Manila, June 15 – Fair climate policy advocates joined forces again with history buffs as they pedaled in celebration of largely unheralded landmarks in Manila. Dubbed #SintangLakbay in commemoration of the 120th founding anniversary of the country’s premier Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), 30 cyclists covered 15 kilometers with 12 historic stops, including lunch at a Muslim eatery in Calle Gunao in Quiapo, the street where PUP was established 120 years ago.

Participant cyclists pause at the historic intersection of Sociego and Silencio Streets, where the first hostilities between the Philippine revolutionary government and U.S. troops erupted . Photo: Leo M. Sabangan II

“Every turn of the wheel is a revolution, and we are delighted to partner once again with PUP scholars and the Constantino Foundation as Siento Beinte advocates for a study of the past that serves as a tool for understanding contemporary issues like the climate crisis.We do this so that future actions can be more effective in promoting people-centered alternatives,” said Ara Alejo, Advocacy Officer for 350 Pilipinas.

The ride included a visit to the interior of Manila City Jail, also known as Old Bilibid, where many historical figures, including Philippine-American War hero Gen. Macario Sakay, were incarcerated and, in the case of Sakay, hanged. The cyclists were welcomed by the jail warden who gave a sneak peek of the correctional facility’s museum scheduled to be launched later in June.

Cyclists stopped at Maria Clara Parish Church in Santa Cruz, Manila, welcomed by Bishop Gregorio delos Reyes, grandson of revolutionary leader Isabelo delos Reyes. They honored the hero by laying a sampaguita and ylang-ylang necklace on his tombstone. Photo: Leo M. Sabangan II

“This ride demonstrates how incredibly linked Philippine history is with current issues such as climate change and mobility. The Manila Grand Opera Hotel is historic not only because it was the site of the Philippine Assembly and bodabil but also because of its origin as the country’s first cycling racetrack. It was great to visit the site of the first Philippine power station in Hidalgo Street knowing the main fuel it used, coal, is what participants in this ride are keen to see – to make fossil fuels history. This is what our country needs, relevant and usable history,” said Red Constantino of the Constantino Foundation.

The ride included a visit to Manila City Jail, also known as Old Bilibid, where historical figures like Philippine-American War hero Gen. Macario Sakay were incarcerated and, in Sakay’s case, hanged. The cyclists were welcomed by the warden, who gave a preview of the facility’s museum set to launch later in June. Photo: Leo M. Sabangan ii

“PUP stands for scholarship as well as acts that promote nation-building, two elements the country will need in the face of persistent development challenges and threats such as climate change. SintangLakbay is just one among many activities we are undertaking in partnership with the Constantino Foundation and 350 Pilipinas to help promote history and the protection of heritage sites. We ride with the past because we want to head to the future together in a way that is safe, meaningful and filled with hope. This is the PUP way, one that is multi-disciplinary, inclusive, and innovative,” said Sherrenne De Amboy, chair of PUP’s Department of History.

The cyclists stopped at the Maria Clara Parish Church of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente in Santa Cruz, Manila where they were welcomed by Bishop Gregorio delos Reyes, grandson of the celebrated labor leader, cultural luminary, and revolutionary Isabelo delos Reyes, also known as Don Belong. The group paid tribute to the final resting place of the hero by laying on his tombstone a necklace made with sampaguita and ylang-ylang, the latter the subject of the ride’s first stop at the lone Cananga odorata tree inside PUP’s main campus.

The cyclists stopped at the corner of Sociego and Silencio – street names that ironically mean calm and silence – where hostilities between the Philippine revolutionary government and the invading troops of United States first broke out. The ride passed through M. dela Fuente where streets were named to reflect virtues such as Pureza, Honradez, and Sobriedad. The ride ended under the Nagtahan bridge, where the Carriedo water fountain was originally located in a roundabout called Rotonda de Sampaloc. The fountain was named after Don Francisco Carriedo, whose donation in 1743 helped construct Manila’s first modern water system.

A #SintangLakbay ride participant displays the activity’s commemorative passport in front of the historic Manila Grand Opera Hotel, once the site of the Philippine Assembly and bodabil performances, originally served as the country’s first cycling racetrack. Photo: Leo M. Sabangan II

Sintang Lakbay is a series of PUP-led history tours promoting inclusive mobility and engaging with urban landscapes to reimagine the past, understand contemporary issues, and shape future actions. Upcoming initiatives include more bike rides, public art installations, citizen research, and lectures.

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Note to the editor:

• More information about Sintang Lakbay can be found here

About the Organizers:

• The Polytechnic University of the Philippines is a public, non-sectarian, non-profit institution of higher learning, known for its commitment to providing accessible and quality education to a diverse student population.
• The Constantino Foundation promotes historical awareness, social consciousness, and progressive values in the Philippines, advancing the concept of a usable history where past lessons actively shape the present.
• 350 Pilipinas is an advocacy organization that works for climate action based on the realities of science and grounded on the principles of justice.

Media Contact:

• Nadia Cruz, Media Officer 350 Pilipinas, [email protected], +639770130207