They love to bike from one town to another, and from one province to another.
They also love dogs and cats.
With these two passions as their inner fuel, cyclists from two groups decided to do another charity ride, this time from Manila to Davao on March12-18 to raise funds for rescued dogs and cats.
They also hope to encourage others to donate dog food, cat food, multivitamins for dogs and cats, and medicine needed by the rescues, specially the 12 dogs saved from danger zones around Taal volcano last month.
Donated dog food and cat food will also be used to feed strays in Metro Manila and Bulacan.
Gil Bugaoisan, cycling enthusiast and animal lover, said seven members of the endurance cycle group Team Harkor are set to embark on another epic journey to raise funds and donations for strays that were saved and rescued by the animal welfare group Save Animals of Love and Light (Save ALL).
Dubbed Padyak para kay Bantay at Muning V 2.0, this group of endurance cyclists will bike for six to seven days from Manila, all the way to Davao City, starting on March 12.
Two years ago, the group launched the first charity project by biking from Manila-Bohol in just four days.
Although the project was hastily organized, the group managed to raise funds, food and medicine for 67 stray dogs and cats that were rescued by Save ALL.
On its verison 2.0, Team Harkor hopes to do better after teaming up with the Pinoy Road Bikers Inc. (PRBI) which is considered as one of the country's biggest cycling groups headed by topnotch lawyer Atty. Raymond Fortun and Ron Saspa Jr. and Coach Jonnel Cruz's IfitPro Unlimited.
The House of Representatives, through the generosity of House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and Deputy Secretary General Bryan Yamsuan, also made it possible for the team to secure their plane tickets going back to Manila.
The seven-man team is composed of "Harkor" cyclists: Gil Bugaoisan, 49, a former journalist and now a public relations specialist. Lito Guardaquivil, 44, director of the committee on rules of the House of Representatives. Dong Quemada, 40, an electrical engineer working for Manila Electric Company (Meralco). Jonathan Olfato, 29, an employee of the Department of Education. Ryan Christopher Macalong, 26, a financial underwriter. Lawrence Briones, 24, an online entrepreneur. Jonathan Agmata, 21, an education student (bachelor of secondary education major in English) at St. Paul University.
Bugaoisan, the team leader and founder of Team Harkor, said they plan to cover at least 300 kilometers a day, cycling through Quezon's notorious Bitukang Manok and Bicol's dangerous Andaya highway, all the way to Matnog port where they will take a RORO or fast craft going to Samar.
From Samar, they will cycle to Tacloban, crossing the iconic San Juanico bridge, all the way to Liloan port in Leyte to get another ferry ride to Surigao City.
From Surigao, the team will take the long and ardous climb to Davao City through the 140-kilometer Bukidnon-Davao Road (BUDA).
Rest stops along the way can vary from lodging inns to five-star waiting shed and cozy roadside embankments.
Bugaoisan said he hopes other cyclists will join their team along the way to show their solidarity in their passion not only for cycling but also for their love for furry friends.
Save ALL was chosen by the group as the beneficiary of the team's charity project because “the organization is one of the most active and most legitimate animal welfare and rescue groups in the country today.”
Funds and other forms of assistance that will be raised during this charity will be used for Save ALL’s rescued dogs and cats especially those that were saved from danger zones surrounding Taal volcano in Batangas.
The Taal dog survivors are now being treated for erlichia and worm infestation as the two mama dogs apparently ate ashes due to hunger.
For inquiries and donations, please visit the Facebook page of Team Harkor or Save ALL.
Donations can be also be sent through the following:
BDO account N. 006540103300 (Save ALL- Save Animals of Love and Light)
BPI saving account No. 4449004634 (Roberta Nicole Benedicto)
G-Cash 09175881515
Paypal through daycarlos28@yahoo.com.
Remittance centers like Cebuana, Palawan, and M Lhuiller in the name of Niko Gabriel C. Salgado, cell no. 0917 8991013. Please send photo of the transaction receipt for a donation to be claimed.
Please send screenshots of your donations to Save ALL community page for documentation.