din pag naguuulan kasi bukod sa dulas ng kalsada dahil sa tubig, may mga lumot din.

2. If di ka pa masyadong sold sa idea ng biking or di mo naappreciate ang mga ahon at lusong, wag ka muna din magTimberland. Dadating ka din sa point na mej adik ka na sa biking, dun ka magTimberland.

3. Wag umahon nang busog.

4. Walang masama huminto o magtulak. Wag lang bigla bigla kasi baka may nakasunod sayo di makaiwas lalo sa mga lusong, baka may maaksidente. Tingin tingin din bago magiba ng direksyon o magbiglang hinto.

5. Di shaded yung area, wear sun protection or pumili ng oras na di tirik yung araw, or yaan mo na, maganda naman at pogi yung mga tan lines naten

May iba pang tips kaso di naman kayo newbies e. Sa newbies skip na kayo sa kalahati ng video if nabasa nyo na yung Tips 1-5 sa taas. Ride responsibly guys! Wag tayo pasaway, mas mahirap magrides pag nagkasakit or naaksidente tayo

May nakalimutan pa ba ko banggitin? Ah wag mambudol ng newbie, pag di na kayo newbie. Langya kayo e.

Sariaya Quezon Ride & Swim Daytrip (Sabaw Antok Combo)

Manila to Sariaya Quezon is the farthest riding Ive done in a day (almost 250km return trip.) And I was really sleepy because didnt have enough rest days before the ride because this was a biglaang yaya ride :)) But hey Im not complaining, was really enjoyable! 

Thanks to my team who were very reliable and were there throughout to help me overtake, guide the way, check my tire pressure, wait for me, and do stopovers to check overall riding attentiveness. Couldnt have done this without you guys!!!

Tagaytay Ride After Strict Quarantines

Went to Tagaytay when it initially opened to non residents after the strict lockdowns. Rode to Peoples Park, Skyranch, Rodeo Drive, Twin Lakes, Ricos Bulalo, Bechays Bulalo, Starbucks, Mushroom Burger. Tried to go to Kaybiang Tunnel via Nasugbu but we didnt get to pass thru checkpoint. It was my first 1000km (after almost a year!!!) Ive gotten less tense when riding - yey! Grabe ang tipid ng Honda Genio, my full tank was around P140, and then I drove around 200km, tapos paguwi ko kalahati pa yung gas ko.

New Bike Ordinance sa QC (1k-5k Multa sa Walang Helmet)

QC passed Ordinance SP 2942 which fines cyclists P1000 up to P5000 if they arent wearing helmet in a bid to make cycling safer. I'll probably get bashed for this, but I actually disagree with this move. Penalizing bikers who dont wear helmet will not make the roads safer for them, nor will it make the road safer for anyone else. If we wanna make roads safe, we gotta address road hazards itself.

Bakit Gusto Kong Umahon sa Antipolo Araw Araw - Pasig Antipolo Bike Loop

Pasig Antipolo Bike Loop Details

The route is around 40km. I take C5 - Circulo Verde - Marcos HIghway - Sumulong for on the way to Antipolo. And then Cainta - C5 going back to Makati. The difficult part is from Sumulong to Cloud 9 because that is 70-80% uphill. The rest of the route are mix of flats, uphill, and downhill.

I take a rest or eat somewhere along Valley Golf or Cloud 9. For now my ave speed is only around 14kph. It's okay tho. I know Im slow, but I get to the destination eventually. Music is UP Naming Mahal c/o Rosalie Mendoza (Youtube Channel - Sining ni Lily) https://youtu.be/xNBOu-bZfU8

Nuvali Bike Paths (Road, Dirt, Trail)

Nuvali bike paths has something for everyone - beginners, intermediate, advanced, foldies, roadies, mountain bikers. You can choose a route that fits you. 

Better bike before 10am tho because it will be hot onwards as some path are open areas with no shade. 7am-9am is best - cool breeze and gentle morning sun. 

I passed by Nuvali blvd, west diversity avenue, mt sungay trail - but i didnt push thru with the trail coz it was muddy and im not confident yet in biking off road. I feel like ill always slide and slip. Maybe ill try next time when path is dry. But yes off road seems exciting!

Antipolo Daytrip - Cloud 9, Antipolo Church, The Tapsishop, Pinto Art Museum

Did a solo ride to Antipolo for a day. Went to Cloud 9 Bridge and Viewdeck, Antipolo Church, The Tapsishop Antipolo, and Pinto Art Museum.

Before the pandemic, i wouldnt cycle or ride solo (bec im scared) but now im more open to it. I do it very rarely for now, but thats better than before when ive never done it and wouldnt even consider the idea at all.

Here's my first solo ride on a motorcycle :) 

C6 Taguig Bike Lane Loop

I tried out the bike lane in C6 Taguig - It still needs a lot of improvement, but the lack of choices to a car free road within metro manila makes C6 bike lane popular still. I think newbies wont like it because of the mud and floodwaters. It can be messy for those who has to constantly put down their feet to balance. C6 

Taguig Bike Lane Loop Navigation https://www.strava.com/activities/4051216809

Galit ka ba pag may Biker sa Labas ng Bike Lane?

Bakit nga ba may nagbabike sa labas ng bike lane? Mali ba to? E bakit may mga taong nagwiwish na masagasaan yung mga bikers na wala sa bike lane? Ito, tama ba to?

Yes we see some bikers disobey traffic rules, and yes that's wrong and is a problem. Pero if you wish someone to die or get hurt because of that, eh that's another problem too.

Ewan ko if may galit sa inyo sa mga nagmomotor (coz I used to hate on them.) Kasi misinformed ako nun, naniniwala ako dati na they cause accidents. But no they dont - just as we cyclists dont cause accidents.

Human errors, faulty vehicles, and hazardous road conditions cause accidents - not bikes (whether inside or outside the bike lane)

Here are the reasons why cyclists bike outside the bike lane, especially in Metro Manila, where bike lanes are an afterthought rather than an actual part of urban planning. Therefore entry points, exit points, safety hazards and other factors weren't well planned and addressed at the moment.

Tragedy of the Commons & Tyranny of Small Decisions in the Philippines

The tragedy of the commons is a situation in a shared-resource system where individual users, acting independently according to their own self-interest, behave contrary to the common good of all users by depleting or spoiling the shared resource through their collective action. 

The Tyranny of Small Decisions is a situation in which a number of decisions, individually small and insignificant in size and time perspective, cumulatively result in a larger and significant undesirable outcome

Here are some examples of Tragedy of the Commons and Tyranny of Small Decisions in the Philippines. 

Project Management - Paano MagHandle ng Projects

Project Management is an important skill if you want to manage teams or people. It basically means managing projects from start to finish - from planning to execution to review. Here's a basic guide on how to do it for beginners.

This is Me Trying by Taylor Swift is the Pandemic Mood

I have the most amazing (almost scary) friends! They found my house based on a single photo of my terrace view! And then proceeded to comfort me (miles apart) coz i was down lately.

#taylorswift #folklore album is the pandemic mood 🎶 They told me all of my cages were mental So I got wasted like all my potential And my words shoot to kill when I'm mad I have a lot of regrets about that

#thisismetrying 

BGC Loop For Newbies - Route with Bike Lane

Since there are no group rides, I needed to learn to ride solo even on nearby places for my physical and mental health. So I mapped the bike lanes in BGC, and drew a loop that I can bike on every weekend morning (ideally before 830am, as there seems to be a significant increase in vehicles, humidity, and temperature after that time)

Bike route: https://www.strava.com/activities/3948743653

Sanity Check After 5 Months of Quarantine Manila Philippines

This pandemic taught me that we can take in great pains and struggles, as long as we find meaning in it. But meaning is not something out there to be found. You create it. You assign it. You give meaning to what youre going through, and make it precious. 

Warning: Very emotional vlog... 

Sums up all my feels and thoughts this pandemic minus the politics, i had to filter out my thoughts on politics because ATL is real.

Bike to Norzagaray - Bitbit River, Ipo Dam Viewdeck, Pinagrealan Cave

Bike to Norzagaray Bulacan - Bitbit River, Ipo Dam Viewdeck, Pinagrealan Cave during General Community Quarantine

Cobra Effect in the Philippines (And What To Do About It)

Are Pinoys madiskarte by choice? 

Or is it because that they have no choice thats why they have to be madiskarte? 

A lot of the policies in the Philippines are not planned and executed with the proper stakeholders in mind, that's why cobra effect is prevalent in the Philippine policies. 

Some examples are number coding for cars, shutting down of motorcycle taxi operation, giving of housing in provinces to squatters, halting of public transportation during the initial announcement of community quarantine due to covid 19

So what do we do as neglected stakeholders?

How to Ride a Bike - Tips For Adults

For adults it can be embarrassing or scary to learn how to ride a bike, but definitely not impossible. My mom is 57 years old and she just learned how to ride a bike. Youre never too old to learn new skills, guys! 

1. Get a comfortable bike - you can reach the ground easily even when seated 

2. Find a safe area to practice 

3. Wear safety gears like helmet, gloves, elbows and shin pads to protect yourself in case you fall off the bike. 

4. Get comfortable with the bike by getting on/ off, walking the bike, trying out the brakes 

5. Practice striding - this is sliding yourself while on the bike - don't pedal. This is for you to learn balancing on a bike 

6. Practice pedaling - once you can slide, you can try pedaling. Avoid looking at your pedals, just look ahead and pedal continuously. 

7. Keep practicing!

My mom was able to pedal without assistance after a total of 4 hours (1hr per day practice every other day) Aww im soo proud! I taught my mom how to ride a bike!!!

Pre Ride Inspection (Basic Motorcycle Checking Before Every Ride) for Newbies

Here I checked the following on my scooter:

1. Fuel level 
2. Tires - tread, pressure, debris 
3. Brakes - if working, brake fluid, brake pads 
4. Engine 
5. Electricals - dashboard indicators, turn signal lights, headlamp, taillights, honk
6. Throttle - does it snapback and doesnt lock, has enough free play

Philippine Traffic Laws for Bikes, Cars, Motorcycles

RA 4136 or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code of the Philippines enumerates the traffic law that all motorists (motorcycles, cars, even bikes) must follow on the road




Sources
https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1964/06/20/republic-act-no-4136/ https://www.lto.gov.ph/issuances/republic-act.html http://www.mmda.gov.ph/20-faq/2575-anti-distracted-act-faq.html

Microwave Meals - Cake, Pizza, Churros, Poached Egg, Mac & Cheese, Baked Potato

Its amazing how versatile microwave oven is. You can cook everything from rice to pizza in a microwave! Here, I did bake potato, peanut butter cake, instant noodles with poached egg, pizza, churros, and mac & cheese.

 

Microwave oven is indeed perfect for solo and quick meals! I just found a new bestfriend at home! Lol pwede ka na magrestaurant ng microwave dishes lang handa :D


PS:

For eggs guys, try medium high 1 minute if you prefer a runny yellow. If its your first time and arent sure of your microwave settings yet (depende sa wattage ng microwave nyo yung high e, sakin output wattage of 700, input of 1200) pakibutasan yung egg yolk para di sumabog sa loob ng oven :D

How to Get a Leadership Role

Nung college, ang role ko sa groupworks ay tagabili ng meryenda, tagaluto ng pancit canton, at overall moral support. Groupworks were never really stressful for me coz the people in charge were reliable. Happy go lucky ako nun.

Now that I am a lead myself, stressful, especially on days like this that there are no norms & no SOPs. Everything is fleshed out as we roll with the punches. These are the things I wish I knew earlier in my career, mga 5 years earlier. Di sana wala ko masyadong napaiyak 😬 and I could have been more effective then as an entry manager. Tandaan, as a lead, you are only as good as your team is. Kahit gaano ka kagaling, di mo kayang gawin lahat. You get a lot of work done through and with others.



1. Understand how system works
2. Understand and manage yourself individually and as part of a system
3. Communicate with intention
4. Support others to succeed
5. Think strategically

UV Light vs Bread Molds Experiment (ft UV Care Germ Terminator)

I met a pilot who brings around a UV Care Germ Terminator. She uses it on doorknobs, airplane seats, hotels, and on the utensils during that dinner we had. Others would think she is a neat freak (and maybe she is), but it was reassuring for me, because it was a time when covid19 was just emerging, and there were no known cases in the Philippines yet.

I used to not wear mask coz I didnt have the surgical ones. I reasoned that the cloth mask wouldn't protect me from the virus so why bother. But now it's different. This cloth mask may not protect me, but if I am sick, I can protect others by wearing this and not spreading the virus.

Now is the time to be extra paranoid with hygiene if we can, if not for ourselves, for others.

I got this 2 months ago, but was doubtful if it really has any effects (best in trust issues kasi ako e 😅) but since finishing this experiment, I might ask everyone in the house to use this na.

Keep safe guys.

Email Writing 101 - Paano ang Tamang Pag Email

Gonna focus muna on work, and random vlog contents like career, self help, or home related topic to keep myself sane kasi natotoxic na ko and it is making me more and more anxious...

I hope you and your loved ones are safe. I have no words of comfort to give nowadays 😔 just productive distractions from the pandemic. So ito muna, this is a lecture on the basics of email writing. Obviously, iba iba lahat ng email, so this is more of a general guideline to being professional and considerate in your emails. Yes pwede tayong professional and considerate at the same time


This class is intended for beginners and newbies in emailing.

Stay home!
Arlet

Grocery Run During Manila Lockdown - Inabutan Ako ng Curfew

It's Day 15 of the Metro Manila Lockdown due to covid 19 threats. I have to do a quick grocery run, because we ran out of camote and veggies for my dad who is diabetic. He cannot eat most of the things we eat because his sugar level shots up easily. I left home a little past 2pm and it was scorching hot so I thought there wouldnt be a lot of people. I was so wrong.

Keep safe guys!
Arlet

Criticizing. Are You Doing It Right?

No one enjoys negative feedback, but mature people appreciate it. Would you rather be saved by criticism or ruined by praise?

Times are hard right now, and we end up fighting against each other, but may we always truly have the good of the people in mind. At least in our goals, we see eye to eye. Then we discuss next steps, like mature adults we are. Here's how.

Keep safe pls! 

How to Deal With Criticism - https://youtu.be/cVcArcxYcGI 

How to Spot Fallacies / Bluff Tactics - https://youtu.be/1Ovs7ciiVb8
Black & White Thinking - DDS / Dilawan Mindset - https://youtu.be/TOku92r_mA0

Honda Genio Philippines Review (Perfect For Light Riders)

This is my review of Honda Genio scooter available in the Philippines as of 2020. This is my first motorcycle, very nimble and simple. It lacks the speed and power that other riders crave, but it's perfect for me as my entry motorbike. It doesnt scare me nor overwhelm me. In fact it empowers me, especially now that public transpo is crippled due to Covid-19 :(

Maybe take a rest from your daily hustles, and stay responsible and safe!

Arlet

Bike Ride Manila to Mystical Cave Antipolo

We biked from Manila to Mystical Cave in Antipolo. It was a short ride of about 30km one way, but the uphill ride in Sumulong Highway can be draining for newbies or the untrained ones, but it's worth the bike ride because Mystical cave is big and fascinating. Even the little trek and view up the mountain was also nice.

Keep hustling!

Arlet

Newbie Motorcycle Rider Goes to Marilaque!

I bought a Honda Genio last December 2019, but I haven't used it because I'm still terrified of riding in actual roads, so my friends organized a ride for me to practice and feel the sensation of riding. My very bright friends decided the best place for me (a newbie) to practice is in Marilaque, a killer highway where a lot of illegal racing and unsafe riding practices happen!

Keep hustling!
Tita Arlet

Dear Road Users Spoken Poetry - A Cyclist Perspective

I've always been scared of riding bikes & motorcycles. Not because I think 2 wheels are dangerous (safety is not determined by the vehicle, but by the driver), but because I feel the aggression from other road users towards us, as if we're a menace on the road, as if - if we ever get into an accident, people immediately suspect it's our fault, and that we even deserve it. Kamote as they say.

Maybe if we just become kinder and more considerate towards one another, regardless of the vehicles we drive, regardless if we feel wronged, then maybe the infrastructure wouldn't be so bad. Let's look out for one another.

Alam mo kung nabubwisit ka the moment na makakita ka nang nakamotor or nagbabike kahit wala silang ginagawa, baka ikaw yung problema. Baka may anger management or pent up issues ka...