Partakan Fest Amazing Ride winner Shah Cometa
For many Filipinos, the long holiday that the Holy Week brings is usually reserved as a time to relax and “reset” from the often fast-paced daily lives they have, which is especially true for those who live in the metro. But for motorcycle riders, this long holiday meant it was time for a long ride.
The ride destination: Santa Ana, Cagayan for this year’s edition of Partakan Festival by Ropali Motorcycles.
Iron lady
The motorcycle ride to Santa Ana, Cagayan, is not as simple as your Baguio or Vigan ride. It’s actually almost 3-times the Alabang to Baguio ride and almost twice the Alabang to Vigan ride – one way.
Coinciding with Women’s Month 2024, one lady rider took on the Partakan Festival The Amazing Ride Challenge of riding solo to Pozo Robo Beach, in Santa Ana from her home in Muntinlupa, riding her trusty Yamaha XTZ 125. Her name is Shah Cometa.
Shah is not a newbie when it comes to motorcycle riding. In fact, she loves riding her XTZ to the off-beaten paths that Tanay and Bulacan offer. Riding on the road, however, presents a different set of challenges for her.
Her Partakan Festival journey started at 1:00 AM, on Wednesday, March 27. According to Shah, who works as a freelancer, had to attend to some errands and prepare the XTZ 125 before heading out to Nepo Center in Angeles City, where the Partakan Festival will kick off.
With only a few of hours sleep, she packed her bags, including camping gear, and soon found herself at the busy service road in Alabang on her way to EDSA and then to MacArthur Highway. Slowly but surely, she made it on time for the Partakan Festival kick-off in Angeles City, Pampanga.
At about 4 hours into the ride, Shah made it to the first designated pit stop at Ropali Urdaneta, in Pangasinan. An hour or so later, she was at the 2nd pit stop at Ropali San Fernando, La Union. Also, this is where the first picture stop at the Our Lady of Charity in Agoo, La Union.
By this time, the heat of the sun was already adding to the challenge, as well as the vehicular traffic in the area.
At about 2:30 PM, Shah finished the other pics stops in La Union: Balwarte Watch Tower, Luna Monument, and St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish. By 8:30 PM, she reached Calle Crisologo in Vigan.
After almost 24 hours straight on the road, Shah finally reached Ropali in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, having finished taking pictures at San Agustin Church of Paoay, Paoay Church Bell Tower, Paoay Sand Dunes, Paoay Lake, Malacañang of the North and the Ilocano Migrants’ Monument.
Since it was already midnight and it was no longer economical to check in at a hotel, Shah just managed to set camp at Ropali’s frontage to take a few hours' rest before getting back on the road again.
Shah was back on the road again shortly before sunrise, and was done with the picture stops at Cape Bojeador Lighthouse, Padre Pio La Verna Hermitage, Cape Bojeador Lighthouse, and Bayogan Beach early in the morning.
By 8:30 AM, Shah was at the renowned Patapat Bridge, overlooking the beautiful Pasaleng Bay in Ilocos Norte.
With just a few hours of (and rather uncomfortable) sleep, a rest stop somewhere in the town of Claveria, Cagayan, is inevitable. After napping for 2 straight hours, Shah is back on the road again.
Finally, by 8:00 PM, March 28, Shah reached Pozo Robo Beach in Santa Ana, Cagayan. What’s funny, according to Shah, was that Ropali’s representatives at the registration booth asked her why she arrived a bit late already, to which she responded “You [Ropali] told us to just take it slowly and have fun!”
Shah’s 800+ kilometer ride from her home in Muntinlupa City to Santa Ana, Cagayan took her almost 2 days to complete, with all the pictures and pit stops along the way.
At the conclusion of the Partakan Festival the following day, Shah was proclaimed the ultimate winner of The Amazing Ride, besting even the more experienced riders who took part in the challenge and taking home a PHP 10,000 cash prize.
“Partakan is fun and I managed to do it solo. I’m used to long riding, but Partakan is like a pre-requisite for me for the Philippine Loop that’s why I am conditioned with the idea. I did not expect to win, but all the hard work, preparations, and investments I put up for my bike and myself paid off,” Shah said while being teary-eyed during the interview.
Moto Tourism before Moto Tourism
The Partakan Festival prides itself as one of the pioneers of promoting tourism through riding motorcycles. “Moto Tourism” – as it is commonly known today, has been promoted by Partakan organizers since its inaugural festival in 2014.
This year, one of the highlights of the event was The Amazing Ride Challenge. The challenge was pretty simple: take pictures at designated tourist spots in the north, with pitstops at Ropali branches along the way, and post those photos on social media.
Spirit of camaraderie
Aside from Ropali Motorcycles, Honda Philippines, Inc., and Lambretta Philippines were the co-presenters for this year’s Partakan Festival. Kawasaki, Yamaha, and Suzuki were also key players in making this event possible.
The official partner insurer was Malayan Insurance which provided rider-participants Personal Accident insurance with the benefit of Accidental Death and Dismemberment.
Seaoil Philippines was the event’s partner gas company for the Partakan Festival, while Nepo Center in Angeles City and Pozo Robo Beach Club in Sta. Ana, Cagayan, were the partners in staging the send-off party and Partakan main event, respectively.
Kymco Philippines donated the biggest raffle prize of the event, amounting to PHP 75,000.
Jelma Philippines, Inc., distributor of White Flower and Nin Jiom Pei Pa Koa, gave away their products for a soothing and relaxing long weekend vacation for the Partakan riders and guests.
Also, MotoTesto Philippines with their group of 4x4 overlanders, joined this year’s Partakan Festival, symbolizing that even four-wheel vehicles are welcome in this endeavor.
In the end, the Partakan Festival has truly changed the view of moto-tourism events. It gave riders an adventure to look forward to and a festival to revel in. The partner sponsors, the LGU, riders, guests, and the gallant men and women of Ropali Motorcycles joined forces to bring fans of Partakan the seemingly impossible, all in the name of moto-tourism and safety riding, each a sum of the one and only PARTAKAN FESTIVAL 2024!
