Ortigas & Co., Firefly Brigade rally for clean air
MANILA, Philippines - Years of biking for clean air and with over 10,000 participants annually, the 12th Tour of the Fireflies (ToF) featured bikers covering approximately 40 kilometers around Metro Manila starting from Tiendesitas, Frontera Verde at Pasig, to Quezon City, Marikina, Cainta, Taguig, Makati, and Mandaluyong. Synchronized bicycle rides were also staged in Baguio, Bacolod, Palawan, Gensan and Laoag.
Tiendesitas developer and major benefactor Ortigas & Co. and the Firefly Brigade are pushing for the implementation of provisions within the Clean Air Law. Promoting the use of non-motorized transportation aids in the reduction of carbon emissions and will help make our cities firefly friendly again. Tour of the Fireflies (ToF) goes beyond the formula of the usual bicycle advocacy touring and gives a great twist for onlookers who experienced it for the first time this year.
ToF is also an avenue for artsy bikers to show their talent for costume design. Amid the bikers who wear plain jerseys are a select few who breezed around Manila with firefly wings, antennae attached to their helmets, or glaring red goggles that resemble bug eyes. The tour rewarded those who showed utmost creative with gifts from several ToF sponsors.
Grand prize was awarded to Elena Tuballas; first runner-up, Oliver Simon Tedezo; second runner-up, Kristine Bernadette Curilan; third runner-up, Zaldy Reabad; and consolation prizes went to Predrito Navarro, Ernesto Torres, Fernando Suplido, Aristides Bacalyon Jr., Raul Teriu and Ashley Irene Baclayon.
The theme for this year is “I Vote to Bike” and the program encourages participants to ride their bicycles as a form of being makabayan. Highlights of the ToF this year: awarding of 15 Dutch bicycles to deserving NGOs and POs by the Firely Brigade and Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands and a costumed rider contest. The Tour this year was graced by Dutch Ambassador Robert Brinks, Miss Earth reigning beauties, Albert Martinez, and Tessa Prieto-Valdez.
Ortigas & Co. has pledged to install bicycle racks in all of its developments as a response to the RACK Project of the Firefly Brigade, a boost to the long-term partnership with the Brigade. It also supports the ever-increasing interest into biking as an environmentally sensible means of transportation. Apart from the benefits of biking to the environment, bikers acknowledge that as a physical activity, it helps them become healthier and less stressed.
Firefly Brigade president Ricky Pineda also adds, “Riding your bicycle — to work, to school or short errands — is the simplest way anyone can immediately help fight climate change. And it’s a lot of fun, too!”
The Tour of the Fireflies is also staged in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Firefly Lighting, Spyder Optics, Pocari Sweat, 7Eleven, Men’s Health, other media partners, and the key local government units in and outside Metro Manila.
