hello world, its me again.

A 43 Kms Run For A Cause: “Run For Children With Cancer”

Compassion is a call, a demand of nature, to relieve the unhappy as hunger is a natural call for food. -Joseph Butler

 

On Friday June 1, 2012…I will run a 43 kms from Naic Km 50 to General Trias km 28 and vice versa (Total 44 kms=43 kms) and when I reach the finish line, I will donate a certain amount for the benefit of those children suffering from cancer. I did the same thing few years back where I ran for the benefit of the ‘chosen children foundation’. And now, as a way of celebrating  life, I have plan to do this regularly once every 2 months. And this is my first major step.

This Run For A Cause will start at exactly 4am and cut-off time is 7 hours.

If you want to be a part of this worthy cause, you can donate in cash or in kind and all your donations will be given to those little angels. List of donors will be posted here. Update with pictures can be expected  after the event.

Email me fol.forever@gmail.com if you want to be a part.

Thank you and God bless.

 

Running In Ayala Triangle

Date: April 15, 2012
Distance: 9.8 kms
Time: 1 hr 10 mins

Sunday Special:The Red Rose And The Cactus

“Appearance rules the world.” –Friedrich Schiller

Let me share with you this nice story…
One beautiful spring day a red rose blossomed in a forest. Many kinds of trees and plants grew there. As the rose looked around, a pine tree nearby said, “What a beautiful flower. I wish I was that lovely.”

Another tree said, “Dear pine, do not be sad, we cannot have everything.”

The rose turned its head and remarked, “It seems that I am the most beautiful plant in this forest.”

A sunflower raised its yellow head and asked, “Why do you say that? In this forest there are many beautiful plants. You are just one of them.” The red rose replied, “I see everyone looking at me and admiring me.”

Then the rose looked at a cactus and said, “Look at that ugly plant full of thorns!” The pine tree said, “Red rose, what kind of talk is this? Who can say what beauty is? You have thorns too.”

The proud red rose looked angrily at the pine and said, “I thought you had good taste! You do not know what beauty is at all. You can not compare my thorns to that of the cactus.”

“What a proud flower”, thought the trees.

The rose tried to move its roots away from the cactus, but it could not move. As the days passed, the red rose would look at the cactus and say insulting things, like: This plant is useless? How sorry I am to be his neighbor.”

The cactus never got upset and he even tried to advise the rose, saying, “God did not create any form of life without a purpose.”

Spring passed, and the weather became very warm. Life became difficult in the forest, as the plants and animals needed water and no rain fell. The red rose began to wilt. One day the rose saw sparrows stick their beaks into the cactus and then fly away, refreshed.

This was puzzling, and the red rose asked the pine tree what the birds were doing. The pine tree explained that the birds got water from the cactus. “Does it not hurt when they make holes?” asked the rose.

“Yes, but the cactus does not like to see any birds suffer,” replied the pine.

The rose opened its eyes in wonder and said, “The cactus has water?”

“Yes you can also drink from it. The sparrow can bring water to you if you ask the cactus for help.”

The red rose felt too ashamed of its past words and behavior to ask for water from the cactus, but then it finally did ask the cactus for help. The cactus kindly agreed and the birds filled their beaks with water and watered the rose’s roots.

Thus the rose learned a lesson and never judged anyone by their appearance again.

Charles Swindoll once said: ” Attitude is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than what people do or say. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill.”

So the next time someone says that appearance rules the world, tell him that it is not. Attitude is.

Today is Sunday, don’t forget to worship God.

See you at the road my friend.

God be Praised!

Can’t Join PAU T2N

“Hear what others say to you, but remain in tune with your own inner voice.” -selected

Sad news for me: I can’t join PAU T2N this coming Sunday.

Reason: My request for swapping of schedule was disapproved so I can’t have my rest day on Sunday.

I shared my dilemma to a running buddy of mine and a bosom friend, Jack Marcos during my visit to Laguna.  We talked for more than 2 hours  and I’m so enlightened with what he shared to me. He told me about his spiritual journey and his breakthrough as a runner and Christian worker.

Everything that happens to us is with a purpose although we can’t understand it at this moment.

Jack is an outstanding runner. We ran together in our first marathon way back in 2006. We ran  side by side in so many races. Until I relocated in my new home,  I have never seen Jack for almost 6 months now.

He told me about his running program and  his life now as her mom passed away. When her mom died, he became closer to the Lord.

That day of sharing was one of the best days of my life, for in there, he prayed for my anointing.

And I received it wholeheartedly.

I still have so many questions about life and  why my prayer to join PAU T2N was not granted.

“All things work together for good. You may not understand it now, but you will know. I’ll explain the reasons why someday. Just TRUST Me,” says the Lord.

Let me share with you about anointing. This topic is very important. I pray that you too will experience it -for your protection, blessing and empowerment.

“What is the anointing? What does it mean to be anointed?”

Answer: The origin of anointing was from a practice of shepherds. Lice and other insects would often get into the wool of sheep, and when they got near the sheep’s head, they could burrow into the sheep’s ears and kill the sheep. So, ancient shepherds poured oil on the sheep’s head. This made the wool slippery, making it impossible for insects to get near the sheep’s ears because they would just slide off. From this, anointing became symbolic of blessing, protection, and empowerment.

The New Testament Greek words for “anoint” are chrio, which means “to smear or rub with oil, and by implication to consecrate for office or religious service”; and aleipho, which means “to anoint.” In Bible times, people were anointed with oil to signify God’s blessing or call on that person’s life (Exodus 29:7; Exodus 40:9; 2 Kings 9:6; Ecclesiastes 9:8; James 5:14). A person was anointed for a special purpose—to be a king, to be a prophet, to be a builder, etc. There is nothing wrong with anointing a person with oil today. We just have to make sure that the purpose of anointing is in agreement with Scripture. Anointing should not be viewed as a “magic potion.” The oil itself does not have any power. It is only God that can anoint a person for a specific purpose. If we use oil, it is only a symbol of what God is doing.

Another meaning for the word anointed is “chosen one.” The Bible says that Jesus Christ was anointed by God with the Holy Spirit to spread the Good News and free those who have been held captive by sin (Luke 4:18-19; Acts 10:38). After Christ left the earth, He left us the gift of the Holy Spirit (John 14:16). Now all Christians are anointed, chosen for a specific purpose in furthering God’s Kingdom (1 John 2:20). “Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee” (2 Corinthians 1:21-22).

For more info, kindly visit http://www.qotquestions.org/anointed

Recommended Resource: The Quest Study Bible.

We exist not only to live but to serve God. And in this world full of temptations and love for materialism, we need anointing for empowerment.

See you at the road my friend.

To God be the Glory!

“Watch yourself. The higher you are, the farther you can fall.”

Look Out For The Sunlight

“It doesn’t matter how great the pressure is, what really matters is where the pressure lies, whether it comes between me and God or whether it presses me near his heart.” -Hudson Taylor

Since having a new work schedule  last Nov 1, 2010..I have now more difficulties in joining races. Guess what? I have a work during Saturday and Sunday. Normally, races in our country and in most parts of the world, it is being held every Sunday, and sometimes, Saturday. That new schedule will take effect until Jan.31, 2011.

The Tagaytay to Nasugbu Batangas 50 kms Ultramarathon is fast approaching and until now, I don’t have the go signal yet if I could join this one or not. I already sent a swapping of  schedule to my superior so that my schedule can be adjusted just for this week only.

Circumstances do change. Before, when I don’t have a job but with a business, I can join whatever races I want. But now, since I became an ordinary employee when my business collapsed, I have no choice but to accept what life has to offer.

If I can join a race, well Thank God for it. If not, thank God too.

Likewise:

In prosperity or in adversity, we must always thank God.

In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God. That verse is one of my favorites.

Although I’m praying for a better life, good health and success…God has a better plan. All we have to do is to TRUST Him.

Always look out for the sunlight the Lord sends into your days.

As I  ran a 21k yesterday in 2 hours 8 minutes.

See you at the road.

To God be the Glory.

“My country is the world and my religion is to do good.” -selected

Running In Malainen Bago…

“Reflect on your present blessings, not on your past misfortunes.” -RFC

Nov. 4, 2010

Place: Malainen Bago Naic Cavite

Time: 2 hours 32 minutes

Awesome achievement for that day!

See you at the road my friend.

To god be the Glory!

“Never discourage anyone…who continually makes progress no matter how slow.”

Bancod -Nice Place To Run

“Life is all about risks and it requires you to jump. Don’t be a person who has to look back and wonder what they would have or could have had. No one waits forever.” -selected

Oct 19, 2010

Place: Bancod Indang Cavite

Time: 2 hours 36 minures 13 seconds

Distance: 24.66 kms

See you tomorrow in Adidas KOTR.

God be Praised!

Running In Different Parts Of Dasmarinas Cavite…

“You have a choice. You can throw in the towel, or you can use it to wipe the sweat off your face.” -Gatorade Ad

My personal target is to conquer all the barangays here in Dasmarinas Cavite by means of running. I rested for several weeks due to my job but now, I made the necessary adjustment.

Travel with me as we explore the beautiful City of Dasmarinas…

In the intersection in KADIWA…

I ran 3 hours and 32 minutes today, July 28, 2010. So glad to conquer those places.

I knew I still have so many places to run to cover the whole distance of Dasmarinas but little by little, I can do that.

I may not be active in races but running will always be a part of my daily activities.

Hope to see you soon at the races.

Keep looking UP!

God be Praised.

The Race Where I Walked a 39 Kms!…(SIM 42k Recap 1)

“If you are out of trouble, watch for danger”

Sophocles (One of classical Athens’ three great tragic playwrights)

In any 42k event, it’s a  common thing to see the ‘wall’ starting from 30 kms onward specially if you’re a newbie in this field,  but how about seeing it so early  at the first 4 kms of the race?

The Subic International Marathon 42k started just in time in Floridablanca toll exit in Pampanga at 4:30pm yesterday. After a brief program, this race which was my third 42k in just 3 weeks and it started with a bang!

I am with the Team HARDCORE from km1 to km3 headed by strong runners Arman, Isko, George and my buddies from Laguna Bert and Romy. At first, my pace was so relaxed and comfortable but as we reached km3, the downhill section of SCTEX, we gained some speed, and there I started to feel some acute pain in my left leg. Later today, I’ve found out that it’s a hamstrings injury.

Pain was unbearable so I decided to stop and evaluate the injury. At this point, I said to myself that If ever I DNF, PLEASE not at km 3! I traveled more than a hundred miles, spent a couple of bucks, carried my family with me and they’re waiting at the finish line and to surrender at a very short distance of km 3 was the worst  I that could imagine, but the most logical answer was to quit, for every time I tried to run, I’m in deep pain. Three strides and I stopped, two more and I yelled vehemently.

“Lord, please give me the strength to run!” was my prayer.

At this point, galore of runners overtook me already and team Hardcore were already  ahead of me by more than a kilometer. Likewise Bert, overtook me too. Fortunately, Romy, my long time ally and buddy, stayed with me during this entire race. He massaged my leg and encouraged me to continue.

I walked for 5 minutes and tried again to run, 3-5 steps but it’s really painful. At km 5, as I drank a cup of water and saw the tough route ahead of me, I bowed and asked God again to help me regain the  strength of my feet to continue running. But out of the wind, I heard HIM said words like these, “You walk and I’ll give you the grace to finish this race.”

“Lord, please… not by walking for I’m a runner” as I objected. And I haven’t heard HIS voice again.

Prior to TKO 250, I do have a plan to walk a 50 kms, from Laguna to Naic Cavite. I already ran and biked twice this route and to accomplish my endurance dream for this place, walking is my long time goal. Unknown to me, that dream will be accomplished today only in different location.

I’m already walking 2 kms but the idea of walking  another 37 kms was not acceptable. This was a race, not a walk in the park.

And so, I told Romy we will walk and our target was to do a 10 minute/km pace.

Reaching km 16, I could hear the siren of the ambulance and I knew that the last runner was already behind me to overtake me anytime. The idea of seeing myself at the bottom of this race was really humiliating. Me, an ultra-runner, member of team Hardcore, a devoted Christian….”Lord, why has Thou forsaken me? Why You have  turned Your face against me?”

“Ronnie, you will see  My strength in your frailties, My grace is sufficient for you” was HIS reply.

“But Lord, I have only one wish…PLEASE do not put me at the bottom or the last man to reach the finish line, because if that will happen, I’ll never blog or run again.”

That was a daring request, and I knew God honored it, for although I walked for 39 kms, I was never been at the bottom and I overtook majority of runners in the last 10 kms of that race. Many don’t believed my story that I walked, but that’s true and Romy was my witness. He stayed with me all throughout. What a fast ‘walked’ it was, because  the grace of God was with me. I reached the finish line in 6 hours and 25 minutes, my worst ever in 42k but the sweetest…

“Lord, I’m so sorry for questioning You yesterday. I should never asked You WHY, but WHY NOT? In my frailties, I have seen Your power, and that’s enough for me to believe further….”

With Romy, Me, Bert and my daughter Darla…3 hours before the race in Remyfield Subic.

with Bert, SIM official, sir Adie and me.

Ready for lunch.

with Let Guieb and family…

oh my, im so surprised to see my ‘angel in white uniform’ Dr. Paiso. He will do a 42k too!

with Rhoderick Guieb, romy and ultra-runner Caloy Nobleza

with doc Paiso

with those powerful Kenyans

At km 30, my way of brisk walking!

with singer and one of my idols…Sir Leo Valdez!

wasted but triumphant!

this guy was with me til the end. Kudos to you, Romy!

Not only a marathoner, but a walkathoner!

with elite Ultra-runner, Atty. Jon Lacanlale!

Lord, again this race was for You, including those pains I suffered. You did not granted  my request, but You have given me strength to persevere and the saving grace to finish it.

God be Praised forever!