Iloilo: Cycling Capital

The first time I was in Iloilo was in 1999. I joined a race in Bacolod called the Maskara Race which really left a bad taste in the mouth considering how it was run back then. I was so disappointed with the event that I decided never to go back. Of course, I’ll be back if there is a race there!

Since there was no direct boat ride from Cebu to Bacolod, our group took a boat going to Iloilo before we took a fast craft to Bacolod. I had no recollection of Iloilo except for the Pier Area. On the way back home, I was sick so I really had no chance of seeing Iloilo.

Fast forward 24 years later I was back, this time to join a criterium along the pier area on a street called Muelle Loney during their Dinagyang Festival. It didn’t disappoint! I came in second in the 60up cat unofficially because I was three day shy of 60. Then I placed third in the 50-60cat.

I was back twice more in Iloilo. In May, I joined the Tour de Quiñon, a 120km road race in the 56-65cat. I think I came in 8th place as I started to wilt with about 30km to go. Then I was back in November to join another criterium during the Iloilo Bike Festival. I raced in two cats, the 60+ and the 50-60 and I won first and runner up, respectively.

Two weeks ago, I was back for the second time to join the Dinagyang Crit. I have been to a lot of places to race last year- twice in Mindanao and once in Clark, Pampanga. While all the venues were great, the best of the rest was Iloilo.

You see, if there is a LGU that not only supports cycling, not as a sport but also for commuting and recreation, Iloilo is it. It doesn’t only organize races but it has its own cycling programs for local cyclists. It also has a program that trains local folks as UCI Commissars.

The support from the LGUs is not exclusive to the financial aspect but also to logistics like road closures. I can’t imagine Cebu City closing part of the port area for two days for a bike race. During the Iloilo Bike Festival, a one kilometer loop was closed in the Mega World area for two days.

Unlike in most races where only friends watch the race, people watch the race and stay the whole day to watch the events. Babies, girlfriends, mom’s and dad’s- all there to cheer their favorite cyclists. As a participant, you feel like you are the racing infant of a crowd.

If there is one person who I would point out as the main guy or gal, it’s Ms Teesai Demontano. She is a tireless worker, helps in training the kids, attends cycling seminars and I even saw her tend to her kids during the Tour of Matabungkay in Batangas 2023.

For the 2025 Dinagyang Crit, I came in first in the 60+ cat, this time it’s official. I DNF’d in the 50-60 and the Executive 35yo+ cat. All in all, it was the best race for me to start this year.

I’ll be back.