Welcome delegates to the big bike convention

The 16th Annual Convention of the National Federation of Motorcycle Clubs in the Philippines (NFMCP) officially kicks off today from Mar.4-7. This means, you will see a lot of big bikes on the road. Hundreds of big bikers (and even the smaller ones) from all over the Philippines, from as far North as Tuguegarao and as far South as Zamboanga would be in Cebu riding their big bikes all the way from their respective towns and cities via the Strong Republic Nautical Highway (SRNH). Be kind to these bikers; after all, they are domestic tourists and they are going to be in Cebu for four days.

Perhaps you might want to know why we bikers are so passionate about our motorcycles. I have been on two wheels since 1973 (I'm not denying my age) when I got my first bike (an off & on-road Honda XL-100) from my late friend, Mr. Jesus Uy of Jesus Uy Enterprises. I've been riding bikes ever since. I got my first road bike from another good friend, Mr. Renato Osmeña who sold me his Yamaha RD-350 twin two stroke street bike. In my young days, we did Observed Trials competitions at the Butuanon River, in Mandaue City. We later shifted from Hare Scrambles beside what is now the Grand Convention Center or Grand Majestic and moved to the North Reclamation Area around where the Cebu Port Authority (CPA) building now stands where we were the first ones to hold Motocross races.

I'm sure that all my old motocross buddies, like Tony Canales, Roy Incierto, Boy Ang, Tolindoy and many others remember those days when we raced the dirt bikes that we used everyday. These days, I still watch the world Motocross series on cable tv. Later, in our older years, we shifted to big bikes and started touring the countryside. We've traveled all over the country many times over. What keeps us riding our bikes is the camaraderie and brotherhood that bikers have that can't be found in other motorists.

Incidentally a month ago, we wrote our concern that the presidents from two motorcycling groups, the V-Max Owners Group who is hosting this convention and the Star Touring & Riding Group were having some personal trouble that was affecting the preparations for this convention. We wrote an article to appeal to them to kiss and make up. Well, I salute the two presidents, namely Pres. Rolando Ting, president of the V-Max Owners group and concurrently the president of the NFMC and Mr. Danilo Libron of the Star Touring Group for taking the initiative to resolve their issues and issue a joint written declaration of reconciliation, all in the name of brotherhood for motorcycles.

This is what I love about motorcycling; it is as much loving the motorcycles as having your friends who love to ride alongside you especially on long travels. There is also a big bike and sportscar show at the CICC today, which the public can come and see. So kudos to VOG for their success of this hosting and more power to the NFMC and all Filipino bikers!

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Tomorrow, the first 72 MW unit of the Cebu Energy Development Corp. (CEDC) the Cleanergy plant in Sangi, Toledo City, a consortium of Aboitiz Power, MetroBank and Formosa Power will be inaugurated by Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (GMA). This should ease those pesky brownouts that we've been having lately. There are two other 72MW units that will soon be operational for this plant.

With the inauguration of this power plant, it brings the "Clean Coal" technology to the Island of Cebu. A couple of years ago, the Cebu media flew to Taipei, Taiwan to see the Formosa Power's Clean Coal technology up close. I can't forget that my good friend, DySS and GMA-7's Super Bobby Nalzaro in his usual splendid white shirt and pants took the elevator with the group and climbed the final stairway up close to the smokestack of the power plant that was emitting white smoke.

The Clean Coal plant did not spoil his white shirt and pants. There was no soot at all! That is the plant that we have in Sangi and finally, it is operational. I just hope that someday students would be allowed to visit this plant so they can see that new coal fired plants have already developed into what Aboitiz Power calls, "Cleanenergy"!

Unfortunately, Mindanao is still suffering power shortages. But help is on the way as Aboitiz Power through its subsidiary Therma Marine, Inc. (TMI) assumed the ownership of PB 117, a 100MW power barge moored in Nasipit, Agusan del Norte. This bunker-fired power barge is one of the two power barges acquired by Aboitiz Power through the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM) worth US$30 million.

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