Youth in Negros Oriental find fun in makeshift wooden scooters

A group of youths in Valencia, Negros Oriental is drawing attention for their extreme pastime of racing on makeshift scooters known as ligiron. 

According to Kuya Kim Atienza's report on "24 Oras" Wednesday, the activity features in the group's vlogs called Ligiron Extreme. 

The makeshift scooter, called ligiron, has no engine and is made from wood and bamboo. 

"Ginagamit po ito dati ng mga ancestor namin. Ito ang nagsisilbing sasakyan nila noon. Ginagamit nila pag-igib, pagdala ng mga iba-ibang produkto na panghanapbuhay. [As time] goes by nagkaroon na ng mga motorsiklo. So itong ligiran hindi na masyadong nagamit," said Vince Aaron Vincoy, one of the members of the group. 

Per the report, the group would organize ligiron racing competitions yearly, where participants compete based on speed and height of jumps while on their scooters. The first race was held in 2011 and continued annually until it was halted due to the pandemic. 

"Ngayon, unti-unti naming binalik ang ligiron kasi as we see mga kabataan ngayon more on gadgets, cellphones. Ipinapakita namin ito na meron pang laro para sa mga kabataan na gumamit ng lakas," said Vince. 

"Sa extreme sport, di natin maiiwasan na magkaroon ng mga injuries. Mga pasa, mga galos, but not grabe." 

—CDC, GMA Integrated News