An international motorcycling event in Cebu

CEBU, Philippines - As a big bike enthusiast since the early 70s, I have attended most, if not all, the big motorcycling events not only in Cebu, but the rest of the country, as well. It is a fact that with the creation of the National Federation of Motorcycle Clubs in the Philippines, Inc. (NFMCPI), motorcycling has become a national event for big bikers all over the country, having annual federation conventions that are rotated from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. This is why big bikers make it a point to ride their bikes to those destinations. Cebu recently hosted the annual federation event last March.

Enter the Star Touring & Riding Club, which has been in existence since 2003. Unlike all the other motorcycle clubs in the country, the Star Club is the only international motorcycle group as it is the first Philippine chapter based in Cebu (Chapter 2301) of the Star Touring Club which is based in Tucson, Arizona. Recently, Star Touring chapters were formed in Mindanao Cabadbaran (Chapter 2302) and in Leyte Ormoc (chapter 2303). Just like all the motorcycle clubs in the country, the Star also dutifully attends the annual federation conventions.

However, last year, they started their Biketoberfest 2009 which was attended by a few bikers from different countries, like Japan, Canada, the United States, Norway and Korea. And so the first international big bike event in Cebu was born. Last October 29 to 30, the Star Touring Group in Cebu held its 2nd Biketoberfest 2010 held at the I.T. Park, but this time with an even bigger bang…with biker delegations from Canada, the United States of America, Spain, Australia, the United Kingdom, Norway, Germany, Hong Kong, the Czech Republic, Japan and Korea.

The activities started with a dramatic opening ceremony with US Honorary Consul John Domingo (he is a member of my bike group, The Easy Riders), who used his Harley Davidson motorcycle to cut the huge tarpaulin banner, in lieu of a ribbon-cutting ceremony, to open the event. The banner was held by Cebu Holdings Inc. CEO Francis Monera and CITOM Chief Sylvan “Jak the Wak” Jakosalem.

The international ceremonies started with the all the countries represented by a biker who is a citizen of that particular country carrying his national flag and raising it up when the national anthem of his country is played. Of course, the Philippine National Anthem was played first, followed by the US Star Spangled Banner, then the Canadian national anthem carried by my longtime friend, who migrated to Canada, Mr. Eduardo “Boging” Palacios… and all the way to the last country. It was a long ceremony, but then that’s exactly what you get when you host an international event.

 The party began with big bikers showing off their new or recently restored old bikes, while the SRO Band played. Onlookers from the Walk came out to watch the bikers, their bikes and yes, also their babes! As usual in a motorcycling event, there were various kinds of bike contests like the loudest exhaust pipe, the slowest bike, the best customized bike award and the vintage bike award and topped by a Miss Biketoberfest 2010.

But unlike most motorcycling events, the Biketoberfest 2010 showed the Star Group’s social responsibility when it held a “Feed the Children” program where some 100 children from the Asilo dela Milagrosa and the Cebu City Task Force on Street Children of Margot Osmeña were brought by buses into the I.T. Park and given packed lunches, after which they were all given school supplies worth P25,000 raised from the Star Club members. This is something that other big bikers should emulate; after all, we must show the world that big bikers also have a heart. The street kids were also entertained by motorcycle stuntmen, who rode their big bikes in a way you shouldn’t even dare do at home.

The success of the Biketoberfest 2010 international motorcycling event will definitely result in having the second Biketoberfest as the Star’s kick-off point to make the annual big bike a tradition of the Star Touring & Riding Group. So this means next year’s event promises to be bigger and more exciting. (FREEMAN)