MANILA, Philippines — A shared love for motorcycles and riding has brought together these celebrities to form the Drama Moto Club. Sam Milby, John Prats, Gerald Anderson, Jake Cuenca, Sancho delas Alas and Marc Solis are friends from work, but have found brotherhood while hitting the road with their bikes. What started out as a spur-of-the-moment Tagaytay ride one Christmas break has now become a monthly excuse to bond. The Drama Moto Club has since brought them to Bicol, Bukidnon, Cagayan de Oro, Davao City, among others.
In partnership with Yamaha Philippines, they have also started documenting their fun travels, with fan encounters in between, on YouTube.
Interestingly, it’s not because they’re all actors that they christened their group as Drama Moto Club. A lot of drama literally happened during their first ride. One motorcycle broke down in the middle of a busy road and the moment they took off their helmets, it drew a lot of attention and the unplanned stop became a mini-fan meet!
Nevertheless, there are many similarities between acting and motorbike riding, the boys said during an exclusive interview with The Philippine STAR.
For Jake, just like acting, bike rides require focus. “It’s the same feeling when the director says, ‘Action!’ You need to be hyper focused. You can’t be distracted. You have to get to where you wanna get to as safely as possible. And you just do it, overcome that fear and get out of your comfort zone.”
Safety is also the priority in their group rides. “We enjoy but we keep in mind our families, while the others, may taping right away. So, safety first. It’s really a buddy system. Ang galing ng brotherhood because we have to look after each other.”
According to Gerald, motorcycle rides can spring some surprises that it pays to be ready. “One thing common is sometimes no matter how prepared you are, how great you are as an actor or rider, you never know what’s gonna happen during a ride. You never know the bumps in the roads. Sometimes, it’s raining or it’s too hot. Then you have the kamote riders who, let’s say, (are) amateur riders who kinda drive crazy,” he said. “So, you never know what you’re gonna get. But if you’re focused and prepared, you can avoid accidents or yung mangangapa ka pa (avoid groping in the dark).”
Marc, on other hand, shared that in any organized or group ride, they also have to assume roles — the sweeper, spear, tail, or the riders who will take the middle positions. “These are the similarities of acting with riding. There are positions that you have to take depending on the individual and group’s riding skills,” he said.
So, how did their love affair with motorcycles begin? Gerald recalled that he had his first motorbike in his hometown in General Santos when he was a teenager. “The reason I got a motorbike in GenSan before was because of my dad. He needed to return to the States but I wanted to join him and return to the US as well. The only reason I stayed was parang binigyan ako ng ‘bribe.’
“He said, ‘I’ll give you a motor but you have to stay behind with your mama.’… Dito sa Pinas, kumbaga iba yung lifestyle natin, kultura. So, nung sinabi sakin ng dad ko na bibigyan ako ng motor, I said OK, I will stay. That was the start of my love story with motorcycles.”
Nowadays, Gerald brings his motorbikes wherever he goes, whether to a basketball game or “kahit bibili ako ng tinapay sa kanto, naka-motor din ako.”
What he gets out of riding is “peace, rejuvenation, recovery.”
He continued, “While riding, I get to contemplate and (think about my) future plans or goals that I need to do. Because of how long rides can be, there’s a lot of thinking going on.”
As for Marc, who was introduced to motorbikes some five years ago along with his FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano co-stars John and Sancho, he likened this passion for riding to therapy, which proved helpful during a tough period in his life.
“It sort of became a release for me during the pandemic because, allow me to share, I lost my dad and motorcycling was a big part of my therapy. I was able to ride alone and nakakapag-isip-isip ako. It became my outlet during that time,” he said.
But the “most beautiful thing” he got out of riding is the Drama Moto Club. “I found this brotherhood through motorcycling. I have new brothers that I know will be with me through all the phases of life,” he said.
John also draws happiness from riding with the boys, even if it will only last 15 minutes and the rest is “kwentuhan.” “Riding for me is a tool to bond with these boys. It’s a bonus if we get to (do long rides), for example, in Bukidnon or Cagayan de Oro,” the actor-director said. “But what I enjoy the most is I get to talk to them and the bonding that we have through the kwentuhan.”
He, however, clarified there has to be a “proper balance” of family time, work commitments and time with his rider friends. “I’m just so blessed because pinapayagan din ako ng asawa ko (Isabel Oli) to do this because there are really stories of bikers na ayaw na ayaw talaga yun ng mga girlfriend or wife nila.”
Jake, for his part, first got interested in bikes through his dad. “Bonding ko talaga siya with my dad yung ‘pag set up ng motor ever since I was a kid,” he said.
But his love for motorbikes was something he developed with his Drama Moto Club. “I used to just ride around the city. But in my experience with the Drama Moto Club, we really went from point to point in the province. We really traveled together. They say that you really get to know people when you travel with them. So, I really know these boys and talagang masasabi ko mahal ko sila.”
Meanwhile, Sancho enjoys all sorts of feelings when he’s on his motorbike, saying he can easily choose his pace depending on his mood. But one thing is certain, it makes him feel alive. “It can also give you peace and happiness. And it’s extra special if you have this kind of group who understands you and gives their time to get to know each other. I’m very grateful because aside from having fun, aside from enjoying the ride, we learn, we learn from the ride, we learn from each other. It gives us growth.”
It’s Sam who has been riding the longest, starting at the age of 9. “My dad was a champion motocross racer before, my brothers also compete in motocross. My sister also rides motorcycles. So, we’re really a riding family.” The actor even used to race in the States and even here in the Philippines.
“I fell in love with my first motocross bike,” he said. “It was a Yamaha bike. I wanted to race already. Because we had horses. Enjoy-enjoy. But when I got my motorcycle, I was like nope, no more horses for me, hahaha.”
Even going around Metro Manila, Sam prefers driving a motorbike rather than a car.
“Yes, it’s scary for a lot of people but I feel less stressed ‘pag naka-motor kaysa sa kotse. Tayo sa Pilipinas, we are No. 1, worst traffic in the whole world, and I get so frustrated ‘cause I grew up in the States, where the roads are better and how people drive… like the traffic here really gets to me. So ‘pag naka-motor, I feel more relaxed more calm… And you get away from your phone because you have to be in the present,” he said.
“That’s why I’m so happy that I found this group. Not only do we share the same passion about motorcycles, we also have this brotherhood.”
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