FILIPINO artists biking en masse is not a very original idea.
In fact, visual artist Rock Drilon started that in Iloilo City some 10 years ago before the city became the Bike Capital of the Philippines. But last Sunday, February 26, we did it again in our hometown of Dumangas, Iloilo.
Rock and I are true Dumangasanons, born and raised; although we spent some time elsewhere. Rock in Manila for years; I, in the US for more than a decade.
When Rock came home to Iloilo, he helped many art and cultural initiatives in the city, the province, and in our very hometown. Although my fields of art specialization are literature, filmmaking, performance, and cultural education, I am in full support of his projects.
Writer Peter Solis Nery (left) with visual artist and biking advocate Rock Drilon.
“‘Cycling heARTs Dumangas’ is envisioned to be a weekly event — a chill bike ride ending with some sketching session,” Drilon explained.
For the maiden ride, the group ended up swimming at a man-made lake, and climbing up La Choza, my treehouse on a hill at my farm Hacienda Dom Pedro in Binaobao, Sulangan./PN