MANILA, Philippines - For a community without electricity, Christmas became a lot brighter thanks to a group of concerned bikers, led by Edmund Mangaser of All-Terra Cyclery and Ariel de Jesus of German tools specialist Würth Philippines. The duo, who have worked together on creating eco-friendly bike trails around the Timeberland area in San Mateo Rizal to promote sports tourism, summoned the biking community as well as Chevrolet Philippines to give the gift of light during this festive season.
Biking teams such as KTM Philippines, 7-11 and the ABS Party List also joined in and donated school books and clothing, while Chevrolet donated the use of their newly launched Colorado pickup to haul the goods over some pretty tricky terrain.
Asides from providing flashlights and solar-powered lights, the eventual goal is to teach the communities whose sources of income are usually limited to light farming, fishing and the making of charcoal, to develop mountain biking trails that will lead bikers to explore their towns, inevitably leading to an opportunity for another source of livelihood such as selling of buko, bananas, suman and other natural energy foods and drinks that help rehydrate and replenish a tired body.