Manila Coffee Cycling Club 12/2019: Turning two!

December 13, 2019December 13, 2019typevertigo 2 Comments

Two years ago, the Manila Coffee Cycling Club convened for its very first regular Sunday social coffee ride, with the theme of riding your city and discovering and appreciating its sights. On its second anniversary, things were no different, as the main focus was the newly restored Jones Bridge, connecting Taft Avenue into the Chinatown of Binondo.

On the morning of December 8, 2019, the group convened at Toby’s Estate in Bonifacio Global City, as a nod to its very first ride. While most riders were on road bikes, JP Carino and Gavin Ng showed up astride pedal-assisted Bromptons, which were a good fit to the more relaxed nature of the ride.

*Elbert Cuenca and JP Carino leading the pack along Ayala Avenue.*
*Photo credit: Patrick Olympia.*

*Quite a big group today.*
*Photo credit: Patrick Olympia.*

*April Manaloto flying through Makati CBD on her Cannondale CAAD12.*
*Photo credit: Patrick Olympia*.

After Brian Sy and I tended to a crashed fellow cyclist along McKinley Road, we rode through Ayala Avenue, Gil Puyat Avenue, and Roxas Boulevard. I ended up becoming tail-end Charlie with four or five other riders, and we got separated from the group, so we turned into Intramuros in the general direction of Jones Bridge.

*Tailing Geo Galisim and CA Pagal through Soriano Avenue enroute to Jones Bridge.*

Eventually, with good riding and a bit of cyclocross wannabe hike-a-bike, we ended up meeting the others at our destination. The beautification and restoration of Jones Bridge and its fixtures is still ongoing, but it’s remarkable how it’s become a minor tourist attraction in itself almost overnight – mainly due to the row of intricately etched wooden street lights painted in an old-world bronze finish.

*A Coast Guard patrol boat had just passed when I took this photo, hence the ripples from its wake.*

*Jo Garde leaning on one of the etched wooden light posts.*
*Photo credit: Lito Vicencio.*

*Patrick Olympia, Geo Galisim, and Andrew Favis at the Jones Bridge.*
*Photo credit: Patrick Olympia.*

A bit more hike-a-bike was required, as we went downstairs from the bridge at Escolta ferry station to ride alongside the Pasig River.

As the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games were going on, we decided to take a visit to the renovated Rizal Memorial Stadium along Pablo Ocampo Sr. St. Soldiering on, we pedaled through quite a bit of Manila on our way there.

*Lito Vicencio taking a selfie with the group.*
*Photo credit: Lito Vicencio.*

*Gavin Ng showing us how to ride a Brompton tastefully.*
*Photo credit: Patrick Olympia*.

*JP Carino playing around with the Brompton’s fidgety steering.*
*Photo credit: Lito Vicencio.*

*Albert Katigbak, April Manaloto, and Mark Marquez riding along.*
*Photo credit: Patrick Olympia.*

*Roy Alfafara going strong on his bike.*
*Photo credit: Patrick Olympia*.

In between Quirino Avenue and Pablo Ocampo Sr. St., we ran across multiple road closures due to the SEA Games…which led to the group taking a detour through a pretty narrow alleyway that was an actual barangay.

*Geo Galisim riding through some of the tightest alleyways I’ve seen.*
*Photo credit: Patrick Olympia*.

In the end we came out right by Agno Street, which is a familiar street food haunt for De La Salle University students and alums.

*Brian Sy and JP Carino riding along Agno St. past De La Salle University’s Sports Center.*
*Photo credit: Patrick Olympia.*

*Yours truly.*
*Photo credit: Lito Vicencio.*

*Brian Sy on his Officine Battaglin Power+ Disc.*
*Photo credit: Lito Vicencio.*

We landed at the newly renovated Rizal Memorial Coliseum, stopping for just a while before moving on to our cafe stop – Elbert’s Pizzeria.

*JP Carino at Rizal Memorial Coliseum.*
*Photo credit: Lito Vicencio.*

*Lito Vicencio pedaling past Manila City Hall.*
*Photo credit: Patrick Olympia.*

*Carlo Peralta speeding by an ominous veterinary clinic. He ended up having to abort the ride early due to an emergency operation he had to perform.*
*Photo credit: Patrick Olympia*

By 9:00 am we packed ourselves into Elbert’s Pizzeria along L.P. Leviste Street in Makati. Proprietor and friend of the club Elbert Cuenca had fresh coffee and warm pizza on the house for all, and we had our fill.

*Patrick Olympia indulging his Premium Rush stylings.*
*Photo credit: Patrick Olympia*.

*Elbert’s pizza margherita with sausage.*

*Yours truly with Geo Galisim and Andrew Favis.*

*A toast with pizza!*
*Photo credit: Lito Vicencio.*

*“All who want more pizza, raise your hands!”*
*Photo credit: Lito Vicencio*

It was a nice way of capping off two years of these social rides. Many thanks to JP Carino and Carlo Peralta for organizing these rides; Elbert Cuenca and the crew of Elbert’s Pizzeria for the wonderful coffee and pizza; and Lito Vicencio and Patrick Olympia for the great snaps.

*Patrick Olympia’s Sava road bike with aero bars leaning on Jones Bridge.*
*Photo credit: Patrick Olympia.*

William A. Jones Memorial Bridge. Quintin Paredes Road, Binondo, Manila.

Rizal Memorial Coliseum. Pablo Ocampo Sr. St. corner Taft Avenue, Malate, Manila. +63 2 85250808.

Elbert’s Pizzeria. V Corporate Centre, 125 L.P. Leviste Street, Salcedo Village, Makati City. +63 2 79788325.

Manila Coffee Cycling Club 4/2019: A green patch inside the concrete jungle

April 23, 2019November 12, 2019typevertigo 2 Comments

The summer has well and truly hit, and for this month’s roundup ride, the Manila Coffee Cycling Club decided to take off a little earlier than usual to mitigate the impact of the hot, hot heat.

Photo credit: JC Peralta/Manila Coffee Cycling Club

A brief Rizal Park stopover.
Photo credit: James Rosca

After meetup at San Antonio Plaza, we headed out on our way to Quiapo Church – or the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene, to give it its full name. We weren’t quite prepared for the size of the Palm Sunday crowds, though, and ended up staying for just a few minutes.

Bernard Fong and yours truly.
Photo credit: JC Peralta/Manila Coffee Cycling Club

(L-R) ABS-CBN’s Mark Lopez joins this month’s ride with Geo Galisim.
Pao Moreto flashes a peace sign just behind.
Photo credit: Geo Galisim.

John-John Torres trying to find a way into Quiapo Church through the crowd.
Photo credit: Lito Vicencio

A special guest for this ride: Mr. Road Bike Pilipinas himself, Adrian Florendo!
He is second from the right in the white jersey.
Photo credit: Lito Vicencio.

We rode through Jones Bridge and the Manuel L. Quezon Memorial Bridge, the latter of which is pretty spectacular as far as local bridges go.

A tasty orange frame by the late, great Dario Pegoretti, festooned with a Campagnolo Super Record 12-speed gruppo.
Photo credit: JC Peralta/Manila Coffee Cycling Club

Entering the Manuel L. Quezon Memorial Bridge.
Photo credit: Geo Galisim.

A spectacular shot of the Manuel L. Quezon Memorial Bridge.
Photo credit: Ace Tia.

Our next stop was considerately more sedate: Arroceros Forest Park, considered the last living green lung of the City of Manila. The place certainly lives up to its name. As compact as it may be, it is full of lush greenery and trees, and for many of our party, it was our first-ever visit.

John-John Torres all smiles and taking point.
Photo credit: JC Peralta/Manila Coffee Cycling Club

The property has a little loop road in it which we rode around in. This is the closest we have to Singapore’s park connector network (PCN) of mixed-use paths, although the similarity is merely visual: this is a closed loop and doesn’t connect to any other parks.

One side of the Arroceros Forest Park is bordered by the Pasig River, which is looking impressively clean these days. Having spent my childhood listening to songs about this river dying a slow death, its current condition is very laudable. This is a good vantage point to see the Manuel L. Quezon Memorial Bridge, and we took loads of photos here.

Albert Katigbak savoring his pride and joy – a harlequin-fade Allied Alfa Allroad.
Photo credit: JC Peralta/Manila Coffee Cycling Club

A mix of old and new faces on this ride.
Photo credit: Lito Vicencio.

Zoren Legazpi in what I call “urban ninja” garb.
Photo credit: Lito Vicencio

John-John Torres with a stern, silent warning not to mess with Arroceros Forest Park.
Photo credit: JC Peralta/Manila Coffee Cycling Club

Unfortunately, due to what seems to be our utter disdain for parks, this particular one is under pressure. There are murmurs that the local city government wants it closed to make way for a basketball court, which strikes me as pretty short-sighted. Metro Manila has hardly any green spaces and parks left to counter its ever-growing, ever-hotter concrete sprawl; this is in stark contrast to other cities I’ve had the privilege of visiting.

Many thanks to Chiqui Mabanta and Jeni Corpuz for arranging our visit on a Sunday.

JP Carino leading us out of Arroceros Forest Park.
Photo credit: Lito Vicencio

Riding the length of Taft Avenue.
Photo credit: Lito Vicencio

Roxy Ibrahim and Ian Centeno.
Photo credit: JC Peralta/Manila Coffee Cycling Club

Riding Jupiter St. in Makati to our coffee stop.

Our final stop for the day was a small building artfully named “Backwell.” This is a portmanteau of “back” and “Rockwell,” referencing its location against the posh Rockwell neighborhood of Barangay Bel-Air. Backwell housed our coffee stop, Hineleban Cafe, which was formerly located along Arnaiz Avenue.

JC Peralta and JP Carino talking things post-ride.

Ordering some grub.
Photo credit: JC Peralta/Manila Coffee Cycling Club

Hineleban Cafe offers specialty coffees and quite a few interesting food items. They’re the first place I’ve seen that serves adlai, a type of grain meant to be a rice substitute.

Longganisang hubad with adlai.
Photo credit: JC Peralta/Manila Coffee Cycling Club

Personally I ordered one of their breakfast options: a large pandesal with sun-dried tomatoes and roasted mushrooms, served with a side of sweet potato chips.

Despite the relative brevity of the ride (leading some to joke about having a full recovery meal for half a ride), it was a nice day out, and for us who’d never been to Arroceros, it was an eye-opener.

Yours truly and Geo Galisim.
Photo credit: Geo Galisim.

Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene (Quiapo Church). 910 Plaza Miranda, Quiapo, Manila. +63 2 733 4945

Arroceros Forest Park. 659-A Antonio Villegas St. Ermita, Manila. +63 917 848 1004

Hineleban Cafe. Kalayaan Avenue corner Rockwell Drive, Makati. +63 2 816 4772

Manila Coffee Cycling Club 3/2019: Visiting a pre-war house of memories

March 11, 2019January 28, 2020typevertigo Leave a comment

For my first ride with the gentlemen of the Manila Coffee Cycling Club this year, I was treated to something decidedly different this time around.

*Leroy’s olive green Pegoretti, adorned with Campagnolo’s Potenza 11-speed groupset.*

(L-R) Popong Anchor, EJ Uyboco, Roxy Ibrahim, and Gavin Ng.
Photo credit: Lito Vicencio.

Riding the roads underneath the NAIAX airport expressway.
Photo credit: Lito Vicencio.

We convened at San Antonio Plaza along McKinley Road, as before, then rode along Pasay’s streets until we arrived at Casa de Memoria. Located in Baclaran, this is a palatial old house built back before World War II hit the Philippines – one of only a handful that remains standing to this day.

Geo Galisim’s Jamis Renegade Expat is dwarfed by the two stranded airplanes parked at the property.
Photo credit: Geo Galisim.

On its sprawling yard are a few fountains, a garden, and perhaps the ultimate back yard accessory: not one, but two entire decommissioned propeller airplanes, parked in a gravel-covered clearing.

They don’t make floors like these any more. The artisans of this craft have passed on.
Photo credit: Lito Vicencio.

After waiting for our host, Camille Lhuillier, we entered the house itself, taking off our cleated cycling shoes and walking around in socks so as not to ruin the house’s marvelous floors. Currently, Casa de Memoria is in the middle of a restoration, and now acts as an auction house for many antique artifacts and curios, a number of which are stored in the property under consignment.

*Someone in the premises is perhaps a fan of the movie “The Hangover.”*

*I’m pretty sure this was high-level woodworking back in the day, but the legs on this chair remind me a lot of my aunt’s Gorillapod flexible-leg tripod.*

One of the cooler things on display, in my opinion.
Fascinating how they fashioned a bird out of a nautilus shell.

*The extravagance of days gone past…also involves a few modern taboos.*

The cultural riches of an olden time are on full display here: huge wooden cabinets inlaid with ivory detailing; various figurines and sculptures in the round; literature from the end of the Spanish occupation at the dawn of the 20th century; and many, many paintings. Our tour of the inside led us through the bottom four floors; we were told that there are at least four more, but the ones we shuffled through had the bulk of the sights to see.

Look out the balcony window and you see an airplane in your yard.
If this doesn’t scream “rich,” I don’t know what does.

Main man JP Carino.
Photo credit: Lito Vicencio.

The gentlemen of the Manila Coffee Cycling Club, with guide Camille Lhuillier.
Photo credit: Lito Vicencio.

Having thoroughly enjoyed our stay, we then set out to Single Origin Osteria, a cafe along Tordesillas Street in Makati’s central business district. There we had coffee, some late breakfast, and much chatting.

(L-R) Roxy Ibrahim, JC Peralta, and yours truly.
Photo credit: Roxy Ibrahim.

*Their White Fish Omelette was pretty good. Light, but packed with protein.*

(L-R) Roxy Ibrahim, Jo Garde, Geo Galisim, Alberto Katigbak, JC Peralta, and yours truly.
Photo credit: Lito Vicencio.

Our merry group eventually splintered, and one by one we said our goodbyes. Due to my breakfast order arriving late, I was part of the last group that left the cafe, which ended up returning to Bonifacio Global City before I turned off toward Lawton Avenue on my way back home.

This was a very different ride, but a welcome one to have and a great change of pace. As my friend Lito Vicencio told me, “who says cycling and culture can’t mix?”

Casa de Memoria. 95 Roxas Boulevard, Los Tamaraos Village, Tambo, Paranaque City. +63 2 253 3994 | +63 917 822 6544

Single Origin Osteria. Tordesillas corner Bautista Streets, Salcedo Village, Makati City. +63 956 3015267

the accidental randonneur

stories from the saddle (c) 2015-2023 jm de leon

Tag manila coffee cycling club

Manila Coffee Cycling Club 4/2019: A green patch inside the concrete jungle

Manila Coffee Cycling Club 3/2019: Visiting a pre-war house of memories