Look at the women go: The Litas Manila take charge on two wheels
Sunday mornings normally call for an air of mindfulness and meditation. But for the women of The Litas Manila, it’s revving engines, two wheels against the concrete, and fire in their lungs.
These riders swear this is a form of therapy: the convergence of scenery, movement, and nature to create a grounding feeling. No sitting still, none of that slow rise and fall of the chest. Just pure adrenaline, as they traverse the road ahead. Yet, the idea of boarding a big bike is often seen as the complete opposite of relaxation. It’s chaotic, it’s dangerous, and it’s male-dominated—an image that The Litas hope to change.
The Litas' sisterhood and support system
Originally founded in Salt Lake City, Utah, this pioneer collective of women riders has aimed to show that the community can also be a place for femininity and fun. The members of the Manila chapter try to meet at least once a month, whether it’s to enjoy coffee and good conversations in Makati or Alabang, or cruise to nearby provinces like Batangas or Tagaytay. Some have travelled as far up as Nueva Vizcaya and the Cordilleras, while others have joined tours during international trips. Members come from all walks of life and all parts of the metro, which means there’s no specific criterion to join—just a love for the ride.
Arianne Pascual, one of the Litas, had zero interest in learning how to ride until she gave it a try. Three years into the game and she still uses the same bike she started on religiously. “As a corporate slave from Monday to Friday, I badly needed something that could fuel me up so I could face consecutive challenges at work. That’s the purpose of riding for me. It can be so therapeutic,” she told PhilSTAR L!fe.
Meanwhile, another Lita, Cal Soesanto, moonlights as a DJ and goes on her motorcycle at night for much-needed inspiration. “When my brain is overwhelmed, I hop on my bike and just try to discover what’s on the music app at random. By the time I get home, I’m alright and relaxed,” she said.
But while riding solo is a special kind of high, nothing beats the feeling of having a crew to call one’s own. Biker gangs for boys tend to turn everything into what co-founder Erika Fernandez calls a “pissing contest,” as their need for speed reigns supreme. Meanwhile, women are naturally more maternal and nurturing, automatically assisting anyone who needs to back up into a parking space or haul their bike in place.
Some members are already sisters to me. I share not only my riding experiences with them, but also what goes on in my life. Their support is incomparable to me. — Myra Villanueva
“We ride at the slowest girl’s pace because we don’t want any accidents of any kind during rides. We try to control as many factors as possible and always look out for each other every time we go out together,” Fernandez shared. This level of care and concern extends to other cyclists on the road: during times when the Litas find themselves in four-wheelers for a change, there’s this instinctive need to let them pass or give them space.
Girls are admittedly chattier together: “We can go on and on about bike accessories as we do about getting eyelash extensions, new bags, or even household appliances,” Annie Santos, project manager and a Lita, shared. “It’s fun to ride with a group because everyone is connected via comms. The conversations can be endless.”
It’s no surprise, then, that these female friendships go beyond the road. “Some members are already sisters to me. I share not only my riding experiences with them, but also what goes on in my life. Their support is incomparable to me,” said Myra Villanueva, a member-entrepreneur-mom of two. The Litas make it a point to attend one another’s gigs, exhibits, and events, sometimes even bringing their loved ones too. “I was feeling down and alone once, so I went online gaming with one of the ladies until the wee hours of the morning while talking about random stuff. It felt warm and safe, even if it was just online,” Soesanto recalled.
Challenges and triumphs on the open road
However, this isn’t to say that being a Lita didn’t come with barriers to entry. For starters, big bikes are heavy, requiring more balance and physicality to handle (as if the Philippine heat and traffic weren’t brutal enough). “Back when I first started biking, proper gear wasn’t even available to women,” Conch Tiglao, corporate communications practitioner and Litas member, said. “The female body is differently shaped than a man’s, but there weren’t enough jackets and pants tailored to our specific body type.”
Mental stamina is also a must, whether it’s for navigating hairpin turns or swerving past random passerby. “There are times I have to stop for a minute and veer to the side of the road to remind myself to inhale and exhale,” said Mads Lamanilao, a Lita who serves as in-house executive producer for advertisements. “I really have to remind myself to not engage whenever I’m being provoked because in the end, it doesn’t matter if I was in the right if I’m dead.”
It also takes immense emotional fortitude to deal with the sexism still directed towards female riders. Lamanilao recalls a disappointing basic riding seminar, where she was unsurprisingly the only woman in attendance. The instructor was explaining how participants should hug the gas tank with their knees. "Then he looks at me and goes, 'Sorry, ma’am, sasabihin ko,' before turning to the class and saying, 'Babae lang ang pwedeng bumukaka,'" she said. Although she was too shocked to react to the roaring laughter at the time, it’s these moments that remind her “why we need to keep pushing for a more inclusive and respectful riding culture.”
Thankfully, strides have already been made in the right direction: bike brands such as Triumph and BMW Motorrad, for instance, now have female motorcyclists as part of their leadership or marketing teams. Tiglao also cites the presence of other groups and female riders like Jacq Buncio, Coach Che Estepa, Arlyne Diaz, and Karen Kennedy, who are helping to grow the community in the country. Even the Litas themselves launched new chapters in Cebu and Davao.
Reclaiming space, finding self
Of course, women can only do so much. They won’t easily warm up to going on two wheels. Not only is there the evident fear of failure and fatality, but there’s also this underlying feeling of guilt. As women, we are self-sacrificing in the name of family, society, or ambition. We aren’t always conditioned to put ourselves first, and if we attempt to do so, we are put in our place.
But maybe joining a community like The Litas will be our opportunity to reclaim our time and energy, to think of ourselves for once, and to know the many ways we can feel peace: eyes on the road, hands on the bars, and wind in our hair.
