The Firefly Brigade

(Originally published in my sports page column Self-Propelled

in the Jan. 29 to Feb. 4, 2012 issue of the Baguio Chronicle

--- a weekly newspaper based in Baguio city, Philippines.)

“HELLO! I am Sly Quintos. I am a biker.” is an introduction, when asked, that I cannot do in Baguio.

Yes, because bikers, as far as the City Ordinance of Baguio No. 55, Series of 1989 is concerned, are considered outlaws within the city’s central business district.

But in Manila, I was brave and proud enough to introduce myself that way during a forum I attended at the School of Urban and Regional Planning (SURP) at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City.

Many of the attendees were taken aback. But not Katti Sta. Ana. It was like telling her that the sun, for sure, would rise from the east tomorrow morning. Yes, because she knows too well the level of awareness of the Baguio City government as far as cycling culture is concerned. She was not surprised at all.

Katti --- a Fine Arts graduate at the University of the Philippines Diliman, Major in Painting --- is the founder of the Firefly Brigade which advocates the use of bicycle as part of a sustainable transportation agenda. She has post-graduate studies in Urban and Regional Planning.

In the year 2000, she was awarded a prestigious Cultural Center of the Philippines Thirteen Artists Award. In 2009-10, she also received a Fulbright Scholarship to take an M.A. in Community Arts at the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, U. S.A.

Katti finds purpose and meaning in teaching art. She has taught in UP Baguio, Ateneo de Manila University and is currently senior lecturer at the UP College of Fine Arts in Diliman where she spends most of her time in the ceramics studio.

The Firefly Brigade is composed of dedicated and fun-loving members and volunteers that embody the Firefly Spirit: an infectious love for cycling; a spirit of volunteerism; a strong sense of community; positive action for the environment; gender-sensitivity and non-discrimination; and responsible cycling behavior.

In order to become a bona fide member of the brigade, you would have to undergo the Firefly Flight Training (FFT) and pass the screening to be done by the current members. As a member, you would also need to share your personal time for promoting the advocacies of the Firefly Brigade.

What's in it for you? You get to spread your love of cycling to the world; have a good time with the brigade; learn more about cycling; proudly wear Firefly Brigade jerseys; get to know the latest news on cycling; and sense of fulfillment in what you're doing.

The Firefly Brigade actively promotes the bicycle as a sustainable form of transportation. Its main advocacies are: organize Critical Mass Rides (CMRs), install provision for bike parking in public/private areas, and campaign for road sharing.

Among its landmark projects include: organizing regular monthly Critical Mass Ride (CMR) to promote visibility on the road for cyclists and road sharing; conducting non-motorized transportation (NMT) forum and linkages with government agencies to promote the NMT agenda; promoting bicycle parking/spaces in commercial establishments and working towards the establishment of cycle-inclusive urban and regional planning; the Project R.A.C.K. (Raising Awareness, Capacities and Knowledge-sharing for the promotion of bicycle use in the Metro); awarding/donation of Bicycle Racks to city halls and government institutions; providing training on safe urban cycling through the Firefly Flight Training (FFT); soliciting bicycles and parts, assembling them, and donating them to cash-strapped students and poor urban communities through the Recycle-A-Bicycle (RAB) project; and, providing needy commuter cyclists with safety gear through the Kitang-Kita ang Bisikleta (KKB) Project.

The Firefly Brigade’s most popular advocacy event is perhaps the Tour of the Fireflies --- an annual bicycle ride (April) around the Metro Manila cities to promote cycling as an alternative means of transportation that is cheap, efficient, environmentally sensible, and good for one's health.

In 2011, Tour of the Fireflies traversed 6 Metropolitan cities (Pasig - San Juan - Quezon City - Manila - Pasay - Mandaluyong) with a total distance of approximately 42 kilometers which took 5 hours to complete at a relaxed pace of 12 to 15 kph.

This year’s 14th edition of the Tour of the Fireflies is scheduled on April 15 and is expected to attract 15,000 bikers from all over Metro Manila and the neighboring provinces and cities. There will also be simultaneous Tour of the Fireflies in key cities across the country, including Baguio.

“The idea of having the Tour of the Fireflies involved a lot of questioning and arguing with God,” Katti once said in a television interview. “At that time I was concerned with our quality of air. More than that, this happened when I was telling God that I was not happy with Him because things are not getting better in this country. After saying that, not long after, this idea came to my mind and it wouldn't go away. I felt that it was something that needed to be done. I was also wondering if this is something He wanted me to do that I would see that He is at work.”

With this resolve, Katti thought of having an environmental event that would mainly feature a bike ride.

With the help of her friends from various environmental organizations, the biking event was soon under way. Katti notes how she was always encouraged by Ramon Fernan III, then the president of the Cycling Advocates (CYCAD), to continue with the project in spite of her being a neophyte in events organizing.

When plans were already underway, the only problem was how to call the event. Katti brought this up with Lorie Tan of Bookmark and president/executive director of the World Wide Life Fund Philippines. Lorie suggested using the adage "When was the last time you saw fireflies in the city?"

The idea clicked well with Katti and she brought that up to Mon Fernan, who likewise picked up the suggestion.

"Fireflies are indicators of the balance in ecology,” she says. “The reason why we don't see fireflies anymore is because the air is really dirty. Trees and clean water are not enough. That's where you'll be able to find fireflies in places like that.”*