Someone did the Philippine Loop on an electric unicycle
When you hear Philippine Loop, what comes to mind? For most people, it’s motorcycles, right? For those who love overlanding, camping, and the great outdoors, they might think about four-wheelers. For the select few, perhaps bicycles or even walking. But I’m willing to bet that ‘electric unicycle’ (EUC) isn’t an answer.
Because why the heck would it be, right? Who would want to do the Philippine Loop on a unicycle, electric or otherwise? Well, it appears someone already did in 2024, and it was only recently that we got to hear his story.
This is , a name that’s recently made the rounds on cyberspace after he shared in a Facebook group the story of his Philippine Loop in 2024 with his EUC. As to “why” he did it, he said this: “No one in their right mind would use an EUC for the PH Loop.” And we totally agree.
Cruz, however, said to himself that if he were to do the Philippine Loop, he should leave his mark. And that he did. Initially, he was planning to do this on an electric kick scooter, but someone already beat him to it, so here we are.
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This journey began in January 2024 when Cruz officially registered for the loop. He made some preparations and started the trip on March 1. Mind you, he bought his first EUC only in July 2023, which means he had less than a year’s worth of experience when he started his trip. At the time, however, Cruz had already completed a North Loop ride himself which took five days. He shared that that was his gauge for whether or not he could do it across the entire Philippines.
Cruz prepared for his trip by meticulously (and smartly, might we add) planning his route for the entire 22-day adventure. He had computed the distance from one checkpoint to another, contacted each designated stop beforehand, and laid out plans A, B, and C in case of any delays or mishaps.
He also created his own Messenger support group consisting of people he felt would be available 24/7. He also shared his real-time location on his phone with a few trusted individuals so people would know his whereabouts in case of an emergency.
Cruz also had proper riding gear—and we mean proper gear—for this. He wore the kind of helmet, jacket, pants, and boots that would protect even a motorcycle rider in the event of a crash. That’s how much he prioritized safety, which is commendable. On top of that, he also had some words of advice: “Always practice defensive riding. You never know who you’ll meet on the highway.”
His trip wasn’t without any incidents, unsurprisingly. Cruz had his tire punctured when he was in Baguio City, and repairs would have to be done at a proper shop, as a simple tire change—which he was capable of, anyway—wouldn’t have sufficed. He decided to send his EUC back to Metro Manila via Victory Cargo, and his repaired unit was returned to him the next day via the same pick-up-and-go service.
At the end of it all, Cruz rode more than 5,000km over the course of 21 days. Imagine traveling—while standing up—for that long. He was able to gather P55,000 with the help of friends and family, and the budget (and perhaps more) was spent completely on the trip—this already included the tire replacement.
We asked Cruz what he’s been up to these days and if he’s still done any long rides recently. To my surprise, he told me he actually went to that viral 7-Eleven in Camalig, the exact same one we drove to with the Mustang. The Manila-Albay-Manila route took Cruz three days. “Pumunta lang ako sa 7-Eleven na spot doon. Took a photo, then went home.”
Not a ride we’d say ‘lang’ because it’s quite the feat. And if anything, Cruz’s epic road trips with his EUC also goes to show how you don’t always need a car to explore and enjoy what the rest of the Philippines has to offer. Maybe something as extreme as this isn’t for everyone, but at least it’ll inspire others to start their own adventures.
If you want to see more of Cruz’s Philippine Loop, we’ve included below some of his vlogs on YouTube along with a few more photos. Enjoy.
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