Penitential bike ride kicks off on Maundy Thursday

A “penitential” bicycle ride that will cover different churches in Cebu City is pushing through on April 2, Maundy Thursday.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama lifted his earlier order to put the activity on hold after he met with organizers of the event led by City Councilor Gerardo Carillo last Monday evening at his office.

He said the organizers agreed to several conditions that he set especially after his observation on last Saturday’s Earth Hour night ride in which he noted that several bikers didn’t wear safety gear and some went out of the designated lanes.

“We had a meeting with the bikers (groups for the penitential ride) and they have committed and I need to put all these in documentation. They will comply with it kay klaro man tong tarong ug mga nawng. Naay media, igsuon ni Joel Garganera ug akong kandidato for congressman (they looked serious with this. There were media, the brother of Joel Garganera and my candidate for congressman),” Rama told reporters yesterday.

Carillo, founder of the Sugbo Bikers, said they instituted safety measures so they won’t have any problems during Maundy Thursday’s 30-kilometer bike ride in different churches in the city.

“We’ll have 20 marshals, we will have a sweeper dump truck that will handle bikers experiencing problems like a flat tire. The disaster office, together with Citom will also be monitoring the activity,” Carillo said in a separate interview.

He said participants will bring their own safety gear like helmets and blinkers. Those who won’t have safety gears won’t be allowed to participate. Since he’s one of the organizers Carillo, an avid biker, won’t be participating in the bike ride. Instead he will be with the lead car ensuring that there will be no problems, he said.

The Sugbo Bikers is spearheading the activity together with the Cebu Photojournalists Organization and the Tindak Sugbo headed by Jay Garganera, the brother of Tinago barangay chairman Joel Garganera.

At least 200 signified their interest to participate in the activity. Carillo said there will still be a free registration tomorrow from 4 am to 4:45 am at the Plaza Sugbo grounds fronting City Hall. Unlike what happened during the Earth Hour ride that was participated by 5,000 persons, Carillo said only those registered will be able to participate in their penitential ride. Their group, the Sugbo Bikers, will have their own uniform. Free jerseys will be given to the first 100 registrants tomorrow while the remaining can buy their own.

“This ride is a more solemn activity. It’s our kind of “penitensya” (penitence) because the entire bike route is 30 kilometers. At every church we stop by, we will also pray,” Carillo said.

The ride will start at Sto. Nino Church going to St. Joseph Church in barangay Mabolo then St. Therese Church in barangay Lahug going to the Our Lady of Guadalupe Church. After which, they’ll proceed to the Our Lady of Remedios Parish in A. Lopez, Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in barangay Punta Princesa then proceed to the Church of Holy Cross in Basak Pardo goin to Sto. Tomas de Villanuevas in Poblacion Pardo then to Snr. San Roque Church in Mambaling. The 10th stopover will be at San Nicolas de Tolentino then to Sto. Rosario Church , Redemptorist Church then to the Sacred Heart Church and St. Pedro Calungsod then to the Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral and back to City Hall.