A Manila heritage tour on motorcycles led by the Vespa Club of the Philippines (VCOP) is joining Filipino social enterprise Liter of Light’s giant solar artwork tribute for national hero Jose Rizal at the Luneta.
The motorcycle enthusiasts aim to recreate the traditional ride of the first VCOP in the 1950s to different Manila landmarks while joining the solar lighting movement to honor the legacy of Dr. Jose Rizal. The event called “Jose Rizal Ride 2020” scheduled for December 29, 2020, marks the VCOP’s 15th anniversary.
The Vespa Club partnership with Germany’s Startup Energy Transition winner will have riders hand-building 40 sustainable lamps which will be donated to the world’s largest image of the national hero made from solar lights in commemoration of Rizal Day on December 30.
One hundred Vespa scooters are expected to gather at KAPETOLYO in Manila City Hall to follow Jose Rizal’s footsteps all over Manila via scooter while holding the solar lamps.
In the evening after the historic heritage tour, the motorcycle group will follow Dr. Jose Rizal’s final route from Fort Santiago in Intramuros to Luneta Park and eventually to the Luneta monument.
At the monument of Rizal, the solar lamps on the grass outlining Rizal’s portrait will light up and participants can take photos from the selfie tower.
The Jose Rizal Ride 2020 will start at 2:00 pm and will end in the lighting ceremony at Rizal’s monument at 8:00 pm.
To guide you in the historic heritage ride and witness the lighting of Jose Rizal’s largest solar lamps image, here’s the route of the Vespa Club:
- Head north toward Cecilia Muñoz St
- Turn left onto Cecilia Muñoz St
- Turn right onto Taft Ave
- Keep right to continue on Riverside Dr
- Turn left onto Manila Central Post Office Ramp
- Arrive at location: Manila Post Office
- Head east on Manila Central Post Office Ramp
- Turn right toward Magallanes Dr
- Turn right onto Magallanes Dr
- Turn right onto Quintin Paredes Rd
- Turn left onto Dasmariñas St
- Turn left onto Juan Luna St
- Continue straight to stay on Juan Luna St
Turn right - Arrive at location: El Hogar Filipino Building
- Head east toward Juan Luna St
- Turn left onto Juan Luna St
- Juan Luna St turns right and becomes Plaza Cervantes
- Slight right toward Quintin Paredes Rd
- Turn right onto Magallanes Dr
- Turn left onto Soriano Ave
- Turn right to stay on Soriano Ave
- Enter the roundabout
- Arrive at location: Anda Circle
- Head northwest toward Soriano Ave
- Exit the roundabout onto Bonifacio Dr/R-1
- Continue straight onto Roxas Blvd/R-1
- Turn left onto Kalaw Ave
- Arrive at location: The Luneta Hotel Manila
- Head northeast on Kalaw Ave toward Guerrero St
- Make a U-turn at Taft Ave/R-2
- Turn right onto Gen. Luna St
- Arrive at location: National Museum of Natural History
- Head southeast on Gen. Luna St toward Kalaw Ave
- Turn right onto Kalaw Ave
- Turn right onto Roxas Blvd/R-1
- Arrive at location: R-1
- Head northwest on Roxas Blvd/R-1 toward Padre
- Burgos Ave/C-1
- Turn right onto Padre Burgos Ave/C-1
- Arrive at location: National Planetarium
- Head northeast on Padre Burgos Ave/C-1 toward Ma. Orosa St
- Arrive at location: National Museum of Fine Arts
- Head north on Padre Burgos Ave toward Taft Ave/R-2
- Slight left onto Taft Ave
- Turn right onto Cecilia Muñoz St
- Turn right onto Antonio Villegas St
- Arrive at location: KAPETOLYO by SGD COFFEE
The event is supported by the City of Manila Tourism, the National Parks Development Committee, and the Rotary Club of Makati Business District.
The Liter of Light previously honored national hero Andres Bonifacio and Filipino medical frontliners around the world on November 30 with a giant solar light version of the Philippine National Flag at the Luneta.
Various groups have partnered with the social innovation group Liter of Light in the pursuit of bringing solar lamps for the poor including Air Asia, S&P Global, and GoodNewsPilipinas.com.
SEND CHEERS in the comments below to the Vespa Club of the Philippines for embarking on a Manila heritage tour on motorcycles and joining the Liter of Light solar tribute for Jose Rizal at the Luneta.
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