{"id":6268,"date":"2024-06-18T15:31:04","date_gmt":"2024-06-18T07:31:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/world.350.org\/philippines\/?p=6268"},"modified":"2024-06-19T15:05:25","modified_gmt":"2024-06-19T07:05:25","slug":"through-history-on-two-wheels","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/world.350.org\/philippines\/through-history-on-two-wheels\/","title":{"rendered":"Pedal-powered remembering"},"content":{"rendered":"

Nadia Cruz<\/strong><\/p>\n

Cheers to remembering.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

After I left the university in 2018, I dove straight into working at a corporate setting. The fast pace of the working environment in BGC, the excruciating 4-year long pandemic, and how basically life had just flashed before my eyes are some of the things that made me forget that I spent my wonderful years at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP).! The thing is, I found myself again in that same spot near the PUP Obelisk\u2013-giggling with friends and it seemed that I never left. After all these years, somehow it didn\u2019t feel strange and Sintang Lakbay taught me to remember.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Over 30+ cyclists jumped start the second Sintang Lakbay at the university’s\u00a0 catwalk. PHOTO \/ LEO M. SABANGAN II<\/p><\/div>\n

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Our organization, 350 Pilipinas along with the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) and The Constantino Foundation have set the second ride for<\/span> Sintang Lakbay<\/span><\/a>. This time the route is longer\u2013covering an estimate of 15 kilometers and included 12 historic stops. We came together to celebrate some of the city\u2019s often overlooked landmarks, all while commemorating the 120th founding anniversary of the university.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Walter, a cyclist dressed as a Katipunero biker during the bike ride. Katipuneros were once cited to use bicycles as a means of transportation to recruit its members to fight against the Spanish colonization. Photo: Leo Sabangan II<\/p><\/div>\n

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There are multiple notable stops, but it was also worth mentioning that on the first Sintang Lakbay, the last stop was near Stop-n-Shop, where it was reportedly known to be an outpost for the Katipuneros. I remember it so vividly because it was very near the infamous bakery where \u201cthe butcher\u201d <\/span>General Jovito Palparan, the person who had committed several human rights violations against activists, was found and arrested. <\/span><\/a>The then Himpilan ng mga Katipuneros is now a gasoline station where most SSS-Parang Jeeps get their fuel.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Reflecting on that moment, it felt like every turn of our wheels was a small revolution of its own. We rode to honor the past and its lessons for addressing contemporary issues like the energy, transportation, gender, and climate crisis. As Ara Alejo from 350 Pilipinas put it, “Understanding our history can make future actions more effective in promoting people-centered alternatives.”<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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Sta Mesa was once known to be surrounded with YlangYlang trees. Currently there is only 1 tree left within the university. PUP’s biology department also emphasized ylang-ylang’s medicinal and herbal properties. Photo: Leo Sabangan II<\/p><\/div>\n

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The second <\/span>Sintang Lakbay<\/b> opened with a brief history of the <\/span>Ylang-Ylang<\/span><\/i>, on how the fragrant plant was used to be found all over Sta. Mesa and San Juan. It was revealed that <\/span>ylang-ylang<\/span><\/i> growers had joined with the workers and farmers that tore cedulas after surcharges on planting trees including the <\/span>ylang-ylang<\/span><\/i> were imposed by the <\/span>hacienderos<\/span><\/i>. When I think of <\/span>ylang-ylang <\/span><\/i>before, I just smell hints of bananas but as the scent triggers newfound old memories, the next time I smell <\/span>ylang-ylang<\/span><\/i> I will think about how solidarity from <\/span>ylang-ylang<\/span><\/i> farmers played a part in the revolution. The university also houses endemic plants, which was a spontaneous stop! It is where we found out that the university takes care of three Bagras trees and a rainbow eucalyptus tree (my pride heart is happy! <3).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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A bunch of ylang-ylang flowers. Photo: Leo Sabangan II<\/p><\/div>\n

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\u00a0The university also houses endemic plants, which was a spontaneous stop! It is where we found out that the university takes care of three Bagras trees. A rainbow eucalyptus tree that was native in Mindanao (my pride heart is happy! <3).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\t\t