History roared to life in the stillness of night as rally cars charged into darkness on June 27, marking the start of the first-ever inter-island rally in the Philippines sanctioned by the Automobile Association Philippines (AAP). After two years of planning between AAP and the Local Government of Lubang, led by Mayor Michael Orayani, the island played host to a milestone event that captivated both the national motorsport community and the entire Lubang populace.
The two-day event opened with a challenging night rally on Friday, followed by a fast-paced day rally on Saturday, each consisting of six special stages run across Lubang’s paved roads. But what truly set this event apart was its blind rally format—no reconnaissance or pace notes were allowed, meaning drivers and co-drivers had to rely solely on a basic road map provided by the organizers. The result was a grueling yet exhilarating test of navigation, trust, and raw driving skill.
The overwhelming support from Lubang’s residents, who lined the streets and cheered for every passing competitor, made the rally’s success even more remarkable. For the first time, the entire island united behind a motorsport event, transforming Lubang into a vibrant racetrack brimming with energy and pride.
Sanctioned by the Automobile Association Philippines, the country’s sole FIA-recognized national auto club and official governing body for four-wheel motorsports, the event was led by AAP President Joe Ferreria, Motorsport Chairman Mandy Eduque, AAP CEO Mark Desales, and AAP Head of Motorsport Rikky Dy-Liacco. Seasoned rally veterans from the Philippine National Rally Championship and Philippine Rallycross Series, led by Olson Camacho and Ronnie Trinidad, organized the event.
Two rounds of rally action and one historic weekend
In Group 1, the consistent tandem of Ricardo Dy-Liacco and Vince Miguel Benedicto dominated both the night and day rallies, clocking 27:31 in Round 2 and improving to 22:14 in Round 3. Mark Desales and Ricxie Dela Cruz were close behind in both legs, securing back-to-back second-place finishes.
Group 2 saw Paul Santos and DJ De Guzman take the win in Round 2 (27:49), while Louie Camacho and John Rey San Diego surged ahead in Round 3 with a commanding 20:35. Ran Ramento and Carlo Castillo delivered steady performances with two third-place finishes.
In Group 3, Adrian De Leon and Devor Andres ran a near-flawless weekend, winning both rounds with 26:44 and 21:48, respectively.
Group 4 was the playground of Ricky Montelibano and Alex Gonzales, who topped both legs with fast and consistent times of 24:35 and 20:55. EZ Ligaya and Stephen Alunan held onto second place in both stages.
The Open Class featured some of the closest action. Ralph Ramento and George Reboldila claimed Round 2 with 25:09, while Aeron Jarman Rumohr and Pierro Garcia bounced back with a blazing 20:33 to win Round 3. Anjo Perez and Randy Peragrino finished third in both rounds, while Bryan Duarte and Raymond Mendoza wrapped up the classification.
Powered by Passion and Partnerships
The event’s success wouldn’t have been possible without the support of Isuzu and Clean Fuel as title sponsors, along with strong backing from Okada Manila Motorsports Carnivale 2025. Additional partners included AC Delco, Aguila Glass, Ravenol, Method Race Wheels, Impenetra, Autoplus, Motoring Today, Turbo Zone, Autocar PH, Wheels PH, and CW Home Depot.
A New Era for Philippine Rally
Lubang Island has firmly earned its place in the annals of Philippine motorsport. Not only did it host the country’s first inter-island rally, but it also showcased how collaboration between a national motorsports body and a local government unit can result in a world-class motorsport experience. The AAP Lubang Inter-Island Rally is only the beginning of a new and thrilling chapter for Philippine rallying—one that now dares to cross islands, day and night.