FATHER AND SON tandem Larry and Hirryan Mendoza of Team Air Asia-Land Rover Philippines finished third in the Rainforest Challenge of Malaysia, considered the Olympics of off-roading. TONETTE T. OREJAS
When Larry and Hirryan Mendiola got off a plane at the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport before noon on December 15, kin and friends felt a deep and authentic pride for the Philippines.
That’s because the father-and-son team has toppled 27 international teams, finishing third in what is considered the Olympics of off-roading: the Rainforest Challenge (RFC) of Malaysia.
Larry, 47, and Hirryan, 24,—the driving pair of Team Air Asia-Land Rover Philippines in the Dec. 3-12 competition—were a few points away from the Team Melaka of Malaysia and Team Austria/Australia.
In all, the Philippine team took home three trophies for finishing third overall, second in power takeoff or winching, and first in the above 3,000 cubic centimeter (cc) category.
“This is very much a national pride. It shows the Pinoy’s excellence,” says Robby Consunji, RFC Philippine representative and Land Rover Club president.
He says the competition is the longest and toughest in the off-roading circuit.
The machine that conquered the difficult terrain of Terangganu in Malaysia was a Land Rover Defender 90. Christened Yellow Eagle, it was decked with a Philippine flag at the rear.
“We gave 101 percent in this fight because tumawid na kami ng bansa (we competed abroad),” says Larry. The Mendiolas hail from a family of mechanics based in Angeles City, just outside this free port, a former United States military base.
The achievement brings to five the country’s RFC standings. Through Larry, the country landed fifth in 2005, sixth in 2006, fifth in 2009, and second in 2010, Consunji said.
Larry learned to drive 4 x 4 vehicles as he worked for the Oceanic Wireless Network starting 1984. He ventured where there were no roads to build antennas on mountains. The skill saved his life when Mt. Pinatubo erupted on June 12, 1991, while he was building an antenna atop Mt. Cabalan in Zambales.
Larry turned to using his father’s Willys, an American military jeep, in rescue missions and relief operations for disaster victims.
As a member of the Angeles City Four Wheelers Club, he helped put to safety the records of the San Guillermo Church in Bacolor before the whole town was buried by lahar in 1995.
Off-roading buffs noticed him when he won the invitational race that the club organized on Abacan River, a treacherous playground that has become a lahar channel.
Hirryan learned by tagging along and watching his father. “He never taught me. What I did was drive on the tracks,” says Hirryan.
“He drove although his eyes hardly reached the level of the windshield,” Larry says of his eldest son’s feat at age 10 or 11.
“Hilig ko, kahit mahirap (This is my passion, no matter how difficult),” Hirryan said of why he loves off-roading.