Category: Motoring

Review: Honda’s All-New XRM125 DSX

The Honda XRM 125 is one of the top-selling underbone-style motorbikes produced and sold in the Philippines. Given the quality (or lack) of roads in Metro Manila and around the Philippines, this model was designed for both on and off-road use.

The 125cc segment is the popular workhorse category for urban commuters and casual weekend riders. The Honda XRM 125 is light, nimble and minimalist, making it reliable for daily use, but at the same time, it’s a tough dual sport bike loaded with quality features like great suspension, comfy seating and close handlebars that make it easy to maneuver even on long rides.

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10 Amazing Philippine Islands to Explore by Motorcycle

There are lots of different modes of transport you can use to get around the Philippines. But my personal favorite is just getting on a motorbike, riding around and exploring on your own. Motourism is on the rise and more tourists are discovering the Philippine islands on two wheels.

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Road Trip Guide: Puerto Princesa to El Nido, Palawan

I consider Palawan one of the best island destinations for riders in the Philippines. It’s the largest province in the country in terms of total area of jurisdiction and the main road network is just excellent. You get to scratch that urge to just ride on a long stretch of road and get the benefit of relaxing in beautiful beach-side towns at the end of each day.

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Travel Guide: Cebu Road Trip (South)

Cebu is one of the most developed provinces of the Philippines and one of the country’s top tourist destinations. Over the years I’ve traveled back and forth here for various work trips, media tours and solo backpacking trips. While I’m familiar with the main tourist spots within Cebu City, it wasn’t until I had to complete tasks while exploring the island on my own on a motorbike as a finalist for Wrangler’s #TrueWanderer campaign in 2016 that I really fell in love with the place.

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Marifanta Highway: The Road to Infanta, Quezon

UPDATE: The Querocep Bridge along the Marifanta Highway which was damaged by a landslide in December 2015 is still being reconstructed. As of January 2018, what used to be a makeshift wooden bridge is now a steel bridge and is PASSABLE to all types of vehicles. The alternate route to get to Infanta is to pass through Real and Famy.

NEW STEEL BRIDGE (January 2018)

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Travel Guide: Marinduque Loop for Bikers

Marinduque is an island province in the Philippines best known for celebrating the Moriones Festival, one of the oldest religious festivals in the country held during Holy Week. Everywhere you go in the province, you can spot references to the icons of the Moriones, men and women in costumes and masks wearing garb of biblical Roman soldiers.

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Cove Manila Indoor Beach & Night Club

Cove Manila could be the glittering casino city of Canto Bight in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Or it could be the Capitol in The Hunger Games’s Panem. Imagine an indoor beach and night club with luxury cabanas and private hot tubs housed under a glass-dome where high society are free to revel in lavish and over-the-top celebrations, untouched by the problems of a world descending into chaos and war. You don’t have to imagine it because it actually exists in Manila.

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Thunderbird Resorts & Casino, Rizal

Most tourists are probably familiar with the Mediterranean-style Thunderbird Resorts & Casino in Poro Point, La Union. But did you know that there’s another resort under the same management just an hour away from Metro Manila?

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Weekend Ride to Kaybiang Tunnel

Kaybiang Tunnel is the Philippines’ longest subterranean road tunnel. This tunnel links the towns of Ternate, Cavite and Nasugbu, Batangas through a hole under Mount Palay-Palay (aka Mt. Pico de Loro). It’s a very popular landmark for cyclists and riders based in Manila for weekend rides. This 300-meter tunnel is part of the 6-kilometer Tourism Road in Cavite that cuts travel time from Manila to Nasugbu and Calatagan, Batangas from the usual 4 hours via Tagaytay to just a little over one hour.


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Road Trip Guide: North East Samar Loop

My solo ride around Samar Island has been one of the most memorable rides I’ve done this year. I got to traverse through three provinces of (Western) Samar, Northern Samar and Eastern Samar. Since it’s the third largest island in the Philippines, it’s a bit challenging getting around by public transportation.

The main cities are geographically located far from each other and vans and jeeps don’t leave regularly. Usually, you have to wait for public transport vehicles to get filled up with passengers, so getting from one place to another usually requires a lot of waiting time. Since my main purpose was sightseeing and ease of access getting around, I thought I could cover more ground on a motorbike.

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