Agilas Fly to MC Convention

Dreading another awful encounter with the biker-unfriendly roads of Luzon, the Agilas decided early March to forgo riding to Baguio on motorcycles to attend the 15th Annual Convention of the National Federation of Motorcycle Clubs and, instead, take the plane to Manila and from there ride a van to Baguio - which was a good decision because the convention dates coincided with powerful typhoon Emong’s visit to the Philippines and Baguio ran smack on the typhoon’s path.

So, on May 8, 2009, the Agilas boarded the Zest Air’s morning flight from Davao to Manila, had a delicious lunch of hot goat viands in Quezon City (on the recommendation of Ferdie) and soon were off the road to Baguio in the dry comfort of two vans (thanks Sir Ping and Ma'am Mercy) while we saw groups of riders braving the intermittent rains that were still following typhoon Emong out of the country.

We stayed in an inn recommended by Sir Boy and looked forward to enjoying the Convention.

The Convention itself was good by Luzon standards. Aside from a small number of table placed in the center of the convention hall, everybody had to sit in chairs 20 or so deep, arranged on the three sides of the center area (where the tables were) and elevated like the ones in movie houses. So you had to hold the bad food they served on one hand while you tried to eat it (the same food they also mercifully supplied us the next evening.)

While proceedings were taking place inside the Convention Center, there was an area outside where booths were setup displaying and selling motorcycle merchandise. On the area’s front was a stage where a band comprised of lady singers in shorts played. Guess where the Agilas opted to spend their time?

The organizers produced a nice souvenir program, though.

The Agilas explored Baguio’s environs (which, it seemed, had deteriorated since my last visit about 15 years ago.) We had more fun drinking, eating and swapping made-up stories in our inn. Baguio’s cool weather, of course, made the drinking really enjoyable.

We left Baguio early Sunday morning for Manila and went directly to Antipolo for dinner at (forgot-his-name; muscular type with a Mickey Mouse tattoo on his arm) and had fun imbibing the beers and eating the delicious food prepared. Exhausted, we then settled in Maam Mercy’s house in Quezon City for the night.

The next day and night were spent exploring the fun things Quezon City had to offer.