Photos from DGR Manila
Nothing looks cooler than a finely dressed lady or gent riding a vintage-style motorcycle, ready to take the road. In fact, don’t be surprised if you catch sight of them on Sunday, May 23, as the tenth edition of the annual Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride takes place in 14 cities around the country.
Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride (DGR) is a global motorcycle event that brings niche motorcycle communities together while raising funds and awareness for men’s health. Founded by Australian Mark Hawwa in 2011, the event was inspired by a photo of Mad Men’s Don Draper sitting astride a classic bike in his finest suit.
Photos by MY Media
Since the first rally in 2012, DGR has raised over $27.45 million USD in support of prostate cancer research and men’s mental health initiatives. In partnership with the Movember Foundation, this year’s global goal is to raise $7 million USD.
Manila has participated in DGR moto rallies since 2014, attracting thousands of riders from various motorcycle communities. However due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, this year’s event will forego an official rally, with participants asked to ride solo or in small groups instead.
“We chose to coordinate and organize DGR Manila this year because mental stress and anxiety has been hitting hard among our rider communities,” says Mark Laccay, official DGR Manila organizer. “We had to do something to uplift the morale of members. Mental health is a DGR advocacy, so we decided that we could help globally and locally, as well.”
In lieu of an official route, riders are encouraged to visit partner establishments that have been designated as stopovers from 6:00 AM to 12:00 PM. (The full list is only available upon registration!) Once they visit, they can participate in DGR Manila’s Shoot-Tag-Ride-Repeat (STRR) Challenge, where riders take a photo of their best look and share it on Instagram with the official DGR hashtags for the chance to win prizes. In the afternoon, a live virtual event will be streamed from Triumph Motorcycles Philippines to announce the challenge winners.
Over 800 riders are currently registered to participate in DGR Manila. Those interested to join can still register at www.gentlemansride.com.
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