DBP Roro Inter-island Adventure Race - Day 7 final

There was about 1800 pesos on the clue envelope. We ran to the first jeep and headed on to the central terminal to get a bus to manila. On the way, i saw a bus with "cubao" on it. I told the group to be ready to go down. The next bus on the road, we flagged down and got on. Bad trip yung bus driver. He was deliberately taking his time and was commenting that if anything happened, he would lose his job so just took his darned time getting to manila. As we got on nga pala, team sikatuna who was strangely behind us ran into the bus too so we were sharing it on the way to manila. They were in the back talking to the conductor the whole time. We were concerned about the stops and the other two teams in front. We saw a bus that was faster and will saw a camera man in it. Now we know that there was at least a team ahead of us. It was a nervous 4 hours on the way to manila. I tried to relax as much as i can. Will got reprimanded by the marshal because he took out his phone to check some info. He didnt really have time to do anything since the marshal was fast but it was really stubborn of him to do so.

We were being told by the conductor to get off mantrade and then take the ayala bus and then get off there to take another bus. That was nasty advice. Luckily i remembered the times that i commute to makati. At mantrade the two teams were off and running. I didnt mind them anymore and just told my team to follow me. I flagged the first bus and got in. The other team didnt go with us this time. (They decided to go up the MRT and take the train to buendia station) The bus was faster :) We got off the MRT station in buendia, ran up the stairs and then down the other side to go to the jeepney stop. There was a jeep just leaving as we arrived. I flagged it down but it only slowed since it was full. I took into consideration that we were 5 so i decided to move on just as we saw the light blue team grab the back of the jeep and hung on. Will wanted to join but i told him to get off. I saw another jeep, empty, moving along. He was on his way home but was heading towards the direction of makati ave. We said we'd pay him just to get there. We managed to talk him into overtaking the other jeep and drop us off near the DBP building. At the intersection, we ran across the street and headed towards the waiting tables where we got the 2nd to the last clue.

We were to arrange the tokens we got from each leg of the race and write them down. Ryza and will struggled with the written thing. I opened my bag and since i was the token keeper, i arranged it in order quickly and they just copied it. We got cleared and was given the last clue. The task was to climb up to the top of the DBP building in makati, get on our harnesses and rappel down the side of the building!! Ive never done that. Ryza is ok with heights but have not done that. Will said he rappeled before. So it was a foot race up the stairs. Yes, no elevator. We got to the top to see the blue team getting on their harnesses. The light blue team was just steps behind us. Ryza said she cant go but i managed to convince her that it was just down the building and a quick run to the pitstop down below to take the win. I dont know why but the "leader" insisted that the most inexperienced and height scared guy should go first (thats me) then ryza then him. Labo since it would have given us confidence to see it done first but i didnt have time to argue. I got down to the cheers of friends. Then Ryza was racing Zaira side by side and then will came down. We then ran around the path around the building and finished... second.

It was an amazing week. I will remember it forever. There was a series of parties with the other teams after and a christmas party on Dec.1. We bonded in our bus and roro trips despite the competition. I miss those guys and im glad we were chosen to be among the 10 out of over 500 teams who applied.

DBP Roro Inter-island Adventure Race - Day 7 part 1

We traveled to Camarines Sur and had late dinner in Lucban, Quezon.We werent told what time to get ready so we were all on edge. We slept after dumping the clothes that we didnt need and after getting the hotel staff to dry our shoes.In the morning, the last day, we were given breakfast and then brought to this chemical plant. After going into the depths of the area, we were released for the last elimination leg. We were third to leave. The task was to grab one of the available vans and run to the market. At the market, our task was to grate out 3 kilos of coconut. Mind you, we need to get 3 kilos of shredded coconut meat and not just grate out 3 kilos of coconuts. It was slow going at first since we didnt know how to do this. I had to keep going since ryza could grate out at a slower rate and williamson was even slower than she was. After a while, through my faucet like sweating, i managed to get the right technique and finished the 3 kilos. We were then supposed to run to the DBP office nearby and finish. We were still third. The last team got eliminated and we were among the final four to compete for the million. Ryza was feeling bad i think because only Randy of team sikatuna was there for her to help her get her bearings and breath. I only got to check up on her after i myself recovered. Siguro naman i deserved to rest since i did most of the backbreaking grating. Gulo na yung team namin. I was afraid that Ryza would throw in the towel. Will was messing with the cameras again and just having his own fun. I was so tired that i could barely eat and drink. I just slept and slept until the next and final task.

After some time, the other people and other eliminated teams were sent ahead to manila via a bus. We were isolated on the grounds and had guards on us. We werent supposed to talk to anyone or call anyone. Then we were given our 3rd to the last task. Prior to that, we were assigned a 5th member of the team aside from the camera man. The guy was to make sure we didnt get lost or use our phones or use any money other than what we were given. The task was to commute to manila via jeep, bus or tricycle only.

Third to leave and then we were off to head home :)