MANILA, Philippines — No back-riding for motorcycles? No problem.
Taking cognizance of the ban against riding pillion, or “back-riding” in motorcycles, Dennis Tulabot still managed to help his bike-riding fiancé, Crissalyn Male go to her office in Makati City from her home in Imus, Cavite.
In a Facebook post that has since went viral, Dennis claimed that he and Crissalyn would travel together, him on his motorcycle and Crissalyn on her bicycle, one after another, thereby complying with measures on social distancing.
The post, with a photo of himself and his fiancé, has been reposted on Facebook by a page for couple riders named “OBR Motovlogs,” and has since garnered around 56,000 reactions, 9,000 comments, and 28,000 shares as of this posting.
“Ayaw namin lumabag sa pag-a-angkas kasi wala rin naman kami pangtubos. Kahit na may nilalabag kami na anti-social distancing hindi ko maiwasan na hindi sya itulak pag pagod na siya. Hindi rin naman biro ‘yung Cavite-Makati vice-versa,” Dennis said in the caption.
(We don’t want to violate the rule against back riding because we also do not have money to pay for fines. But even if we are violating social distancing, I cannot help but push her when she gets tired from riding the bicycle because the travel from Cavite to Makati and vice versa is not that easy.)
Dennis said he doesn’t want Crissalyn to travel alone or to allow her to commute since she might catch the coronavirus disease while riding public transport.
“Ginagawa ko ang lahat para proteksyunan siya. Ako ang convoy niya sa left side para di siya magitgit ng iba. Ako na rin ang nagsisibing signal light sa likod, busina sa harap, at headlight pag inabot na kami ng dilim,” he added.
(I do everything to protect her. I am his convoy at the left side so that she would not be hit by others on the road. I also serve as her light signal behind, horn at the front, and headlight at night.)
Some local government officials have earlier appealed to the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases to allow family members or married or cohabitating couples to back ride on motorcycles amid the shortage in public transport services.
But even if this is approved, Dennis said they would still not qualify since they are not yet married.
He then appealed to the government to allow back-riding for motorcycles.
“Sana payagan na ‘yung magka-angkas kasi namimiss ko na siya isakay sa motor, at alam kong pagod na siya pero kinakaya niya,” he said.
(I hope they will allow back riding in motorcycles because I miss riding the motorcycle with her, and I know she is already tired but she still pushes through.)