Iloilo City has made canvases of bike racks and bike repair facilities, transforming them into visual statements that are unique in the Philippines. The effort shows that it is the Ilonggos who create the vibrant fusion of art and bike culture in Iloilo. 

Bikers are seen using the installed 10 bike repair facility with basic tools and pumps in strategic public places such as plazas, esplanades, and along the bike lane, done by young artist Kira Uygongco and donated to the Iloilo City Government. See photos here.

Kira Uygongco met Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas in June this year to present and turn over the equipment for installation, accompanied by her parents, who are well-meaning Ilonggos and who are active in the city’s biking and art communities.

Popularly known by the name Kira Puy, she embellished the bike repair facilities using spray paint, making them unique pieces of art.

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The bike repair facility shows the passion and dedication of the Ilonggos of different ages and social standings to create a sustainable city and how they are actively engaged with their communities.

For more than a decade now, bike art has naturally intersected with advocacy on mobility and road safety, promoting sustainability and alternative transportation. They are now two integral events in Iloilo City, annually commemorated as the Iloilo Arts Festival and the Iloilo Bike Festival, making the city a model as an arts and bike capital in the country.

Recently concluded was the 10th Bike Festival, which celebrated both art and bicycles as both functional machines and artistic subjects. These creative endeavors underscore the environmental and cultural importance of cycling.

Through this lens, bikes become symbols of freedom, community, and innovation, embodying the harmony between art and everyday life in Iloilo.

Photo Credits:
Collected from the facebook pages of Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas, Kikik Kollektive, PIO Iloilo City Government, and photographer Arnold Almacen.