Finally, after six days of challenges and nonstop travel on land and sea, Team Beach Hotshots, composed of sporty tv host and commercial model Reema Chanco and cousins Ira Dy and Jet Tan, dominated the action-packed Ready, Set, RORO! DBP Interisland Race-Year 3 to win the grand prize of P1M.





Beach Hotshots at the pit stop

Team Aquaholics, composed of PBB Teen Edition housemate Josef Elizalde and running photographers Trisha Halili and Lea Aspe clinched second place with P500,000 while Team Wave Catchers with celebrity racer Danilo Barrios and Cebuano lawyers Mike Gatchalian and Tine Naranjo took third place for a P300,000 win.



Team Aquaholics at the pit stop


Team Wave Catchers at the pit stop

Team Summer Breezers with tv star Thou Reyes and girl buddies Chal Lontoc-del Rosario and Joei Calixto rallied for fourth place with a P150,000 prize, while fan favorite Team Fun Explorers with surfer dudes JP and Aston Sarmiento and PBB Teen Edition housemate Nicole Uysiuseng came in fifth, taking home P75,000.

Straight from Matabungkay, Batangas, the five teams headed to Rizal Park for a final challenge that traced the race route at the floating relief map of the Philippines. They then proceeded to Reposo St. for the final rally towards the pit stop at the Development Bank of the Philippines Head Office in Makati where they were welcomed by DBP President and Chief Executive Officer Reynaldo G. David.

The race was made possible by Asian Marine, Montenegro Shipping Lines, Super Shuttle Ferry, the Manila Broadcasting Company, and San Miguel Corporation.

Barako Country

Earlier in the day, Matabungkay played host to Leg 7 of the race. Previously, race Leg 6, set at the Tamaraw Falls in Oriental Mindoro, was canceled due to heavy rains that posed a hazard for the racers, who were supposed to rappel down the falls. The race contingent moved on to Batangas for the next leg.

In Matabungkay, teams had to down three cups of barako coffee at the local market, then wrestle with pigs for their next clue. Then the teams had to get on a balsa and steer it through a set distance then back to the shore before racing to the pit stop.



Team Summer Breezers in the pig pen


Team Beach Hotshots on their balsa


Fun Explorers at the pit stop

Team Fun Explorers sealed their finals spot with their fifth victory, while team Heat Blasters (couple Jo Ignacio and Marf Marfori with teen star Eda Nolan) was the last to the pit stop, causing them to drop out of the finals.

"We've been facing elimination since the third leg, and it's a marvel that we still got this far," states Marf.

"We've been through so many challenges as a team and we're happy we were able to join the race and test the limit of our abilities," Jo adds.

"It's been an emotional roller coaster for me," states celebrity teammate Eda Nolan. "I have faced a lot of my fears, and finishing in sixth place is a great achievement for me."

Race to the finish

Team Beach Hotshots reveals the key to their victory.



Beach Hotshots: #1

"When we were released in Batangas, we found the other teams in Lian waiting for the next bus to Manila," narrates Reema. "Jet made the crucial decision that allowed us to pull ahead of the pack, because he didn't want to waste time waiting for a bus. We rode a jeep to Nasugbu and got on a bus to Pasay."

"Focus has always been our strategy," states team member Ira. "After we took the earliest bus out of Batangas, things just fell into place and we were a good half hour ahead of the other teams."

"We've never really made it to first place on any of the legs in this race," states Jet. "Coming in first this time and being named champion of this race makes the final leg even more memorable for us."



Team Aquaholics in 2nd place

Team Aquaholics, Wave Catchers, and Summer Breezers arrived in succession at the pit stop.

"Our strategy has always been to take it one day at a time, to focus on the task at hand," says Lea Aspe of team Aquaholics.

"We've had a great time," states Mike Gatchalian of team Wave Catchers. "We intended towin, but we mostly enjoyed meeting people and building new relationships."

"More than the prize, it has been a rewarding experience to visit different provinces and get to know their people and what they have to offer," quips tv star Thou Reyes of team Summer Breezers.



Summer Breezers and Wave Catchers flanked by other racers at the pit stop

Meanwhile, team Fun Explorers, who won five out of six legs leading up to the finals, rues the bad luck they had on the last leg that landed them fifth place.



Fun Explorers at the pitstop

"It was heartbreaking," states Aston. "The bus we took was very slow, and we were the last to the checkpoint at Luneta. Then from there, we spent 30 minutes waiting for a cab to the next check point."

"I guess it just wasn't meant to be," adds JP. "We're happy with the teamwork we've shown throughout the race, though, it's just sad that we were out of luck in the final leg."

"My teammates were very helpful and supported me throughout the race," notes celebrity racer Nicole Uysiuseng. "We put up a good fight and it's been a great experience for me."

Six-day Rally

The competition kicked off in Siargao Island, Surigao, where team Summer Breeers went full press for the first leg.

Then, aboard the Super Shuttle Ferry making its way from Ormoc, Leyte to Poro, Camotes Island, Team Fun Explorers clocked in first, while Team Island Hoppers (best friends Taj Almonte and Kixs Lagria, with child star/ commercial model Serena Dalrymple) bowed out of the competition.

Team Fun Explorers went to win succeeding legs In Camotes Island; San Carlos, Negros Occidental; and Boracay, while teams Beach Squad (uncle and nephew Tunats and Nat-nat Hildawa and Viva Hot Babe Hazel Cabrera); Flip Flops (with best friends and former athletes Dino Gilladoga and Ace Cu and PBB housemate Cass Ponti); and Surf Riders (engaged couple Joaqui Tupas, Jana Estrevillo and teen star Rodjun Cruz) got booted out.
The "Ready, Set, RORO!" DBP Interisland Race is an annual event mounted by DBP to promote awareness about the RORO routes as part of the mandate of its Sustainable Logistics Development Program (SLDP), which has assisted in improving the country's basic infrastructure for the efficient movement of basic commodities across the islands, including vessel acquisition/ upgrading, and multi-purpose port construction. The race also recognizes the important contribution of the Road Roll-on, Roll-off (RORO) Terminal System (RRTS) in facilitating faster, cheaper, and the more efficient transport of goods and people.

 

The island paradise of Boracay was the site of the fifth leg of the Ready, Set, RORO DBP Interisland Race, made possible by Asian Marine, Montenegro Shipping Lines, Super Shuttle Ferry, the Manila Broadcasting Company, and San Miguel Corporation.

The Caticlan port was the starting point for this leg of the race, where racers had to ride the paraw from Caticlan to Station 2, where they had to paddle kayaks to three buoys to retrieve the money they will use to pay entrance at Mt. Luho, the highest peak in Boracay, which served as their pit stop at the end of the race.

Earlier, in Leg 4 in San Carlos, Negros Occidental, where teams had to run to the gymnasium and manually remove peanuts manually from their shells, and ride the trisikad to the People's Park where they had to learn the basic steps of the Pintaflores Dance. Then they had to race to the city hall, which served as the pit stop for this leg of the race.



Team Beach Hotshots shelling peanuts



Team Wave Catchers getting ready to dance

Team Wave Catchers arrived first at the pit stop while team Heat Blasters arrived last, but due to minor violations from the other teams, team Fun Explorers moved up to first place and Team Flipflops, with Dino Gilladoga, Ace Cu and PBB housemate Cass Ponti, got eliminated.

In Caticlan, team Fun Explorers with surfers JP and Aston Sarmiento and PBB Teen Edition Housemate Nicole Uysiuseng, started out first but got overtaken in the paraw ride. Showing true spirit, they rallied with their kayak and raced to finish in first place at Mt. Luho.

"Our paraw was so slow, and we were overtaken so many times, but we didn't give up. Our end goal was to reach the pit stop," states JP.

"Now that we've achieved four-peat, we mean to stay on top until the finals," adds Aston.



4-peat for Team Fun Explorers

Team Surf Riders, with engaged couple Joaqui Tupas and Jana Estrevilla and teen star Rodjun Cruz were the last to reach the pit stop, and were the 4th team eliminated from the race.

"We had a lot of trouble with the kayak, and we tipped over many times because we couldn't keep our balance, and we took a lot longer than the other teams," reports Rodjun.

"In the end, we know we did our best, and we were happy we were able to keep the values we started the race with, as well as our faith in God," states Joaqui.

"The wedding is still on," quips Jana. "We're thankful for the many friends we made for on this race, and they're all invited to the wedding."

Oriental Mindoro is the next stop for the Ready, Set, RORO DBP Interisland Race. Stay tuned for race updates, and vote for your favorite teams.



 

Despite the grueling race schedule, racers made time to visit provincial branches of the Development Bank of the Philippines.


After the first leg, participants of the Ready, Get Set RORO DBP Interisland Race visited the DBP branch in Maasin, Leyte.


Right before the 2nd leg, racers dropped by the DBP branch in Ormoc, Leyte.

 

Race Day 2 was a long and event-filled day for the racers as they covered two legs in the fourth run of Ready, Set, RORO DBP Interisland Race.

Despite the sudden downpour that delayed the group for an hour in Ormoc, the race continued as soon as the racers boarded the Super Shuttle Ferry to Camotes Island, in a mental challenge that proved to be a tough nut to crack for the teams.

Teams had to search the vessel for a set of puzzle pieces which they had to assemble to form a picture of the Super Shuttle Ferry. The puzzle pieces were square, making it difficult to determine their orientation and piece them together.

Team Fun Explorers, composed of surfer dudes JP and Aston Sarmiento with PBB Teen Edition Housemate Nicole Uysiuseng, started fifth but pulled ahead to first place in this leg, finishing the puzzle challenge ahead of the other teams.

"We formed the puzzle part by part, keeping calm and not panicking," JP reports.

"We really wanted to give it a good fight. All of us were having a difficult time, but giving up was not in our vocabulary," states Nicole.

"We're happy we took the lead, and we mean to stay right where we are at this point in the race," says Aston.

Meanwhile, team Island Hoppers, with best friends Taj Almonte and Kix Lagria and child star / commercial model Serena Dalrymple, was the last team to check in at the pit stop and the first team to be eliminated in the race.

"We were already at a disadvantage because we were the last team released in this leg, because we came in last in the previous leg," notes Taj.

"It was also challenging because none of us really do puzzles," adds Serena. "It's sad we were the first team to be eliminated, but we're glad we were already able to experience so much and see Siargao and Leyte."

"We had a good run, and we have no regrets. Being selected as a team for this race is already a privilege for us," concludes Kix.

A few hours later, just after sunset, the racers landed in Camotes Island and took off for the next leg of the race.

At the Buho Rock Resort, teams had to slide down to the pool, swim to the fish traps and transfer fish from the trap to their fish net. Then they had to climb back up to have the fish checked by the marshal before returning to the port for the pit stop.

Team Beach Hotshots (cousins Ira Dy and Jet Tan) were first to finish the task but had to return to the checkpoint for their passport, paving the way for Team Fun Explorers to score a back-to-back win.

Team Beach Squad, with uncle and nephew tandem Tunat and Nat-nat Hildawa and Viva Hot Babe Hazel Cabrera checked in last at the pit stop and were the second team to be eliminated from the race.

The adventure continues in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental. Stay tuned for race updates, and vote for your favorite teams.

 

Siargao Island, Surigao, home to the top surfing wave “Cloud Nine,” is dubbed as the surfing capital of the Philippines, and is a venue for international surfing events.

Gen. Luna, Siargao, served as the first stop in the “Ready Set, RORO” DBP Interisland Race, an action-packed P1M adventure race. The Development Bank of the Philippines kicked off the opening festivities with a motorcade and a brief program graced by Surigao del Norte governor Robert Ace Barbers and DBP President and CEO Reynaldo G. David. Competing teams were presented, followed by the ceremonial flag-off.

The ten teams embarked on the first leg of a rigorous series of challenges designed to test their brain, brawn, and mettle as they hie off on a treasure hunt for products of national pride throughout the six-day race.

From the opening ceremonies at the Gen. Luna Boulevard, the teams raced to their first clue, mounted on top of tall poles which they had to climb. The first clue led them to a fenced area, where, in the Surigaonon tradition of crab-harvesting called tikyabang, the teams had to catch ten crabs.

From the crabbing pit, teams had to race to the Siargao Inn for their next checkpoint, where each team had to chow down on ten pieces of the local surf board-shaped bread known as “Pan de Surf,” then off they sped to the Jacking Horse surf site, where a team member had to paddle a long board. Teams then rallied to the pit stop set at the Gen. Luna church.

Team Summer Breezers, composed of friends and ex-cheerleaders Joei Calixto and Chal Lontoc-del Rosario with tv actor Thou Reyes, was off to a strong start in the first leg, and was the first team to arrive at the pit stop.

“With my teammates’ cheerleading experience, we were able to easily devise a boosting system to retrieve the first clue,” says Reyes.

Unfazed by the biting crabs, team Summer Breezers powered through the Pan de Surf Challenge, where a little ingenuity went a long way.

“We actually soaked the bread in water, so it would be easier to swallow,” reveals Calixto.

“We got through the longboard quickly because Joei knew how to do it,” adds Chal. “But it was the kids of Siargao that really helped us clinch first place, walking with us and showing us the shortcut, and encouraging us along the way.”

While ecstatic over their fist win, team Summer Breezers are determined to stick to their game plan: start strong and finish strong.

Meanwhile, team Island Hoppers, composed of best friends Taj Almonte and Kixs Lagria with celebrity partner Serena Dalrymple, was the last team to check in at the pit stop, as the day’s chances proved to be grueling.

“With all the running we had to do, my legs kept cramping up and we had to stop several times to massage them so I could keep on running,” narrates Lagria.

The Pan de Surf challenge was also hard, because we were in a hurry to get it done and it was harder to swallow,” states Almonte.

Celebrity member Serena Dalrymple reveals that the longboard was also another challenge for the team. “None of us have surfing experience, and it was harder than we thought it would be.”

Fortunately for team Island Hoppers, the first leg is a predetermined, non-elimination leg, so they will race on in the second leg. On the next leg, teams will be released in the order by which they arrived at the pit stop, with 2-minute intervals in between. The adventure continues as the ten teams go forth on their quest to discover the Philippines and bag the P1M grand prize.


 

The Development Bank of the Philippines kicked off the opening festivities of the fourth run of the Ready, Set, RORO DBP Interisland Race with a motorcade and a brief program graced by Surigao del Norte governor Robert Ace Barbers (center) and DBP President and CEO Reynaldo G. David (second from right). Competing teams were presented, followed by the ceremonial flag-off.