Top 10 Predictions For 2010!

31 12 2009

A LAND FOR WHICH THE LORD YOUR GOD CARES;
THE EYES OF THE LORD YOUR GOD ARE ALWAYS
ON IT, FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR TO THE
VERY END OF THE YEAR.
( DEUTERONOMY 11:12 *NKJV )
Wow, what a fruitful  and a wonderful year 2009 was!

I can’t imagine I did the following this year alone:

– 2.5 Ultramarathons, 5 Marathons, one 32K, ten 21K, two 16K, four trail runs, and four 10K!

and I was able to read 22 books dealing with variety of topics.

Let me bring back ALL the Glory to God, for without HIM, these things are impossible.

Now, I’m not a prophet or a fortune teller, but let me give you my fearless forecast for 2010.

1. The Bible will still have all the answers.
2. Prayer will still be the most powerful thing on Earth..
3. The Holy Spirit will still move.
4. God will still honor the praises of His people.
5. There will still be God-anointed preaching.
6. There will still be singing of praise to God.
7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.
8. There will still be room at the Cross.
9. Jesus will still love you.
10..Jesus will still save the lost when they come to Him.

Isn’t It Great To Remember Who Is Really In Control,
and that; “THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES
FOREVER.” ( 1 PETER 1:25 )

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL AND SEE YOU AT THE RACES!

* Thank you SPYDER for providing my Sunglasses during training and in competitions.

God be Praised!

Did you know…

… that today is New Year’s Eve in many countries? In 1904,
the New Year’s ball dropped for the first time in Times
Square, New York City. In Japan, everyone laughs at the stroke
of midnight to ensure good luck in the New Year. In the
Philippines, children jump ten times when the clock strikes
twelve, hoping to grow taller in the new year. In Mexico, some
people take out their suitcases and walk around the block,
hoping it would help them travel during the next year. Have a
great New Year!

~~~

Today’s Inspirational Quote:

“The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be
continually fearing you will make one.”

— Elbert Hubbard





Rizal Day 32K…What A Great Year-Ender Run!

30 12 2009

“I can’t imagine living and not running.” -Paula Radcliffe

Me at the finish line earlier this morning at 3 hour 19 minutes and 53 seconds wearing SPYDER Zero…

With all of the support from my running buddies here in San Pedro Laguna, we added again a new milestone in our running careers by finishing  another uncharted event, this time a 32K!

You read it right, not a 21 nor a 42, but a 32.

And that happened a day before the New Year’s eve.

S’ Jovie Narcise aka Baldrunner organized this event and came out victorious.

The route, 4 and 2/3 loops inside Camp Aguinaldo was indeed very challenging. No traffic jams, less pollution and since it was done inside Camp Aguinaldo, runners were greatly protected from possible   carnappers. Water Stations were stationed strategically with lavish supply – Biscuits, Chocolates, Fruit Cocktail, Gatorade.

And at the finish line, an unorthodox style of putting up Beers and  Ice Cream,  first time in my running history.

Beers were also present right there at the starting line and some of my buddies drank a cup or two at 5 am.

It was well attended by runners, indeed a  blockbuster and it started on time.

Overall, it was a successful race.

Congratulations too to Bishop Eddie Hernandez for finishing it in 4 hours, his first major race who came all the way from Isabela just to join this race.

To the rest of  my companions, seasoned  runners like me- Rod, Conrad, Bert, Jerry, Kenneth, thank you for being with me in joining this race.

Also, let me acknowledge SPYDER, for supporting me.  Their sunglasses made me proud in bringing out the best in me during this race.

SPYDER ZERO

About this product:

Innovative sports eyewear featuring no-screw temples, built-in lens locks and a seamless shift from standard temple to sports strap. Also fitted with adjustable nosepads for added comfort. Comes with 3 sets of Spyder Resillens, option for Spyder polarized lens available.
Bert…
With Tina…
Willy, Jerry, Me, Bishop Eddie, Conrad, Bert, Rigo and Kenneth.
To all who have joined and supported this event -MABUHAY PO KAYO!
See you at the races next year.
God be Praised!

Did you know…

… that today is No Wearing Pants Day? In 1852, Boston police
arrested Emma Snodgrass for wearing pants. In those days,
women were not allowed to wear them!

Today’s Inspirational Quote:

“The pessimist complains about the wind. The optimist expects
it to change. The leader adjusts the sails.”

— John Maxwell





Product Review:Spyder Sunglasses Ps Air 9s01

25 12 2009

“My sunglasses are like my guitar.” -Patti Smith

With Team TURBO LC (The United Runners-Bikers Organization of Laguna and Cavite), we biked today, Christmas Day from San Pedro Laguna to San Pablo Laguna, with an estimate distance of 96 kilometers back and forth. We started biking at 6:30 am and ended up at 6:10 pm, almost 12 hours, but the official time was only 5 hours and 16 minutes. It took us twelve hours due to many mishaps  along the road, majority of them were due to bicycle breakdowns. Flat tires, misaligned chains and muscle cramps contributed to our delay.

Seven bikers conquered that place, and I’m proud to be included in that group. I’m also thankul for Spyder, a company dedicated to the design, development, and marketing of eyewear, helmets, and other sport accessories, who provided me an elegant sunglasses for this quest and from now on, I’ll use this product whether in running, biking and in any endeavors.

Last Monday, I received two kinds of sunglasses, and let me make a review on the first one, PS Air 9s01.

Spyder’s  eyewear have conquered the summit of Everest, thrived in the humid jungles of Borneo, seen victory in Australian waters, and survived the scorching heat of the Sahara.

OUR JOURNEY:

We prayed as we took this challenge…

With Joe Asuncion, Ramon Cenia, Nhadz, Ptr. Eugene, Me (wearing Spyder sunglasses) and Benny Marzan. Photographer RonRon Cenia at 6:30am…

Me at Calamba Municipal Hall at 7:45 am during our first short break…

I’m comfortable with this stuff, my eyes were greatly protected from sun rays and a possible foreign body in the eye…

That Orange house at the right invited us for a breakfast there at Calamba. It was 8:30 am…

As I waited for some of my buddies here in the uphill portion of Los Banos…

At Calauan Laguna at around 10:15 am…

Sampaloc Lake in San Pablo City…

We have a new friend, Ms. Joy de Gorostiza, former National Team Volleyball Player. Opposite her house, we ate our lunch.

Now, going back to my product review…

SPYDER PS AIR 9S01

RESILLENS:

This lens type material was developed by the aerospace industry for use in helmet visors worn by astronauts. It is also widely used in bulletproof windows, airplane windows, and riot police shields. This material is 10 times more impact-resistant than other plastics, and exceeds the resistance requirements by over 40 times. Spyder Resillens is lighter and is about 20% thinner than standard plastic or glass, so they don’t constantly slide down on the nose. The material is a natural UV filter blocking 100% of the sun’s damaging UV rays without the need for special lens coatings. This is particularly important for outdoors sports, because researchers believe that overexposure to UV rays over the years has been associated with and other eye problems.

POLARTECH:

Polarized lenses act like optical blinds that rearrange light and let you see “through” glare. Polarized lenses are the only truly effective way of eliminating glare. Water, fog, rain, or early morning dew, have reflective properties, which enhance reflected glare. In addition to water, glare is also a problem on roads and highways. In competition, clear and unhampered vision can give you that winning edge

Light moves in two dimensions: horizontally and vertically. Vertical light enables us to see colors and contrasts, while horizontal light simply creates optical noise or glare. Polarizing lenses selectively filter out the horizontal light, thus eliminating glare.

Polarized sunglasses means: – Glare-free vision

– Enhanced contrast

– 100 % UV protection

– Less eye fatigue – Improved color perception

POLARTECH ™ Lenses come as either:

PZ – Standard 1mm Tri-Acetate The industry standard for polarized lenses recommended for outdoor leisure and light to medium intensity sports.

PCZ – Elite 1.8mm Resillens™ These special performance lenses are exclusive to the Spyder Elite Series. They combine the shatter-resistance of Resillens™ and glare-elimination of Polartech™ lenses which make them the perfect lenses for Elite level sports.

GRILAMID:

Grilamid TR90 is an almost indestructible homopolynamide nylon characterized by an extremely high bending strength. Remarkably tough, exceptionally resistant to chemicals and sweat, and highly resistant to UV damage and breakdown.

QUICKCHANGE:

Specific frame designs have been paired with a special set of lenses. These lenses are designed to make a single eyewear applicable to a wide variety of lighting conditions; each lens enhances visual acuity in a given situation.

Spyder Quickchange models come with any of the following lens colors, see below to better understand which colors would suit your needs the best.

MIRROR LENS (gold, blue chrome, red chrome) 12% Light Transmission Metal oxide “mirror” coatings come in a variety of shades. These lenses are great for very bright conditions with strong reflected light such as water sports and driving.

G-15 15% Light Transmission G-15 color was formulated to emphasize the colors that our eyes see most easily and de-emphasize less useful colors. This lens transmits color the same way that our eyes are sensitive to colors.

SMOKE 22% Light Transmission These lenses filter infrared light very well and do not significantly alter color perception. These lenses come in a variety of shades and are great for moderately bright environments.

TEK RED 26% Light Transmission Red has a soothing quality that relaxes the eyes. This lens tint improves visual clarity and reduces glare that reflects off surfaces such as asphalt.

YELLOW AND ORANGE 70-87% Light Transmission A very good high-contrast filter. They are perfect for low-level brightness or varying and intermittent light conditions. Ideal for sports that require maximum clarity and depth perception such as shooting and indoor racquet sports.

ADAPLITE:

These lenses darken on exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Once the UV is removed (for example by walking indoors), they gradually return to their clear state. Photochromic lenses rely on organic photochromic molecules to achieve the reversible darkening effect. These lenses darken in sunlight but not indoors under artificial light, as typical room lights do not contain the UV (short wavelength light) found in sunlight. These are perfect all-day lenses for sunrise-to-sundown epic rides, treks or road trips.

I highly recommend this product.

Go to the shop nearest you and choose the style that fits you at very affordable prices.

For more information, please visit http://www.teamspyder.com

God be Praised!





Celebrity Run Recap!

23 12 2009

“I run with my head, my heart and my guts, because physically, I don’t think I’ve got a great deal of talent or ability. I started at the bottom and worked up.” -Steve Jones, former Marathon World record holder

The Philippine Star’s Celebrity Run was indeed a success, thanks again for a job well done by Ian Alacar, my BDM classmate, who was the Race Organizer for this event. I have an awesome experience and although my time was not that too impressive, 2 hours and 24 minutes, way off mark to my best PR for 21K (set last March 9, 2008-AFP/DND VILLAMOR AIRBASE Race-21 kms,  1 hour and 50 minutes-that was when Ultra-running was a foreign word to me : )) I’m still satisfied, for a week before this race, I’m still undecided to join this event, for I’m battling with   series of injuries. At the last minute, I decided to join, just for fun. At first, my plan was to just participate the 3K event but realizing I will not enjoy a very short distance like that, I sought Ian Alacar’s help so that I could join the 21K instead of 3K.

So, from Race bib number 0615 for a 3K, I’ve got a new number 4433, and this time, I have the luxury again of running a half-marathon.

Aside for my very nice race bib number, I also commend the Organizer for a unique feature at the back of the bib –the route of the race, first time to see such a thing.  I haven’t seen a kind like that  from any of my previous races.

Also, it was my first time  to run the route of Sen Gil Puyat going to Ayala Avenue and then to Makati Avenue.

The weather was just perfect and I loved the drizzle plus the rainbow.

The route was also perfect, and although it was more than 21K (22.5K maybe), it was better than less than 21K.

Some water stations have no cups and some have no more water, but it was the best time to test anybody’s endurance.

I have difficulty running uphill and at times, I walked for pain was unbearable.

Ohh, I missed those days where I can run the 21K with decent time…

3/9/08-AFP/DND VILLAMOR AIRBASE-21 kms 1hour 50mins

3/22/09-CONDURA SKYWAY RUN-21KMS-222 OVERALL-1hour  54mins

2/15/09-MILO BATANGAS CITY-21 KMS-1hour 55mins

2/3/08 MILO BATANGAS CITY -21 kms-1hour 56 mins

But I don’t care whether or not Ultra-running made me a slower runner. I’ve been to a sub2 performances wayback before, nothing to prove.

Again, congrats to all the finishers of Celebrity Run last Sunday. Never mind if you don’t beat your PR as long as you finished the race safe and  uninjured. It’s not only the  speed that counts but the way how you ENJOYED and ENDURED it to the max.

After I finished two and a half Ultramarathons, five Marathons and eight half-Marathons this year alone, I’m really satisfied even with a 2 hours and 24 minutes performance last Sunday. I could not ask for more.

And there’s still another 32K this coming Dec. 30, 2009- the Rizal’s Day Run at the Phil. Army headquarter in Quezon City.

See you there folks, rain or no rain.

God be Praised!

Did you know…

… that today is the birthday of the Crossword Puzzle? The
first crossword puzzle (with 32 clues) was created by Arthur
Wynne and published in the “New York World” on this date in
1913. He first named his new creation a word-cross, but
changed the name to cross-word a few weeks later.





Stars And Rainbow At The Philippines Star’s Celebrity Run…

21 12 2009

My unique race bib number at the Phil. Star 21K race last Sunday : ) Thank You Ian Alacar.

I arrived at the venue at 5am…

At the Starting Line at around 5:15 am…

At the Finish Line 2 hours and 24 minutes later…

with JR and Doc Chris…

With my Co-Ultrarunners Nath, Nicko and Pat.

With our muse Cassey…

Henry and Allan…

Rod Apolinario Aka Rodrunner

With Rene Villarta aka Jazzrunner…

Ultra-runner Cesar Abarrientos…

Received from the Baldrunner this 1,000 km Club t-shirt. Thank you Sir!

And of course, I should say thank you to takbo.ph peeps…

I’ll give the recap and my assessment for this race next time.

See you at the Rizal Day’s 32K race this coming December 30, 2009.

God be Praised!





The Grandeur That Was Corregidor!

17 12 2009

Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.” -Robert Brault

Conquer Corregidor 10 miler was my 4th trail run competitions. I’ve been to The Northface 20k in Batangas twice and one 100K in Sacobia Clark, but Conquer Corregidor was one of the best in terms of ‘route’. I want to enjoy the panoramic view so I followed my game plan of running and then taking pictures at the same time. No new PR for the 10 miler for this event. I finished in 1 hour and 44 minutes…

At the starting line, 8:30am.

Runners from all walks of life…

Malinta Tunnel…I’m glad to pass this way, a historic place during World War II.

This was where I took my first photograph…

The ruins of WWII…

c/o a runner who took this shot…Thank You.

This place was sooo enigmatic!

Comfort room along the way…

A place of fortress in the 1940’s…

A hair raising experience if you’re alone in this location…

Another notable fragment of the second World War…

Scenic view from the top…

And I can’t allow this opportunity passed by…

At the trail…

The not so-perfect shot while running…

Someone took my camera…Thank you.

c/o Luis  aka Gingerbreadman…Thank you bro.

Arrived at the finish line in 1 hour and 44 minutes. Thank You Lord…

Congratulations to all who joined and conquered Corregidor last Dec. 6, 2009.

Although there were some lapses including ‘no kilometer’ markings in the entire race route, It was a huge success.

See you at the starting lines.

God be Praised!







Weekend Special: Are You A Believer?

11 12 2009

“The fool said in his heart, ‘there is NO God!’ “-Proverbs 14:1

“Let me explain the problem science has with God.” The atheist professor of philosophy pauses before his class and then asks one of his new students to stand.

“You’re a God believer, aren’t you, son?”
“Yes sir,” the student says.
“So you believe in God?”
“Absolutely.”
“Is God good?”
“Sure! God’s good.”
“Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?”
“Yes.”
“Are you good or evil?”
“The teachings says I’m evil.” The professor grins knowingly. He considers for a moment.

“Here’s one for you. Let’s say there’s a sick person over here and you can cure him. You can do it.
Would you help them? Would you try?”
“Yes sir, I would.”
“So you’re good…!”
“I wouldn’t say that.”

“But why not say that? Y ou’d help a sick and maimed person if you could. Most of us would if we could. But God doesn’t.”
The student does not answer, so the professor continues.
“He doesn’t, does he? My brother was a God believer who died of cancer, even though he prayed to Jesus to heal him. How is this God good? Hmmm? Can you answer that one?”
The student remains silent.

“No, you can’t, can you?” the professor says. He takes a sip of water from a glass on his desk to give the student time to relax.
“Let’s start again, young fella. Is God good?”
“Er… Yes,” the student says.

“Is Satan good?”
The student doesn’t hesitate on this one.
“No.”
“Then where does Satan come from?”
The student falters.
“From… God…”

“That’s right. God made Satan, didn’t he? Tell me, son. Is there evil in this world?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Evil’s everywhere, isn’t it? And God did make everything, correct? ”
“Yes.”
“So who created evil?” Again, the student has no answer.
“Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness. All these terrible things, do they exist in this world?”
The student squirms on his feet.
“Yes.”

“So who created them?”
The student does not answer again, so the professor repeats his question.
“Who created them? ”
There is still no answer. Suddenly the lecturer breaks away to pace in front of the classroom. The class is mesmerized.

“Tell me,” he continues. “Do you believe in God, son?”
The student’s voice betrays him and cracks.
“Yes,professor. I do.”
The old man stops pacing.

“Science says you have five senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Have you ever seen God?”
“No sir. I’ve never seen Him.”
“Then tell us if you’ve ever heard your God?”
“No, sir. I have not.”
“Have you ever felt your God, tasted your God or smelt your God? Have you ever had any sensory perception of God?”
“No, sir, I’m afraid I haven’t.”
“Yet you still believe in him?” thundered the professor
“Yes.”

“According to the rules of empirical, testable,demonstrable protocol, science says your God doesn’t exist. What do you say to that, son?”
“Nothing,” the student replies. “I only have my faith.”
“Yes, faith,” the professor repeats.

“And that is the problem science has with God. There is no evidence, only faith.”

The student stands quietly for a moment, before asking a question of his own. “Professor, is there such thing as heat?”
“Yes,” the professor replies.
“There’s heat.”
“And is there such a thing as cold?”
“Yes, son, there’s cold too.”
“No sir, there isn’t.”

The professor turns to face the student, obviously interested. The room suddenly becomes very quiet. The student begins to explain.

“You can have lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat, mega-heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat, but we don’t have anything called ‘cold’. We can hit 458 degrees below zero, which is no heat,but we can’t go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold; otherwise we would be able to go colder than -458 degrees. You see, sir, cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat we can measure in thermal units because heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it.”

Silence across the room! A pen drops somewhere in the classroom, sounding like a hammer.

“What about darkness, professor. Is there such a thing as darkness?”
“Yes,” the professor replies without hesitation.
“What is night if it isn’t darkness?”

“You’re wrong again, sir. Darkness is not something; it is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light. But if you have no light constantly you have nothing and it’s called darkness, isn’t it? That’s the meaning we use to define the word. In reality, Darkness isn’t. If it were, you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn’t you?”
The professor begins to smile at the student in front of him.
This will be a good semester.
“So what point are you making, young man?”

“Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical premise is flawed to start with and so your conclusion must also be flawed.”
The professor’s face cannot hide his surprise this time.
“Flawed? Can you explain how?”
“You are working on the premise of duality,” the student explains.

“You argue that there is life and then there’s death; a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can’t even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it. Now tell me, professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?”
“If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young man,yes,of course I do.”

“Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?”
The professor begins to shake his head, still smiling, as he realizes where the argument is going.
A very good semester indeed!

“Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavour, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you now not a scientist, but a preacher?”
The class is in uproar. The student remains silent until the commotion has subsided.
“To continue the point you were making earlier to the other students, let me give you an example of what I mean.”
The student looks around the room.

“Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the professor’s brain?”
The class breaks out into laughter.
“Is there anyone here who has ever heard the professor’s brain, felt the professor’s brain, touched or smelt the professor’s brain? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol,science says that you have no brain, with all due respect, sir. So if science says you have no brain, how can we trust your lectures, sir?”

Now the room is silent. The professor just stares at the student, his face unreadable! Finally, after what seems an eternity, the old man answers.
“I guess you’ll have to take them on faith.”
The class breaks into a deadening applause

“Continuing further, Sir, when GOD created the universe he made a set of rules which governs every living organisms, categorized in his own way. For some, life is a predestined, well programmed journey of life. For others, like humans, the rules of life are a direct results of their own actions, words, thoughts or/and conducts. So, Sir, happiness, sadness, good, bad, sickness, good health, poverty and abundance, is man’s own doing unto himself. The wrong and bad happenings in man’s life, is nothing but the lack of righteousness in his way of life.”
It pays to have faith in God than in Science…

Evil is not the opposite of Goodness…it is the absence.

Are you a believer?

God be Praised!





Garbage In, Garbage Out!(Conquer Corregidor Part 2)

10 12 2009

All the world’s misfortunes stemmed from the countless untruths, both deliberate and unintentional, which people told because of haste or carelessness. Michael Ende

As I ran in Corregidor 10 miler last Sunday, December 6, 2009…I noticed that although that place was still unexplored and untouched, the water that surrounds that beautiful island is full of filth and garbages.

And eventhough I saw a man cleaning these files of mess, Garbage In…

…I’m disappointed because he’s only returning those foul matters at the sea, Garbage Out!

Now, since proper waste disposal is a major problem not only in the Philippines but also around the world, let me share with you  some important facts regarding this topic, taken from EnvironmentalChemistry.com., courtesy of Rox Pena of Sun.Star…

* 6,500 BC in North America – Archeological studies shows a clan of Native Americans produced an average of 2.4 kilos of waste a day. That’s a lot considering that the average Filipino generates only half a kilo of waste a day.

* 500 BC in Athens, Greece – first municipal dump in western world was organized. Regulations required waste to be dumped at least a mile from the city limits, probably because it stinks!

* 1388 in England – English parliament bars waste dispersal in public waterways and ditches.

* 1400 in Paris, France – Garbage piles so high outside of Paris gates that it interferes with city defense. This is probably the biggest recorded open dumpsite during those times.

* 1690 in Philadelphia – Rittenhouse Mill, Philadelphia makes paper from recycled fibers taken from wastepaper and rags.

* 1842 in England – A report links disease to filthy environmental conditions. The age of sanitation begins. The Bubonic Plague, cholera and typhoid fever were probably caused by garbage that harbored rats and contaminated water supply.

The common practice in those days is to throw garbage, including human waste, out of the window for stray dogs to eat.

* 1874 in Nottingham, England – A new technology called “the Destructor” provided the first systematic incineration of refuse in this part of the world. Before this machine, burning is accidental, caused by methane generation.

* 1885 in Governor’s Island, New York – The first garbage incinerator was built in the United States.

* 1889 in Washington, DC – Washington DC reported that they are running out of appropriate places for refuse. Sounds familiar?

* 1896 in the United States – Waste reduction plants arrive in the U.S. They were used for compressing organic waste, but were later closed due to foul odor.

* 1898 in New York, U.S. – Establishment of the first garbage sorting plant for recycling.

* 1900 – Piggeries were developed to eat fresh or cooked garbage.

* 1914, New York – There are about 300 incinerators in the United States for burning trash.

* 1920s – Landfills were becoming a popular way of reclaiming swampland while getting rid of trash.

* 1954 in Olympia Washington – Olympia Washington pays for return of aluminum cans. Probably the first good news as far as metal scrap recycling is concern.

* 1965 – The first federal solid waste management laws in the United States were enacted.

* 1968 – Companies in the United States began to buy back and recycle containers.

* 1970 – The first Earth Day was celebrated in the United States, which was a result of various protest actions by citizens on the deteriorating environmental conditions.

* 1976 in the U.S. – The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act was enacted emphasizing recycling and Hazardous Waste Management.

* 1979 in the U.S. – The EPA issued criteria prohibiting open dumping.

* 2000- The Ecological Solid Waste management Act of 2000, or RA 9003, was enacted in the Philippines.

WHEN Republic Act (RA) 9003 was passed, I thought that we will finally see the end of the garbage problem. Almost nine years after, it seems that we’ve made little progress or no success at all!

Remember what  Ondoy did to us?

Although I conquered Corregidor, I’m not totally satisfied.

Let us learn from history because we cannot deceive Mother Nature.

If we will not act now, she will have the last laugh.

God be Praised!





I Came, I Saw, I Conquered Corregidor!(Part 1)

7 12 2009

How many days, how many nights have we suffered through this war?
Hope’s fading fast we’ll be saved at last,
From this hell on Corregidor.
The enemy is near, but there is no fear
Of what may lie in store.
For death is a relief from the misery and grief,
We have seen on Corregidor.
All hope is gone, but we still carry on…
Each day is worse than before
Our hearts beat fast and we’ll give our last
On this place called Corregidor.
No water, no sleep, nothing to eat,
Oh, how painful is defeat.
My God, we can’t take much more
The sun is sinking fast over Corregidor.

The white flag is up!
The Japs have reached our shore !
The battle is lost, at a terrible cost.
Our guns will fire no more.
So till a better day, somehow, someway,
We’ll be home again once more;
I’ll say goodbye for those who fought and died
On this Godforsaken, Corregidor!

-By Pvt. Leroy Gant of the 60th CAC. , Shawnee , Okla.

This poem was posted in a bar room in Olongopo, P.I. and I copied it word for word when I was in the Navy in 1954.  Sadly Pvt. Gant died in a Japanese prison camp in July of 1942.    Mr. Gary Lemon-courtesy of http://www.indavdahl.com

I was born in Cavite and lived there for more than 2 decades but it was so sad that I was never been to Corregidor, which was a part of Cavite City.

Finally, last Saturday, after 1 hour and 20 minutes ferry boat ride from Manila Bay, I came to  this magnificent island, saw the majestic scenery and conquered almost the whole island feasible to feet through running.

Now, let me give my report on how the race was conducted and organized and my personal experiences during the race.

NEEDS IMPROVEMENT: (So that these things can be prevented if there will be another Conquer Corregidor again next year)

1. Time Management

-The supposed to be 11 am ferry boat trip from  Manila Bay in Roxas Blvd.  to Corregidor was not followed. Instead, the boat departed at 12:20 am to the annoyance of many passengers already on board as early as 10:30 am.  Some passengers  even flared up and lose their tempers when our boat was used as an ‘alley’ to another boat and  majority cannot understand the logic why the ship and its Management  were doing this. An stewardess explained that they’re still waiting for some passengers but it was already 12 noon.

At 10:15 am, me and my 5 companions reached LRT station all the way from Laguna and thinking we were late already, we took a taxi ride and arrived at 10:30 am, just enough for the 11 am time of departure as scheduled. If we only knew their delinquency, we will not be in such a hurry.

I understand the meaning of ‘Filipino time.’ It’s understood that there will be some delays, but more than one hour of waiting was not a good experience.

Bert and I…

Coming all the way from Laguna as early as 8am…Rod, Molly and the ‘Old  Warrior’ Bert.


-the race started 45 minutes late.

We went to the assembly area at the Malinta Tunnel at 7:30 am to do our usual routine of warm-up and stretching. I’m excited for this was my opportunity to conquer Corregidor by means of running. However, the scheduled 8 am gunstart was not materialized. Instead, the race started at 8:45 am.

Runners at the starting line.

30 minutes later, notice those runners at the sideline?

According to my facebook account, the explanation on this was due to the fact that they (Organizer) was severely undermanned and the Race Director himself had a flu on that day.

2. Lack of marshals and some runners got lost along the way.

3. Correct me if I’m wrong, but there was no Ambulance or any vehicular support carrying medical supplies just in case. Many got injured including my running buddy, Bert.

4. Malinta Tunnel was too dark, and some got injured on the early stage of the race.

Ultra-runner Jun Jaranilla, at the background was the Malinta Tunnel, some 750 runners ran on this passage later with only one lighting system at the middle and the space too constricted. Notice also those uneven surfaces on the sides of the Tunnel.

5. Sudden announcement of ‘cut-off’ time which was not mentioned long before the race day. I pitied two women, who after arriving some 4 hours later, their race bib number tags were not detached meaning their names will not appear on the ‘official result.’

With Faar and Ultra-runner Caloy Nobleza

With an avid reader of this blog. This nice guy also took some pictures with me  during the SIM marathon with her female companion. It’s so sad I forgot their names. My apology.


with rigo, bert, Moly, willy and ultra-runner dennis.

All in all, this race was all about fun and excitement. I’ll give those good points next time.

God be Praised!








There’s No Better Way!

4 12 2009

“Let us RUN with patience the RACE which is set before us.” -HOLY BIBLE

Life is like a race. It doesn’t matter whether you’re after speed or endurance as long as you’ll be able to finish it. However, the BIBLE admonished us that it should be done with patience. Enoch walked with God for three hundred years and never got bored. I believe that to see the hands of God in everything makes life a great adventure. Without HIM, even though we’re living in success, it is futile and without meaning.

Let me share another nuggets of truth and wisdom from one of my favorite inspirational  writers, Og Mandino. The title of this is 17 Rules For A Better Way To Live.

17 Rules For A Better Way To Live
Author: Og Mandino

1. Count your blessings. Once you realize how valuable you are and how much you have going for you, the smiles will return, the sun will break out, the music will play, and you will finally be able to move forward the life that God intended for you… with grace, strength, courage, and confidence.

2. Today, and every day, deliver more than you are getting paid to do. The victory of success will be half won when you learn the secret of putting out more than is expected in all that you do. Make yourself so valuable in your work that eventually you will become indispensable. Exercise your privilege to go the extra mile, and enjoy all the rewards you receive. You deserve them!

3. Whenever you make a mistake or get knocked down by life, don’t look back at it too long. Mistakes are life’s way of teaching you. Your capacity for occasional blunders is inseparable from your capacity to reach your goals. No one wins them all, and your failures, when they happen, are just part of your growth. Shake off your blunders. How will you know your limits without an occasional failure? Never quit. Your turn will come.

4. Always reward your long hours of labor and toil in the very best way, surrounded by your family. Nurture their love carefully, remembering that your children need models, not critics, and your own progress will hasten when you constantly strive to present your best side to your children. And even if you have failed at all else in the eyes of the world, if you have a loving family, you are a success.

5. Build this day on a foundation of pleasant thoughts. Never fret at any imperfections that you fear may impede your progress. Remind yourself, as often as necessary, that you are a creature of God and have the power to achieve any dream by lifting up your thoughts. You can fly when you decide that you can. Never consider yourself ‘defeated’ again. Let the vision in your heart be in your life’s blueprint. Smile!

6. Let your actions always speak for you, but be forever on guard against the terrible traps of false pride and conceit that can halt your progress. The next time you are tempted to boast, just place your fist in a full pail of water, and when you remove it, the hole remaining will give you a correct measure of your importance.

7. Each day is a special gift from God, and while life may not always be fair, you must never allow the pains, hurdles, and handicaps of the moment to poison your attitude and plans for yourself and your future. You can never win when you wear the ugly cloak of self-pity, and the sour sound of whining will certainly frighten away any opportunity for success. Never again. There is a better way.

8. Never again clutter your days or nights with so many menial and unimportant things that you have no time to accept a real challenge when it comes along. This applies to play as well as work. A day merely survived is no cause for celebration. You are not here to fritter away your precious hours when you have the ability to accomplish so much by making a slight change in your routine. No more busy work. No more hiding from success. Leave time, leave space, to grow. Now. Now! Not tomorrow!

9. Live this day as if it will be your last. Remember that you will only find “tomorrow” on the calendars of fools. Forget yesterday’s defeats and ignore the problems of tomorrow. This is it. Doomsday. All you have. Make it the best day of your year. The saddest words you can ever utter are, “If I had my life to live over again…”Take the baton, now. Run with it! This is your day!

10. Beginning today, treat everyone you meet, friend or foe, loved one or stranger, as if they were going to be dead at midnight. Extend to each person, no matter how trivial the contact, all the care and kindness and understanding and love that you can muster, and do it with no thought of any reward. Your life will never be the same again.

11. Laugh at yourself and at life. Not in the spirit of derision or whining self- pity, but as a remedy, a miracle drug, that will ease your pain, cure your depression, and help you to put in perspective that seemingly terrible defeat and worry with laughter at your predicaments, thus freeing your mind to think clearly toward the solution that is certain to come. Never take yourself too seriously.

12. Never neglect the little things. Never skimp on that extra effort, that additional few minutes, that soft word of praise or thanks, that delivery of the very best that you can do. It does not matter what others think, it is of prime importance, however, what you think about you. You can never do your best, which should always be your trademark, if you are cutting corners and shirking responsibilities. You are special. Act it. Never neglect the little things.

13. Welcome every morning with a smile. Look on the new day as another special gift from your Creator, another golden opportunity to complete what you were unable to finish yesterday. Be a self- starter. Let your first hour set the theme of success and positive action that is certain to echo through your entire day. Today will never happen again. Don’t waste it with a false start or no start at all. You were not born to fail.

14. You will achieve grand dream, a day at a time, so set goals for each day – not long and difficult projects, but chores that will take you, step by step, toward your rainbow. Write them down, if you must, but limit your list so that you won’t have to drag today’s undone matters into tomorrow. Remember that you cannot build your pyramid in twenty-four hours. Be patient. Never allow your day to become so cluttered that you neglect your most important goal — to do the best you can, enjoy this day, and rest satisfied with what you have accomplished.

15. Never allow anyone to rain on your parade and thus cast a pall of gloom and defeat on the entire day. Remember that no talent, no self-denial, no brains, no character, are required to set up in the fault-finding business. Nothing external can have any power over you unless you permit it. Your time is too precious to be sacrificed in wasted days combating the menial forces of hate, jealously, and envy. Guard your fragile life carefully. Only God can shape a flower, but any foolish child can pull it to pieces.

16. Search for the seed of good in every adversity. Master that principle and you will own a precious shield that will guard you well through all the darkest valley you must traverse. Stars may be seen from the bottom of a deep well, when they cannot be discerned from the mountaintop. So will you learn things in adversity that you would never have discovered without trouble. There is always a seed of good. Find it and prosper.

17. Realize that true happiness lies within you. Waste no time and effort searching for peace and contentment and joy in the world outside. Remember that there is no happiness in having or in getting, but only in giving. Reach out. Share. Smile. Hug. Happiness is a perfume you cannot pour on others without getting a few drops on yourself.

See you tomorrow in Conquer Corregidor 16k Trail Run.

God be Praised!