ILOILO City – As the world marks World Bicycle Day this June 3, stories from across Iloilo reveal how cycling is doing far more than moving people, it’s shaping healthy lifestyles, building friendships, and steering the next generation toward purpose, discipline, and joy.
In communities from Leganes to Estancia towns in Iloilo, Sara town to La Paz district in this city, cycling is not just a weekend hobby. For many, it has become a way of life — one that brings physical, mental, and emotional rewards.
Iloilo’s Queen Biker
Dubbed the Queen Biker of Iloilo, Rhea Jagunap is a towering figure in the province’s cycling scene. She is the president of the Leganes Bikers Club, the Iloilo Women Cycling Club, and United Bikers in Iloilo, earning respect for her tireless advocacy and leadership.
She started biking in 2006 with her husband and children.
“I joined the Leganes Bikers Club, and that’s really where everything began,” she recalled.
What began as a family activity has taken her across Panay Island (three times), Mindanao, and Negros Occidental, sometimes with fellow cyclists, sometimes with her entire family.
Among her most memorable rides: a 242-kilometer journey from Leganes to Caticlan in Aklan in just one day, where she was the only woman in the group.
“It was very tiring and inspiring. I never expected I could do it. When we arrived in Boracay, we went straight to the beach, and the next morning we pedaled again, this time passing through Antique,” she said.
She had cycled across Panay Island three times, one of those trips done with her entire family: “It was such a fun experience. It’s a great bonding activity, a true adventure, and a form of exercise all rolled into one.”
But Jagunap isn’t just riding for fitness. For nearly 15 years, she has organized annual fun rides for a cause, raising funds for cancer patients, dialysis patients, and fire victims. Her message is clear: “This isn’t just biking for fun, it’s something that helps the community.”
Her passion for health advocacy is personal, motivated by a family history of diabetes and other illnesses.
“One racer from the 1980s really inspired me. He said, knowing that my family had a history of illness, I should start biking. And he was right. It took away my stress, improved my health, and brought me to places I never thought I could reach,” she said.
The Youth Are Riding Too
As the face of the Iloilo Women Cycling Club, Jagunap is particularly passionate about encouraging young girls and women to take up cycling.
“Before, this was seen as a sport only for men. Not anymore. Women are stronger than they think — biking shows them that,” said Jagunap.
She also advocates for youth engagement, saying that cycling can be a powerful alternative to vices: “It helps your health, helps the environment, and helps you make friends. At the same time, it keeps you away from vices like drugs. You get to bond with others, you get hooked in a good way, and you’re just always happy.”
While Jagunap represents the wisdom of experience, the next generation of Ilonggo riders are also finding freedom, purpose, and fitness on two wheels.
Juan Miguel Carnaje, 25, of Estancia, Iloilo, has been cycling for five years. For him, the joy lies in both the journey and the destination.
“You get to visit many beautiful places, beaches, mountains, waterfalls,” shared Carnaje, a civil engineer by profession.
His most unforgettable ride was a Double Century Ride in Iloilo.
“My stamina really improved. I enjoy group rides more, especially when the routes are long and scenic,” he said.
His message to others: “Cycling is fun — you’ll get to explore so many places.”
Lissandro Bensurto, 22, from La Paz, Iloilo City, finds biking to be a form of therapy.
“It helps relieve your stress, and at the same time, it’s great exercise. You get to explore a lot of places too,” said Bensurto, a student and cyclist of two years.
He recalled how cycling improved his lifestyle: “I now wake up early. My blood circulation feels better, and I don’t get sick as easily because my immune system has improved.”
And the best part? “Even if the route is far, you forget the exhaustion because of the views and the fun with friends.”
High school student Carl Casuyon, 17, from Sara town, is already a passionate rider, and living proof that cycling transforms lives.
“I used to be overweight. Now I’ve slimmed down, and I feel a lot healthier and more disciplined,” he shared.
He rides not just to stay fit but to push himself: “If you want to win races, you really have to work hard for it. There was one ride where I ran out of money and got totally exhausted just getting home, but it was worth it.”
His advice? “Biking is great for your body, and it’s fun. You can go anywhere you dream of going — and actually get there.”
Building a Biking Culture
Jagunap and these young riders reflect the growing cycling culture in Iloilo, a culture rooted in health, community, and purpose. Whether through scenic rides, charity events, or daily commutes, biking has proven to be more than just a sport. It is a movement.
“Cycling has grown so much,” Jagunap said. “It has a big impact, on the environment, on mental health, and on the community. For me, it’s more than a passion. It’s a mission.”
As World Bicycle Day reminds the world of the bicycle’s role in sustainable transport and healthy living, Iloilo’s roads tell the same story, led by a queen and followed by an ever-growing community of youth, pedaling their way toward a brighter, healthier future.
“This isn’t just a hobby,” she said. “This is a way of life.”/PN
