CHAMPION CHAPTER

Introducing the winners of the first Chapter of the Year competition held across the AEM region – H.O.G.® Manila Chapter of the Philippines!

We all know that H.O.G.® chapters can be a true force for good in the local community – both in terms of bringing people together and also giving something back.

The Chapter of the Year contest – which takes place across the Asia Emerging Markets region and also in India, seeks to recognise the activities that chapters undertake throughout the year and reward the most engaged in the community. Samarth Airon, Consumer Experience Lead for the region, explains the ethos behind it:

“Chapter of the Year is a unique initiative to integrate riders, chapters and dealers. The contest encourages chapters to learn best practices from each other, and ultimately to grow the community further.”

Chapters gain points for various factors and activities, including monthly rides, renewal figures, partnerships with local businesses, participation in H.O.G. rallies and community initiatives.

For the first time in 2022, the contest was run across all Asia Emerging Markets countries, so competition was particularly fierce. In total, 32 different chapters participated from seven different countries, but there was a clear winner: H.O.G. Manila Chapter, of the Philippines, who racked up an amazing 1017 points in total!

For Chapter Manager Luiji Lardizabal – who is Vehicle Sales Manager at the sponsoring dealership, Harley-Davidson® of Manila – it’s “a privilege to be recognised and honoured in such a way.” He acknowledges that the chapter’s members were very active throughout the year, but notes that this is not unusual. “We regularly do these things. We always have a good number of attendants…everyone really makes it a point to come and join in and have fun.”

The chapter has 130 active members, aged from 17 up to 75. The group is diverse – it’s worth noting that the Philippines has the highest proportion of female riders in the AEM region – and chapter members come from all kinds of backgrounds: from students to businessmen, to doctors and lawyers, and even a priest, who blesses the group’s motorcycles before they set off on each ride!

So where are the group’s preferred destinations? For Luiji, a personal favourite is Baguio, known as the summer capital of the country – “a good, easy ride up north”. For switchbacks, he recommends Sagada, which has around 140km of nonstop twisties to enjoy. Jay Bautista – General Manager at the Manila dealership – likes Baguio too, but also suggests Tagaytay – a 150-kilometre ride south from the Manila dealership which offers beautiful views. The team explains that those in the Philippines benefit from a long riding season, and the chapter has taken advantage of the ferry routes which can carry motorcycles between the country’s islands, opening up the possibilities for long-distance riding. For example, their recent Great Lakes Tour saw a large group visit 12 lakes in an epic 17-day adventure, showcasing some of the most beautiful, far-flung parts of the country.

One of the elements that underpins the Chapter of the Year initiative is a focus on social responsibility – the idea that a chapter should give something back to the local community. This is something that the Manila Chapter embraces wholeheartedly. Recent initiatives have included partnering with a local radio station to arrange for doctors and dentists to visit more isolated communities; planting trees in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources; and donating toys and school supplies to students in the metro Manila area. It’s something that the chapter committee and members are clearly passionate about. As Jay says, “it’s serving the people, it’s promoting tourism, uplifting the small cities that we have. And of course, that brings fun to the riders because we get to ride everywhere, in different places.”

This idea of responsibility extends to the rides themselves, too. For Mel Fernandez, Marketing Manager at H-D of Manila, this was something that became apparent soon after she joined the team. “What really struck me the most about the group is, it’s very disciplined,” she says. “They’ve very into group safety when riding and make efforts to train themselves.” This has helped to build the chapter’s reputation as real leaders in group riding, recognised by authorities such as Philippine Motorcycle Tourism. As Luiji says, “I think what we’ve managed to add to the slogan of Riding and Having Fun is the tag ‘with responsibility’”.

In terms of future plans, 2023 is set to be a particularly notable year, with both the dealership and the chapter celebrating their 10-year anniversary. Plans are well underway for two separate events to mark the milestone occasion, and it will be an opportunity to reflect on how far the community has come and all that has been achieved. In the meantime, regular gatherings continue to take place – including a monthly evening meet-up and ‘Shop Talk’, which sees dealership staff update members on the latest models, apparel and parts and accessories, as well as riding clinics and events.

It’s clear that part of the success of the chapter lies in its organisation – the team point out, for example, that their director, Yen Roxas, was re-elected for the second year in a row in 2023, which has never happened before. The dealership and chapter are closely intertwined, and it’s a true collaborative effort.

Above all, what shines through is the passion and enthusiasm that the chapter members all share. As Luiji sums it up, “despite their different personalities, different backgrounds…when you talk of Harley, they sing one tune.”

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