This post too was a reservist; only got promoted up to T Sgt years later (not as General as one former Rep was)

Wheels of Happiness

This was post was called to active duty (CAD) as former Air Force Rotc and had a thirty day training at Villamor air base and had to contend with extreme condition:    limited food, not taking a bath for days, being thrown into cess pool, jogging at 4 am to Baclaran.   The next year 1991, our duties were for relief and rescue:  duty at VAB ROC (Relief Operations Center) and relief operations to Iba Zambales.

Was privileged to have risen from AIC to T Sgt.    

Privileges:   tax free gasoline at the bases,   Military ID, PX privilege, can purchase 2 guns:   1 long 1 short.  

There was a lot of corruption going on:   uniforms were not given, patrol allowances (which was given before in 1990) were pocketed, the allowances for the mission (we signed for yellow pages) asllegedly for attendance (but probably vouchers done) and these were for days (no wonder the finance officer Col were there)

We cant mobilize enough like Israel because of the Citizen Army fund corruption and apparent jealousy betweeen reservist and regular organic staff

The Citizen army allowed civilians to be given high ranks especially if they are business owners, owned transpo warehouses assets that could help AFP in times of mobilization.   They had such programs.   This post could be qualified but did not opt and preferred to be an EP (Ipis)

However I saw some anomalies with regards to ranks.  3 of them Lt Cols were to be promoted to full Cols.   And one of the reqs was to join an ardous 1 week FTX   (Field Training Exercise)   This post did not see anyone of them at the FTX, and the CO probably reeling under pressure (because these were influential people one owned a gun store, another a housing official) certified that they were there.   (Imagine a fake ftx certification but we endured the 1 week of hardship, extreme physical demands, hunger thirst, thorns in your unshod feet!

That a certain former cong is involved in a medal ribbon ruckus is not new, or something to be surprised about.  

RA 7077; Citizen Army Act

Visited Uncle who had an eye operation

Wheels of Happiness

This post visited an uncle (he is 4 years older than me being the youngest among the brothers and sisters) who just had an eye operation (laser operation;   he got a new lens on his right eye)  I just wanted to know how he was doing and among other things  we talked about:

      1.   His association with a former mayor and son of big food manufacturing firm in Pamapanga;

      2.   A kababayan head of ABC in a city who was influential at SBMA

      3.   A kababayan who earlier did well at SBMA;

      4.   The 200 hectare of so property  that they could not touch in the said province

      5.   Business opportunity for a high value tree farming.   

He was happy2 that I visited him.    

Some products:

1.  Veteber oil and grass

2.  Ylang ylang fragrance

3.   Agar wood

4.   Elemi from Pili nuts

Ben is excited about the endemic plants in the Philippines.   Ylang ylang and veeber quality in Phil is good

Aborted San Felipe Zambales ride

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines

3.26.2021

he long anticipated ride to Jeff2 place in San Felipe, 200 km long has been aborted.    Zambales is closed to tourist.  Everybody is scare with ballooning number of cases which climbed up beyond 8000 cases yesterday.   

n the case of Olongapo City, it will be treated also as a part of Zambales and you only need a Travel Pass from your Chief of Police. This is for Persons Not Authorized Outside Residence.      (Only those allowed to work in essential industries.  

Let the virus rest first and get lazy. 

Vhen and I agreed we would not be joining Zambales ride this Saturday

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
June 23, 2017

As I am writing this post, I am coughing and experiencing general body malaise.   Probably I was exhausted from heat and exposure to rain and hot weather during my birthday ride.   (Add to that high bmr causing me to sweat profusely and my back is exposed to wet clothes)

Yesterday at Wawa, I conversed with Vhen Apran, a senior like me who would like to join the Zambales long ride this Saturday up to Monday. It will be 200 km one way  I said because of my experience on my long ride  last Saturday, I will elect not to.  At 11 am, up to 3 pm, the hottest part of the day, we will be hill climb at Dinalupihan and Subic and may be probably too risky for us.  We may get a heat stroke and be a liability to the group.

I all ready informed Gerry.  

Better be prudent than sorry?

The oldies could be sick of shingles (if they had chickenpox before)

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
October 30, 2016

The fellow Recyclists could have been off now for San Felipe Zambales ride and the following could have joined:   Jess V, Pres Luis, Gerry and of course the host Jeff.   Ed I understand was not able to join because of the light showers.

I did not join because of impaired vision because I had an affliction which I learned last night from Maganding Gabi Doc (Seno of  St Lukes Medical Center) a specialist for geriatrics.   She presentation matched all the things that were told by my doctors(3 all ready:   a family physician and 2 opthalmologist0

1.  Shingles or kulebra in Tagalog is a viral infection that occurs mostly in senior citizens.  It is a flare up of dormant chicken pox virys (Herpes Zoster) that are dormant in the nerves.  They flare up because of lowered resistance.  I think that the hard long rides I had preparing for the Zambales and/or Taytay Palawan ride.

2.  I is unilateral and affect only a set of nerves: say chest nerves or eyes.   What was affected was the right side of my eye.

3.  It is a very painful condition and the ordinary paracetamol analgesic wont work.   I had to take an analgesic that knocks you out to sleep

 4.  Treatment consist of taking anti viral drugs like acyclovir, Vit C and Vit B for nueralgia. The anti virus drugs are expensive (more than 100/table taken 4x a day)

5.  There is vaccines but are  pricey though  It does not mean though that when you have the  vaccine, there could be no reinfection

Let us stay healthy and strong and avoid getting the shingles

Recyclists bike ride today January 31, 2016

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
January 31, 2016.

It is the last day of the month. On Saturday, February 6, 2016, there is a scheduled return to San Felipe, and I heard about 10 riders are joining.  I left at 7:00 to bike to Pililla, Pisong Kape or possibly to Bugarin.  I brought my SARS bike (with MTB gears).  On the way, a group of Taytay riders passed me by at Pag asa.  I tried to keep up with them  until Mambog where they dropped me.  From Pag asa to Mambog however, I realized that they are not that Class A riders.  Oca Chua, who won a criterium race in Technopark yesterday was with us.

Thereafter, I came across  MTB riders from Pantok in Cardona and they overtook me at Callahan.  I got in contact with them and passed them at the flats at the Morong Cardona boundary.    Somebody gave chase at Km 51 but he disappeared at Km 52 because of too much rapid pedaling..  Passed again several MTBs along the way until Pililla.  I towed somebody though until Halayhayin and cursed him for not doing his sharing of breaking air.  There I saw a growing crowd of bikers assembling for the try outs.

About 10 roadies passed me near P y and I tried ot give chase and I passed an oldie whom I learned was Mang Cenon (72 yo) who knows VM.

I ate my Lugaw at Pisong Kape and it took 30 minutes for it to arrive. The food server who got the money forgot about it, and when I followed it up, she had wrapped up in plastic for take home.

The Recyclists arrived soon after:   Master E, Edgar, Meong, Joel, Pres Luis, Papa Ric, Nolite, Alan and Erning Mariposa.  He had his youngest with him, riding an MTB.  They said Gerry and company rode to Cartimar in Pasay to buy parts

On the way going home, I was ahead until the uphill at Tanay Baras boundary.   We again regrouped at the Cardona Morong boundary eatery

How did I do in the San Felipe ride last October 30 to November 1, 2015

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
November 2, 2015

                                        At ASSCOM MP in Apalit

                                         At McDo in SFDO waiting for Etoy Mariposa

                                      At San Felipe bridge

Well I finished one way 195 km and made it back to San Fernando yesterday covering all ready 100+ km on the way back.  But since I did the hardest part of the ride, I decided since it was warm and puffed my self out riding the peloton from San Felipe up to Olongapo, I decided to take the bus, ie Genesis up to Cubao on day 3.  I think I did  330 km since I still had to bike from Cubao to home


On day I, I sometimes led with Jeff from San Fernando up to Lubao Even Netoy passed me in Lubao.

I was the No 3 guy going up to Subic.

I caught up with Etoy when he passed me in Subic and Castillejos due to traffic.

I kept up with Angel sprinting up to intersection of San Felipe doing as much as 40 km/h.

I led the peloton from San Marcelin after catching up with them up to Subic.  I think we made it in record time so that traffic will not be heavy as we pass it.

It was unfortunate though that some riders made remarks to the effect that I am competing with them.  Why are you lagging behind the climbs?  Well I lagged in the two climbs to  Gapo because there were other climb pa as in  Subic.  I wanted to reach the destination without injury and with plenty to spare.  On the way back I tried to test the competitor on the flat, hovering with him for a while, to make sure he pedals faster, and then passing and dropping him.  I made sure that everybody, on the last day understands my ability.  Going up Subic again using fast pedal rate, no one passed me up to the cemetery.

Having led the peloton and pedalling at speeds of 30 to 40 kph for nearly 50 km for over 1.5 hours meant a different energy system and endurance level for me.  The regular sprint, internal training paid off, and the bike that allowed me to do fast pedalling rate

I think I did great.  Congrats to  me.

                                      At San Felipe beach

                                    Dipping at  San Felipe waters, clear water

Some great landmarks at the San Felipe Zambales rides

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
November 2, 2015

Here are some important landmarks seen at the San Felipe Zambales ride:

                                At Tabang before descending to MacArthur highway towards Malolos

                                  Unusual entrance arch at Asscom MP in Apalit Pampanga

                                        Unique chapel design of Asscom

                                     LMP chapel

Our feeding station and nourishment on bike ride to San Felipe Zambales

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
November 1, 2015

                                            Food stop in San Fernando

These are some details on where and what we ate on the way to San Felipe Zambales and on the way back.

October 30 2015

1. Early breakfast at RapSa in Angono, Rizal.  I had lugaw 5 am +

2.  In Marilao just before SM, we had pan de sal, water and Pansit Canton  8:30

3.  In San Fernando intersection - water, water and more water  1030 am

4.  In Dinalupihan, Bataan  12:30

5. At Olongapo City, 7-11 and Mercury

6.  Plaza of San Marcelino  -  pineapple juice and some candies

7.  Dinner rice, sinigang na isda and fried fresh fish at the house of Kuya George of Jeffrey

October 31 2015

We bought some fish at the landing of fishing boats near the beach.   We bought 2 kgs of tuna (yellow fin) and two kgs of pusit.

1.  Gerry prepared the two tuna for kinilaw.for breakfast

2.  The head was made part of sinigang, and the squid were made into adobo for lunch

3. We had dinner at the house of Ate Violy near the sea. Then we had videoke and slept for a while near the beach

Long ride to San Felipe Zambales on October 30 to Nov 1, 2015

Wheels of Happiness

Angono, Rizal Philippines
October 27 2015











Gerry and Jeff invited me to join the long ride during the Undas week end -  long ride to San Felipe Zambales from here. From the Google maps, I estimate this to be 208 km.  100 km  up to San Fernando Pampanga, and 103 to San Felipe.  It is  a town past Subic:   San Narciso

Those who will join are:

Jeff
Gerry
Weng,
Angel,
Edgar
and JB.

Any more joining?

I did two 100 km training rides:   last Saturday (to Jalajala) and yesterday. to Famy.  I hope they are long enough.  I was able to bike at noon time on both occasion because as we climb to Olongapo, that will be noon time.  And that promise to be a challenge.

San Felipe Zambales