He usually arrives at the Assembly Area at least thirty minutes before the start of the race. He makes his usual stretching exercises and have a brief slow jog along the streets near the starting area. At least, fifteen minutes before the scheduled start of the race, he checks-in at the Starting Area and stays at the middle of the pack, at least, 7-10 meters away from starting line.

Everybody notices him with his towering height and a mixture of black and silver hair. He wears his sunglasses. He has a stern face, relaxed, silent, his sight focused infront towards the direction of the race and slightly moves and shakes his legs while waiting for the starting gun to fire.

Once the race starts, he is fast to get into his position along the road and he is really a fast runner. I’ve been observing him from the back and I could hardly cope up with his pace or gain a lesser distance from him. In my estimate, he runs with an average pace of 4:15-4:25 minutes per kilometer. He could easily finish the 10K run in 42-43 minutes.

At the age of 48, he is an outstanding triathlete and marathoner competing in other countries and read in the newspapers that he finished the New York Marathon and other prestigious endurance events worldwide.

After the last Condura 10K Run, I saw him approached the Project Donate A Shoe Booth and immediately removed his running shoes, ASICS, and donated to us, signed some documents, had a picture with us, gave him the white “ONE” wristband, and left the booth walking with his running socks!

Last Sunday morning, after crossing the finish line of the 4th Bonifacio Global City 10K Run, he again approached the Project Donate A Shoe Booth and removed his running shoes from his feet, a NIKE running shoes this time, signed some documents and left the booth with his running socks…again!

As he finished the race ahead of me because of his faster pace, I was not able to meet him at the booth.

As an expression of my thanks to an Icon in the Business/Corporate World in the country and the whole world, my Snappy Salute and deepest appreciation to Don Fernando Zobel de Ayala for donating his running shoes again. You really inspire us to pursue our project and be able to help our less-fotunate runners. Thanks and More Power to You!