IT’S HAPPENING: 8th Negros TOTF from Mabinay-Himamaylan

The 8th Negros Tour of the Fireflies (TOTF), supported and hosted by Himamaylan City, the Province of Negros Occidental, the 5th Congressional District Office, and the Municipality of Mabinay, kicked off this morning with bikers coming from all over Negros Island.

Himamaylan Mayor Raymund Tongson and Mabinay Mayor Ernie “Jango” T. Uy led the send off ceremony of the Mabinay – Kabankalan – Himamaylan leg at the Mabinay Terminal Complex grounds with tour officials led by Bundo Dioma, and Cong. Dino Yulo’s representative Julian Gatuslao.

TOTF originally started back in 2000 in the Philippines with the goal of promoting cycling as a form of transportation. It also promotes environmental protection awareness.

From a group of 200 cyclists, the annual event slowly gained traction up until the last tour in 2019.

Some 500 cyclists from Iloilo, 600 from Davao, 3,500 from Negros Occidental, and 5,000 from Metro Manila graced the event, shortly before the pandemic saw the absence of the bike tour in 2020 and a virtual return in 2021.* (APT/NDB photos)