The 250 On A Saturday

Apart from occasional rides around the metro it's been a while since our last long ride. This memorable one took us a humble 250 miles from our launch off point and back and ended in the usual drizzle. 3 other bros rode along with us. The more the merrier. Rode out to C5 and met up with Cicero, and on we went. Brutus sits in my garage all muddied up and waiting for a hose-down after I finish this. Take off at 545A.M. - got back 5:30P.M. up Sierra Madre and exit at south.

Stop over at a famous landmark before proceeding to the peak. Riding has opened up the chance to become a "tourist" for everyone who dared put their hands on the grip. Had it not been for the proliferation of bikes in the country nowadays, everyone else would've led the same monotonous life we had 10 years ago. A handful of sporties whizzed by waving.

Touchdown at breakfast point. And boy, did it take long for the food to get done. Anyhoo, the boys were pretty occupied having fun not to mind the delay, not to mention molesting the hapless bear. Tapang Usa, eggs and fried rice galore.

There were so many great photo ops when we were in transit. The early morning sun was soooo gorgeous, mixing a little bit with cold fog. From time to time I'd take a shot since I slung my camera around my neck so I can snap whenever I wanted to but heck, better safe than sorry. Didn't want the twisties to get the best of me. I just tried my best to sink everything in.

photos by Cynthia

So what's a road trip without a little bit of danger eh? One of the riders who rode with us just thought it best to stop and smell the roses - and grass, in this case. NOS hams it up and sees the fun in every occasion. Locals were too kind and offered a hand. They probably weren't strangers to this sight.

photos by Cynthia

Having fish meals overlooking the lake at Caliraya.

Last stop overlooking the other end of Laguna.
Gassing up before entering Batangas on to Los Baños, Laguna.

photos by Cynthia

Entering the tail end of SLEX gave us the reason to burn rubber some good ground before our last stop at Total gas station. Sighting dark clouds in the distance we said adeius and went on home, pushing into the traffic of Alabang. You just know you're back when you find yourself staring into the chrome of the car's bumper in front of you. And what better way to end a ride than with blessings of rain? Did a quick stop under Sucat exit and talked about the next invitation for a free meal and lodging in an overnight Pampanga ride. Ah, yes..

Although the usual flood entering my street was da bomb.

Yesterday Was Tomorrow The Other Day

After weeks of wet road and stumped plans, the sun finally showed its pleasant face again. To take advantage of this short gap in between fits, the ride to Sierra Madre tomorrow is well anticipated. Brutus has bouts of occasional hiccups but he'll live. The steel company has also finally sent in their quotations. Some prices were surprising and some just ho-hum.

It's been a great while before a name comes up from out of nowhere to champion the cause that so many has been bitching about the past months. While LTO was busy playing zoolander, a few silent heroes were working behind the lines for the greater good of those both aware and unaware. At long last the feared but short-lived anti-modification Administrative Order AHS-2008-015 is suspended as different motorcycle groups joined arms to stand against it by holding a nationwide awareness run from Manila, up north and down South - had it not been for the sudden turn of cheek of the LTO bosses an even bigger and crippling rally was looming above the metro, even bigger by standards of the last one held in front of the MMDA office at EDSA. Those who were casual victims of rogue enforcers now found themselves with a voice, led by a few, most of which will really never be known.

For now the community basks in their triumph and roam the streets less afraid. All the more stronger and aware of what their unity could accomplish yesterday and tomorrow.

More To Do On A Sunday

What to do? Get busy that's what. I started moving the shop indoors today, along with the welding table, drill press, metal slicer, big ass argon tank and other whatnots. All the while waiting for some sign from Gil for a short ride around the metro. Since I'm not the type to let time pass by unused I finished sealing some welds on the jig, going back and forth on the CAD to sync my measurements. Having the stainless option is cheaper than staying with the prescribed specs although one downside to it was the varying thickness of the metal and thus the varying amperage I've to use with the TIG. Always my practice to start off with an sample bit of the actual metal before finalizing the welds, recent problems with burn-through prompted me to do so.

Also been busy with customizing my own designs for the tools I need. Since necessity is the mother of invention, and for the lack thereof of available tools, I'm stoked on making my own tools. Already on my 4th revision for the bender that started floor mounted (but then I thought I'd have to go through all that trouble of drilling it to the ground), then vertical (but then again there's the issue of having to exert some effort to activate the hydraulic jack, tho this is the better option), and finally the automated hydraulic bender which I am currently redesigning as per available resources. The notcher is done and in waiting. I'll just have it cut and weld it myself. The air hammer was surprisingly easy. The plans I got were so simple I finished it in less than 2 hours. The lathe? Hmm.. the lathe. Well yes I do need one. Still scouting. Pretty sure something's gonna pop up at the right time somewhere.


The Covell vids came last week and they were extremely helpful. My main concern in building it the right way as opposed to the quick way is its usability. I have to make sure it will not fail during service because it's not my name that's at stake here, but the customer's neck. I've even been to a couple of shops (not that many and even fewer who do it the right way) who use stick welding to make frames! Forget the part that stick welds are dirty looking, but they're also brittle! Not really the best option if you're joining for example - the neck - where most of the frame stress is concentrated.. and some don't even bother to use a jig fer cryin' out loud. "Mata-mata lang yan" or plain eye alignments. Yeah, typical Filipino mediocrity. Goodness me, can you spell "death wish"? I know two cases where the frame they had made elsewhere split right down the middle of the weld, fortunately for one of the guy he was near his home and was in really slow cruise, but the other one.. well.

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On the other side of things there's a show called BIKES tomorrow 10PM at IBC13 (didn't know they were still up) that's been quite the buzz over at the forums. Heard that by October 6 they'll already be at Viva Prime Channel. Will check it out.

A Fish Is Always Caught By The Mouth

Geez, these days I could barely force myself to check out the forums with all the panic and stabbing going on against the LTO and between riders. But I have to keep informed since everyday is really a question whether "should I take the bike today?" and "would I be apprehended today?"

The only question I had to trouble myself before was "is it going to rain today?". Now with all the sharks in a frenzied race to hit their daily extortion quotas, what was once a peaceful zen practice is now a stressful mind game. As if the gas prices weren't a hassle enough eh? I have to plan my route now, whereas before I can ride anywhere to my heart's desire, always taking the long-cut just to extend my pleasure. I'd go out 1AM and just ride around Makati and back, grab some munchies, sit back on some silent 24-hour convenience store and admire the silently deserted streets.. ah, bliss..

Anyway, I'm drifting again. This is a good read:

TOP officials of Dumaguete City sued Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) and Land Transportation Office (LTO) officers for implementing an alleged illegal order.

Mayor Agustin Perdices and the City Council of Dumaguete headed by Vice Mayor Woodrow Maquiling have filed declaratory relief before the City Prosecutor's Office Monday afternoon against the implementation of Administrative Order (AO) 2008-015 issued by LTO Chief Alberto Suansing.

The questioned AO, dated May 15, 2008, was approved by Transportation and Communication Secretary Leandro Mendoza.

Aside from Secretary Mendoza and Suansing, the charge sheet also includes LTO Regional Director Raul Aguilos and LTO Dumaguete District Chief Ely Cabanag.

The petitioners have asked the court to issue a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) ordering DOTC and LTO officials to cease and desist from enforcing and implementing the questioned AO.

City officials also asked the court that the order be declared null and void for having been issued without authority of law.

Councilor Rommel Erames, who initiated the move and not Councilor Antonio Remollo as reported earlier, stressed that the AO is now in the process of being implemented by Cebu-based LTO agents who are endlessly harassing motorcycle and scooter drivers in Dumaguete City.

Drivers of motorcycles and scooters are being penalized from P1,000 to P1,500 per alleged violation of the penal provisions of the AO.

Non-wearing of "standard helmet" will be penalized by P1,500 per violation.

Section 1 (h) of AO AHS: 2008-015 provides that the standard helmet is approved by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) with PNS-UN ECE 22 marking.

Councilor Erames, however, stressed that the prescribed helmet is not available in the market.

A memorandum issued by Engineer Jesus Motoomull, director of Bureau of Product Standard (BPS), stated the LTO order was implemented without consultation and that even BPS was not able to get a draft or official copy of the AO.

Motoomull stressed that BPS had only known about the AO accidentally during the DOTC Road Safety Board Meeting on June 23, 2008.

In a memorandum dated September 3, 2008 to DTI Undersecretary Zenaida Cuison-Maglaya, Motoomull said during the consultation conducted on July 29, 2008, he informed the LTO and DOTC that there is an implementation phase for PNS UN ECE 22.

Councilor Erames, who is a lawyer by profession, said there is a spontaneous uproar and protest against the questioned AO and its implementation among the citizens of Dumaguete, including him and his co-petitioners. He described the AO as invalid and illegal.

"There is no law upon which Administrative Order AHS: 2008-015 is based," the petitioners alleged in the charge sheet.

City officials maintained there is no law, which authorizes respondents to promulgate rules and regulations for the use and operation of motorcycles on highways.

The law defined "highway" as all public thoroughfares, parks, alley except ground owned by private persons, colleges, and universities, and similar institutions.

"Plainly, when respondents Mendoza and Suansing promulgated 'rules and regulations for the use and operation of motorcycles on highways', they were unlawfully exercising legislative power which appertains exclusively to Congress, a clear violation of principle of separation of powers enshrined in the Constitution," read the charge sheet filed by the city officials of Dumaguete.

Lifted from SunStar dated September 24, 2008 - article by Victor Camion

Up yours..

You don't need to be a law person to see through the flimsy veil of the Administrative Order. The reason why I am totally against it, aside from its utter stupidity, is that it violates the constitution. It's nothing but a propaganda to make money. Period. Nothing else. I see no reason to "meet them halfway" regarding something blatantly illegal. That would place me along their line of stupidity as well.

Here's another revelation regarding the Department Of Trade and Industry's stand on the LTO as posted by enshongi over the MCP forums. The best defense is to be armed with the right knowledge:

Hello fellow riders!

I'd like to share what I did re the new LTO AO. Say I wanted to get LTO/DTI approval for the modification on my mc.

The local LTO said to go to the DTI to get approval. Then I called up our local DTI office here in the province (r10) re the new LTO AO. Here's what the DTI said: The DTI DOES NOT give approval/permit to modifications on motorcycles. Here's why:

DTI does not cover modifications on motorcycles under the current laws, ONLY for trucks and other 4 wheel vehicles (right hand drive to left hand drive i assume). In Cagayan de Oro, there is ONLY 1 accredited shop that modifies TRUCKS. The rep then said if you had your motorcycle modified in that accredited shop then the said truck/machine shop will issue a clearance/permit stating the modification (for registration perhaps). (Why would I go there and have my mc modified there in the first place eh pang truck lang ginagawa nila).

Now I explained to the section chief about motorcycle shops that replace many parts of the motorcycle, and I BELIEVE there is not one mc shop here in the country that is registered under the DTI that modifies motorcycles simply because THERE IS NO LAW that mandates such mc shops to register with the DTI to modify mcs.

I also informed the person re the stiff penalties of said AO, and the tendency of the motorist to do away with the ticket through lagay and the AO is breeding corruption among the LTO enforcers. The rep said the AO was rushed without even consulting the DTI. They are still going to discuss the issue re the LTO AO.

There is even a moratorium on the type of helmet that a motorist will use, since DTI still has to release a correct standard to follow re the type of helmet (DOT,ECE, etc.) So a rider can be issued a ticket for NOT WEARING A HELMET but not the wrong type of helmet.

So I invite my fellow riders to call up your local DTI offices to ask them about the new LTO AO.

Cheers!

This is to educate and inform. There is also an internal memorandum from within DTI regarding setting up a meeting with LTO circulating around Cebu. Hope I get a hold of one. Later.