Berna Romulo-Puyat: I can’t wait and I’m so excited to bike in Iloilo.
“I can’t wait” expressed tourism secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat after seeing a Facebook post shared by Ilonggo artist Rock Drilon which showed a quick mobile phone video clip of biking at the Iloilo River Esplanade
The less that 2-minute mobile phone video was posted by this writer in February 18 during a late afternoon ride chasing sunsets using a foldable bike at the Rizal-La Paz section of the Iloilo River Esplanade, the longest linear park in the country.
The posted video taken along Muelle Loney was shared by biker-artist Rock Drilon with a message in local language which said: “Amo ini mag bike sa esplanade bike lanes: always keep right and always yield to people on foot” or this is how to bike at the Esplanade bike lanes.
The social media post shared by Drilon received a lone comment but from no less than the tourism secretary and she expressed: “I can’t wait!!!”
Drilon responded: You’ll love Iloilo. Naka-ready na ang bike mo or the bike for you to ride on is ready.
Romulo Puyat replied: I’m so excited!! Thank you! adding that she will also go biking in Dumaguete.
Secretary Puyat is coming over to Iloilo City
Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat is expected to travel to Iloilo City to grace the upcoming Iloilo Bike Festival set on April 9-11.
The attendance of Sec. Romulo-Puyat is posted in the Iloilo Bike Festival schedule of activities released by the Iloilo City Government.
Read more about the bikefest: Iloilo Bike Festival to level up Iloilo as PHs bike capital
The Ilonggo biking community is looking forward to join with her in this year’s bikefest anticipating the boost that her presence can deliver to Iloilo City’s positioning as the Bike Capital of the Philippines.
Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat recently showed how she enjoyed biking within Intramuros, the Walled City of Manila during the period of Spanish occupation.
She pedaled using a large tire low rider Bambike to show the newly-reopened Intramuros.
“They say you’ll never forget how to ride a bike. The last time I rode one was back in grade school but I put that to the test yesterday when I hopped on a Bambike,” a message that captioned the photo that she posted on her Facebook page.
Seeing the tourism secretary on a bike elated bikers, travelers, and tourism workers earning her post some 80 comments and 917 shares which included Ilonggos who spread the photos on various social media groups.
The 7th Iloilo Bike Festival
This is the 7th Edition of the Iloilo Bike Festival and it will happen on April 9-11, 2021.
The Bikefest is organized by the Iloilo City Government and all activities are anchored by the Meetings, Investment, Convention/Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE Center).
Around 5,000 bikers from nearby towns and from the provinces in Panay and Guimaras island is expected to ride under this year’s theme is “Pedal to the New Normal.”
It has the support of the Dept. of Tourism (DOT), Iloilo Festivals Foundation, Inc. (IFFI), and Iloilo Business Park of Megaworld Iloilo.
If you are interested to participate, visit the Facebook page of MICE Center Iloilo City at
Iloilo Bike Festival 2021 schedule of activities:
Day 1 – April 9 (Friday) – Grand Fun Day
- 10-km Grand Fun Ride (Diversion Road, 6:00-8:00 A.M, Megaworld )
- Food Fair
- Industrial Exhibit and Exposition
- Porma Bisikleta Contest
- Bike Symposium
- Guest: Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat
Day 2 – April 10 (Saturday) – Bike Art Day
- Bicycle Tour on Murals, Museums, Tourist Destinations
- Artwork Exhibit at the Iloilo Museum of Contemporary Art (ILOMOCA)
Day 3 – April 11 (Sunday) – Family Fun Day