PRESS RELEASE: PARTAKAN’S COMEBACK BRINGS SUCCESS AND EXCITEMENT IN THE NORTH
The Partakan Festival is back this 2024 after a four-year hiatus due to COVID-19 pandemic. The grand comeback of one of the biggest motorcycle tourism events in the country gives a two-day jampacked activities with long rides, fun beach activities, motorcycle competition such as invitational flat track and trail ride, and live music entertainment.
As background, Ropali Motorcycles, a top motorcycle dealer in the Philippines, has continuously dominating the market up north, started the Partakan Festival in 2014 in the Cagayan by a few men who are riding enthusiasts. They planned the best days for a long ride to the best beach in Sta. Ana, Cagayan.
All throughout the past years, Partakan Festival attendees have grown to as many people, brining camaraderie from various riding clubs and groups all-over the Philippines. As the translation of its name, it says “let’s accelerate and ride together!”
Partakan Festival 2024 brought back the excitement among motorcycle enthusiasts who have experienced Partakan during its past renditions. After four years of rest, Partakan re-animated the glorious revival and the restoration of Ropali’s unique tire mark in the industry this 2024.
PARTAKAN 2024 ADVOCACY
This 2024, Partakan vowed for two things. First was the promotion of the moto-tourism in the North, and second was the advocacy for safety riding.
Partakan Festival was in coordination with the Philippine Motorcycle Tourism. With their guidance, Ropali was able to select the best places to visit in Ilocos Region. The promotion of the #PartakanFestival2024 on social media rose to trending due to continuous posting of the best locations in the North.
The tourist spots traversed by riders are the Minor Basilica and Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Charity in Agoo, La Union, Baluarte Watch Tower in Luna, La Union, Calle Crisolo in Vigan, Paoay Church, Bangui Windmills, and Patapat Bridge in Pagudpud.
On the other hand, Ropali partnered with the MMDA Motorcycle Riding Academy (MMDA-MRA) to promote the safety riding among our participants. The MMDA Master Rider even gave a reminder to our rider-participants the best tips for long ride.
MRA instructors advised them to always take a rest and have a good sleep before riding, be a defensive rider, always check your motorcycle, and always wear your protective gears, among others. Several attendees even tried the test track of MMDA-MRA, please check the ride here https://www.facebook.com/ropaliph/posts/797073835793887
As safety had been discussed, Partakan was supported by the Philippine National Police (PNP) to maintain the security and order for all our riding participants and guests in the Partakan main event area.
THE FUN OF PARTAKAN MAIN EVENT
The Partakan Festival’s program and activities celebrated the camaraderie and bond shared among riders through the following events: Amazing Ride challenge from Angeles City, Pampanga to Sta. Ana, Cagayan; Bail Out Challenge, where nine teams joined; Flat Track Races; Enduro Cross challenge; musical entertainment at night, as courtesy of DJ’s Adrian and Hector A.K.A. Totoy Bugoy and RBK.
During the Amazing Ride, participants had their own defining moments. The long drive to the north gave the participants a chance to see the beauty of Ilocandia and Sta Ana, Cagayan. The hundreds of kilometer ride was also a prelude to the motorcycle riding events curated and supervised by Coach Mel Aquino, and his team of hardened riders and Partakan pioneers.
A roaring reunion evolving in motorcycle riding skill elicited no competition. Though big prizes awaited the winners from each round, it was the air of friendship among riders that amounted as the ultimate reward for those who registered and participated.
Music and performances were one of the main draws of Partakan as it had pitted audiences in the past.
Amid a shortage in water supply and a complete power outage affecting the entirety of Sta Ana, Cagayan, the night segment of the Day 2 program had to be omitted. Nevertheless, the organizers promptly adjusted the program, compressing the schedule and concluding with the award ceremony and closing event by 6 pm. This did not take away the spirit of Partakan Festival. In fact, it gave Partakan Festival, partner-sponsors, and riders a deeper understanding and appreciation for everyone.
BEST-OF-THE-BEST IN PARTAKAN
Several activities were done during the two-day event. And winners arose from the bunch of participants in their own categories.
The raffle draw winner of P75,000.00 from Kymco Philippines is awarded to Denver Managuit. In an interview, Managuit said that he did not expect to bring home the P75,000 prize, “I was about to go home and leave Pozo Robo Beach because of the shortage in water supply and electric power outage. However, as I was about to leave, I saw that Partakan is continuously having its awarding ceremony, and I want to know who are the winners. Out of my surprise my name was called as the winner for the grand raffle draw.”
Meaning, Rising from Isabela Province is a group of young rider enthusiasts, Isabela Knight Riders Club (IKRC) who won the P50,000 Cash Prize for the Amazing Ride Group Category. For Amazing Ride Individual Category, the Top 1 winner is Vanessa Cometa, followed by Christopher Gangona as Top 2, and Makie Benosa as Top 3.
“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 for all the hard work, preparations, and investments I put up for my bike and myself,” Cometa said while being teary-eyed during the interview.
Cometa is the only female rider who won a motorcycle event in Partakan Festival 2024.
Meanwhile, Michael Rabara, a motor enthusiast, had aced and won first place in all major motorcycle categories — Scooter Event, Underbone Event, Local Enduro, Trail Race, and Power Enduro.
Rabara posted on his social media all his first-place victories. He was really thankful to the Lord for all the blessings he received, as well as grateful to his mentors and colleagues in Teammapok Group.
On the other hand, Ryan Salvador and Harley Del Castillo recorded the second place and third place respectively for the scooter event. Conrado Reolalas III and Runner Rumbara brought home the award for second place and third place respectively.
Aside from Rabara, Harley Del Castillo swept the victory as second place winner for both Local Enduro and Power Enduro Challenges. Raymart Salvador won the third place for Local Enduro and CJ Paz won third place for Power Enduro.
For Trail Race Challenge, Ryan Salvador gained the second prize win, and John Philip Salvador won the third place.
Lastly, XRCP or Explorer group owned the top spot for the Bail Out Challenge. It was followed by the IKRC as second place, and Team Mapalad on third place.
PARTAKAN 2024 HAS THE SPIRIT OF CAMARADERIE
Aside from Ropali Motorcycles, Honda Philippines, Inc. and Lambretta Philippines were the co-presentors for this moto-endeavor. Along with them were the members of big four manufacturers such as Kawasaki, Yamaha, and Suzuki. All of them had conducted various activities on their event booths.
Honda Philippines had brought test ride units for rider-participants to appreciate the power of their dreams. On the other hand, Kawasaki allowed their bikes to be used in Flat Track and Trail Ride activities.
Included as the official partner insurer was the Malayan Insurance, who provided our rider-participants a Personal Accident insurance with benefit of Accidental Death and Dismemberment. Ropali partnered with Malayan Insurance in order to ensure the safety of our riders enroute to Sta. Ana, Cagayan.
On the other hand, 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 partner in staging the send-off party and Partakan main event, respectively.
Kymco Philippines donated the biggest raffle prize for the lucky winner. While Jelma Philippines, Inc., the owner of White Flower and Nin Jiom Pei Pa Koa, gave away their products for a soothing and relaxing long weekend vacation of the Partakan riders and guests.
Lastly, MotoTesto, together with their group of 4×4 Overlanders, joined the Partakan, 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, guest, 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!
