10th ‘Bike for Hope’ - Palawan

Press Release
By Office of Sen. Pia S. Cayetano
January 23, 2011

MANILA  –  Pia leads 70-km bike ride in Palawan to promote health and environmental awareness

Senator Pia S. Cayetano will lead around 200 bikers from Puerto Princesa City to the municipality of Aborlan in the province of Palawan on Saturday, January 29, to promote healthy living, women empowerment and care for the environment at the 10th staging of ‘Bike for Hope.’

Known for using sports such as biking, running and triathlons to bring her advocacies to communities across the country, Cayetano started Bike for Hope in 2004 in memory of her father, the late Senator Companero Rene Cayetano, who died from complications of a liver ailment in 2003.

The lady senator will be joined by Palawan Governor Abraham ‘Baham’ Mitra and several cycling groups in the province. Following a 70-kilometer route that will take the bikers to known local landmarks such as the Ospital ng Palawan, Crocodile Farm and Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm, Bike for Hope will kick off at six in the morning on Saturday at the Shell gasoline station along Malvar Street in Puerto Princesa, and end at the Aborlan Public Market around noon.

Interested bikers may join by registering from January 27-28 at the “Chooks to Go” branches in San Pedro and Rizal Avenue, Puerto Princesa, from 9am to 9pm. Bikers can also register on-site beginning at five in the morning on event day.

More than just a sports event, Cayetano said that Saturday’s bike ride will be preceded by Pinay In Action (PIA) community seminars to be held on Thursday and Friday at various venues in Aborlan, Narra and Puerto Princesa. The seminars to be attended by local community leaders and barangay health workers will tackle the senator’s advocacies including breastfeeding and anti-violence against women and children.

Another highlight will be the two-day ‘Train the Trainers’ sports clinic to be held on Friday at the DepEd building in Bancao-Bancao, Puerto Princesa, and on Saturday at the Ramon V. Mitra Sports Complex.

The seminar will train 150 physical education (PE) teachers in the province to be conducted by brothers Phil and James Younghusband of the famed Philippine National Football Team, the ‘Azkals.’ The seminar will likewise include the Pinay In Action running clinic to be led by triathlon champion and national coach Ani De Leon.