This is it! This is the most prestigious marathon race in the country which everybody should prepare!
I received the list of schedule from Mr Andrew Neri of MILO/Nestle, Philippines yesterday and I tried to analyze their race schedule for this year. And the following are my observations:
1. The opening “salvo” for the 34th MILO Marathon will be the conduct of elimination race in Metro Manila on July 4, 2010. And every month, there will be a scheduled elimination race.
2. There will be only one elimination race for the month of August which will be held in Davao City. I wonder why MILO scheduled only one race for this month. I would suspect it is the month of CAMSUR’s Ironman Philippines activities (?).
3. Last year, there were 27 races to include the Finals and the elimination races. This year, MILO/Nestle, Phils reduced the number of races to 18. I suspect that less races means more “improvements” in this year’s Elimination & Final Races.
4. The early announcement of this year’s schedule is very commendable as runners would be able to have enought time to consider their training cycle and focus their preparation for the Metro Manila Marathon Elimination on July 4, 2010. A 5-month preparation or training cycle geared to qualify and have a finish time of sub-4 hours for this race is an ideal length of period to attain such goal.
5. It is not impossible if MILO/Nestle, Phils will double the cash prize for the Champions in the Final Marathon this year. A Cash Prize of P 150,000 for the Men’s and Women’s Champion and a Free Trip to a Prestigious International Marathon Race in the US would be a “quantum leap” in the development of running excellence in the country. I’ve been suggesting this idea before with the people of MILO and bring back the “glory” of MILO Champions when Champions would participate in the Boston Marathon and other international races as part of their prize. (Sa palagay ko ay wala ng mag-TNT sa Amerika ngayon basta bantayan natin ang atleta!!!)
6. Lesser races this year would mean better monitoring of runners during the conduct of races, most especially in Metro Manila. Reports of “cheating” during the Metro Manila Marathon Elimination Race had been an issue among runners as well as bloggers. I hope this bad practice will be finally eradicated in this year’s races. RFID timing devices should be a “must” to such a race with qualifying times.
7. Five (5) months to train for the Marathon Elimination Race in Metro Manila and another five (5) months to prepare for the Final Marathon Race on December 12, 2010 is a good and well-balanced spacing in between two training cycle for the marathon race. Whoever thought of this spacing of races is really a competitive runner! Thanks, Mr Dennis A and the MILO/Nestle marathon team!
Runners, what are you waiting for? It’s time to go back to the drawing board for your training program for the MILO Marathon this coming July 4! Good luck to everybody!
Cebu City Marathon was a perfect race for everybody from registration up to the awarding ceremonies. The registration and distribution of race packets gave us “no problem” as the race staff and personnel were so accommodating to every runner. There were no long lines to speak of. The carboloading party was also a “class act” to follow where the venue was at the newly-expanded “The Terrace” at the Ayala Center with choices of food available to everybody; orderly arrangements of tables and chairs for all the runners; nice Live Performance of Bands & Singers; and the very orderly and detailed conduct of the program during the party. I stayed longer in the said party because it was my first time to watch the movie “The Spirit of the Marathon” which was shown on a big screen that helped motivate the runners to finish the race where they registered or participated.
Start of the Full Marathon @ 4:00 AM
On race day, I had to wake up at 3:00 AM to make sure the members of the Elite Team Bald Runner were ready to warm-up with a slow jog towards the Starting Line as we were coming from the CENTCOM Headquarters at Camp Lapulapu, Lahug. The distance from our place where we stayed was a good one kilometer, which is just the exact distance for a warm-up jog before doing some stretching exercises.
The Race Organizers really mean business on the day of the race. They started the Marathon Race at exactly 4:00 AM which is the published Gun Start. As always, John Pages and his co-Race Director were there at the Starting Line to make sure that everything was followed as scheduled. True enough, the Marathon Race started with a big bang! Lots of fireworks were released 10 seconds before the Starting Gun was fired by no less than John Pages. Fireworks before the Gun Start? Am I dreaming of a second New Year’s celebration? Aside from the start of the full Marathon Race, they did it again before the gun was fired off during the start of the Half-Marathon! It was my first time to experience such festive mood (with music & fireworks) in a Marathon Race during the span of my running career aside from the usual aerobics, loud music with a festive beat, and drum & percussion bands. (Note: Condura & MILO, if you read this one, this is a tough act to follow!!!)
Congressman Gilbert Remulla; Andrew Neri of MILO/NESTLE, Phil
I have to wait one hour & ten minutes before the start of the Half-Marathon race. I was too cautious to my injury that I opted to run the Half-Marathon in order to test if I’ve recovered well since the Pasig River Marathon last November 8 last year. This Half-Marathon was my first road race after two months of rest and recovery and also my first road race for the year 2010.
While I was doing my second set of warm-up, I met Congressman Gilbert Remulla who is featured in the First Issue of the Front Runner Magazine and Mr Andrew Neri of MILO/Nestle, Phil. I had a brief chat with them and I found out that Congressman Remulla is a regular visitor in this blog. Thanks, Congressman! I hope you will greatly help us bring the sports of running down to the “grassroots” level.
A View From the Back of the Half-Marathon Runners @ The Starting Line
It was not my intention to run the half-marathon to reach my previous PR or do 100% effort. My goal was to finish the race without my chronic muscle tear on my left calf and peroneus muscles to recur. It was a test to find out if my injury have completely healed and at the same time find out the status of my fitness level in running. This race is some kind of a “diagnostic test” after starting a training cycle for the past three weeks. In simple words, I wanted to finish the race in less than two hours without any injury with an average pace of less than six minutes per kilometer.
After the fireworks and the starting gun was fired off, I started to slowly jog until I was out of the IT Park. The first kilometer was a slow run for me as I was trying to warm-up before reaching my race pace of less than 6:00-minute per kilometer and the terrain was a slight uphill. I started to peak up my pace on my 2nd kilometer and from there I was on my “automatic cruise control” all the way towards the turn-around point at the SRP Road.
Everything you need in a road race was “perfect” as I observed during the race! The race has a nice route passing through the city’s historical landmarks; terrain description of the course is relatively flat; lots of water stations and long tables with disposable cups filled with water, 100 Plus Sports Drinks; aid stations with sponges soaked in cold water; lots of road marshals along the route and in critical corners with flags used to point the exact direction of the runners to take; lots of traffic enforcers and police to man the intersections; exact location of kilometer markings properly marked and color-coded for the half-marathon and marathon distances; ambulance & emergency vehicles busy plying along the long stretch of the SRP Road; dancers and bands in every water station; cheerers along the route with placards written with words of encouragement; and the disciplined/cooperative drivers and riding public along the route. This is the only race that I have joined locally without hearing blaring horns of vehicles and bad words/curse coming from the mouths of drivers and the riding public whose vehicles were stuck on traffic due to the on-going race. The running or race atmosphere and environment in Cebu City was completely different from the races in Metro Manila. Moreover, the weather during the race was also perfect!
SRP Road Towards 10.5K Turn-Around Point
Running along the SRP Road was a breeze. I really did not care the smell I was breathing along the SRP Road as the smell along Roxas Boulevard and along the Pasig River are far worse. However, I was entertained by the sight and scenery of the place plus the greetings I got from the runners coming from Manila. Most of the runners from Manila joined the Cebu City Marathon Race as part of their training and preparation for the 2nd BDM 102 which will be held on March 6-7. And before these “hardcores” will join again the Condura Marathon on February 7, the same runners will join the BDM 102 “test run” from Km #0 in Mariveles, Bataan to Km #50 in Abucay, Bataan on January 23. These runners are really “hardcores”. Other runners whose faces I’ve seen for the first time would greet me along the SRP Road and I know that they are not from Manila because they greet me as “Bald Runner”. As compared from the runners in Manila, they simply greet me as “B R”. It was also along this part of the route that most of the runners overtook me and I let them go until I overtook them one by one on the last 3 kilometers from the finish line.
With The Elite Team Bald Runner
The reason why I became faster on the last 3-4 kilometers from the Finish Line was that the members of Elite Team Bald Runner who finished their respective races met me along the way. Everybody cheered, paced, and handed me water and Gatorade drinks placed in small ice candy plastic bags until I reached the last 500 meters before the Finish Line. Some of my runners would also take pictures of me running with the other members.
Last 1.5 Kms To The Finish LineLast 400 Meters To The Finish Line
I finished the Half-Marathon Race in 1:57:35 hours, Official Time, and ranked #53 among the 354 finishers. My average pace was 5:35 minutes per kilometer and with an average HR of 159 beats per minute. I was happy that I was able to finish the race in less than two hours without any pain or cramps from my past muscle injury. My target goals for this race were attained.
The Bald Runner is Back!!!
Cora Salcedo Won #4 in Women's 5K RaceRaul Lamprea Finished #8 and Jujet De Asis Placed #2 in the Men's 5K RaceTeam Bald Runner Got #1-2-3 in the Men's 21K RaceElmer Sabal Placed #5 & Rene Desuyo Placed #8 in the Men's 42K Race
I can say that the performance of the Elite Team Bald Runner in this race was outstanding. In the Marathon race, Elmer Sabal placed #5 and Rene Desuyo placed #8. In the Half-Marathon, Alquin Bolivar placed #1; Crifrankreadil Indapan placed #2; and Gerald Sabal placed #3. In the 5K Men’s Category, Jujet De Asis placed #2 and Raul Lamprea placed #8 and in the 5K Women’s Category, Cora Salcedo placed #4. In due time and more focused training, we will beat the Kenyans in future marathon races. My runners are learning a lot from them.
In conclusion, the Cebu City Marathon was an outstanding road race that surpassed my expectations. From registration, distribution of race packets, carboloading party, race proper, up to the awarding ceremonies and the immediate posting of the official results, everything was “perfect”. It only proves once again the importance of the local government’s full support and involvement that makes a Marathon Race of such magnitude as a very successful event. In essence, it is the UNITY IN PURPOSE and COOPERATION of everybody that spell the difference to create an excellent result is the moral lesson in this event. Congratulations to City Mayor Tomas Osmena and his City Council, John Pages & his Co-Race Directors & Staff, Cebu Executive Runners Club, the Race Sponsors, Volunteers, and to all the Cebuanos for a job well-done!!!
Happy Sinulog Festival!!!
Team Bald Runner will be back for the 2nd edition of the Cebu City Marathon!
1. After the Elite Team Bald Runner finished the 1st Quezon City International Marathon in the middle of October last year, we started planning for our next major road race, the Cebu City Marathon. We immediately transfered our “training camp” to the Sierra Madre Mountains, 70 kilometers east of Metro Manila and bought our plane tickets at least 3 months before our departure from Manila. It was also at that time that I arranged for the accommodation of the whole team at the Officers’ Transient Quarters inside the Central Command Headquarters in Camp Lapulapu, Lahug, Cebu City. With “military” planning, coordination, precision, and support from our corporate-friends/sponsor, the whole team came here to Cebu City well-prepared for the Cebu City Marathon.
Group Picture @ The Terraces, Ayala Center
2. We attended the Carboaloading Party for the Cebu City Marathon last night in our “black” uniform and arrived first in the venue of the activity. I was amazed with the preparations done by the Cebu Executive Runners Club for the said party. This is a good sign of a well-prepared marathon race.
Receiving My Official Copy of FR Magazine
3. The much-anticipated official and my personal copy of the first Runners’ Magazine in the Philippines, Front Runner Magazine was given to me by Jonel aka Bugobugo85. Not because my picture accupied one of the pages of the magazine, it is about time that a broad magazine ala Runners’ World Magazine & Running Times should be locally published and available to everybody with a cheap price. The maiden issue of the Front Runner Magazine is a MUST for every runner, whether you are a beginner or a competitive runner. Congratulations, Jonel and to your staff for a great job!
John Pages as Host/Race Director of Cebu Marathon
4. It was nice to meet John Pages during the Carboloading Party and he was “hands-on” in every part of the program. He made sure that every runner was attended during the party. He stated in his briefing that there are 150 runners from Manila (out of the almost 4,000 runners) who registered for the race and it was heart-warming that he acknowledged the Elite Team Bald Runner. The briefing during the party emphasized that the Gun Start in every distance-race will start ON TIME.
Heidi Acuna aka MarathonFoodie @ The Carbo Party
5. Finally, I met Heidi Acuna aka MarathonFoodie, one of the leading runner-bloggers based in Cebu City. She also delivered an insight to all the runners about the Cebu City Marathon and her personal expectations about the race.
6. Our tables which were occupied by the members Elite Team Bald Runner and my staff became the assembly point for the runners coming from Manila. Captain Amado Castro, Jr aka Reinier Pacific stayed with us during the party. Dr Tommy Tan and company from the Fairview Running Club came to our table, too. Jinoe, Quennie, and Luis aka Gingerbread Running of takbo.ph were with us while watching the movie “The Spirit of Marathon”. Mari Javier, George Dolores, J Cu Unjieng, & Odessa Coral—1st BDM 102 Finishers and runners for the 2nd edition BDM were there, too. Jaymie aka The Bull Runner and family were also in the party. Coach Rio was also one of the speakers during the party as his company/outfit provided the Timing/RFID Chip for the race.
7. I was surprised to see during the party a group of bald runners in one of the tables. I made the initiative to approach them and talk to them. Yes, I think I was able to count 5 or 6 of them and they are part of a running club from Danao City. By their looks alone, they are “hardcores” and competitive runners! I wish them well during the race. This is a good sign that the trademark of Bald Runner has a “chapter or group” in every region or province in the country!
8. For those who approached me and told me that they visit this blogsite on a regular basis, please keep on reading this blog with the hope that every post will be able to inspire you to have an active lifestyle and maintain a positive outlook in life.
9. I had a short and easy run inside Camp Lapulapu this morning. One loop around the camp up to the Tennis Courts/Clubhouse is exactly 1 mile (1.6K). I did 5K in 30:45 minutes with an average pace of 6:09 minutes per kilometer.
The following pictures say what is going on in Cebu City since yesterday. The Elite Team Bald Runner arrived in full force in Cebu City for the 1st Cebu City Marathon to held this coming Sunday. This is one way of showing our support to the growing involvement of running clubs outside Metro Manila & Luzon in coming up with their full Marathon Race.
After One Hour Run From Camp Lapu-lapu@Vicinity Starting Line AreaReady For The Cebu Half-Marathon
My personal thanks to John Pages (www.pages.ph) and the Cebu Executive Runners Club for coming up with this race in Cebu City and for the special attention he and his staff gave us when our team received our race packets.
See you at the Carbo-loading Party at the Cebu Ayala Center tonight!
1. Organization of More Running Clubs/Groups—Every runner is encouraged to join a running club or group in order for him to be motivated to train and develop his/her full potentials in running and other related endurance sports.
2. More Corporate Sponsorship in Running Events and Training of Elite Athletes.
3. Declare a Week or Month as “National Sports Week” or “Sports Month”—If there are legislators or government executives who are involved in sports, they should legislate a law declaring a part of year as a period where we can hear or meet the people and institutions involved in sports. I know that most of us do not even know the difference between the PSC, POC, and the different national sports federations. It is in this period in the year when Expositions and other running-related activities are scheduled.
4. Winners in Corporate-Sponsored Marathon Races should be sent to International Marathon Races for “exposure”. It is a proven formula that our athletes are only known by our media and our national sports authorities/national leadership when they win in international competition. As winners in international marathon events, our athletes will inspire more of our populace, down to the “grassroots”, to be involved in running.
5. Develop more “volunteerism” during marathon events among the members of the running community—The volunteerism had been highly displayed by the group of Jinoe’s takbo.ph and Captain Amado’s Reinier Pacific during Marathon Races. Of course, Jonel aka Bugobugo85’s Team Hardcore; HINGS Running Club; Carrey-Isko-Eugene Group; and Tintin aka Timothy’s had been consistently the “volunteers” in my road races. I hope that more running clubs and runners will be involved in such acts of giving back their services & goods to the other runners.
6. Conduct of a Running Lecture/Forum/Symposium—How I wish one of the profitable corporate insitutions of the country sponsor the conduct of a Running Symposium where we could meet and hear the words of international runners like Dean Karnazes, Bart Yasso, Paul Tergat, Alberto Salazar, Grete Waitz, and other running Champions in the past. Or maybe, ask our past Project Gintong Alay athletes to share their stories to us. It would be nice to hear how Lydia De Vega trained for the Gold Medal in the past Asian Games.
7. A Wholesome Local Running Magazine—How I wish a Filipino Running Magazine ala Runners World or Running Times or Trail Runner or Trailrunning Magazine be available to the running community with a cheaper price than those published abroad. These pictures will confirm that this wish will become a reality in a matter of days:
Watchout, FR Is Coming!A Wholesome Running Magazine By Hardcores
8. Oval Tracks at Makati University and International School (The Fort) be opened to the public.
9. BDM 102 will find its future Finish Line in 2011. It will be a 24-hour Road Race to this final destination. If you don’t reach this Finish Line in 24 hours, you will be considered as DNF. The following are the pictures of the future Finish Line.
Wide Finish Line LocationBDM Km Post #145
10. Finally, A Runners Library & Museum—A place where runners could share their running “collections” and a place where runners would meet and make their research. A place where we could see the Hall of Fame in Athletics!
Yesterday morning, I had a chance to talk to sports executives working in a multinational company which is a major sponsor in Sports Events in the country and even in Asia. It was a casual meeting and we had a brief conversation about running in the country, the Standard Charter’s Singapore Marathon and other running related activities.
Our conversation led to our present standing in the 25th SEA Games of which two of the executives openly told me that they just arrived from Vientiane, Laos to observe the preparation, opening ceremony, and initial conduct of the Games. I asked if it is true that our National Athletes arrived in two groups, in two separate “chartered” planes—one group of athletes was supported by POC and the other group of athletes was supported by PSC. POC is the Philippinje Olympic Committee which is headed by Jose “Peping” Cojuangco while the PSC is the Philippine Sports Commission which is headed by Harry Angping.
If you have been reading the Sports Pages of our national dailies for the past months, you would know that there is an animosity between these two sports institutions in the country. The PSC is a government entity which is responsible for our national sports excellence by providing the necessary funds to the Sports Federations and to our elite athletes; while the POC is the country’s representative organization of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) which is responsible in sending our National Athletes to International Games under the auspices of the IOC. SEA Games and ASIAN Games are the only International Games under the auspices of the IOC. In short, funding for training & incentives for medalists is the responsibilities of PSC; while the expenses for the travel of athletes to IOC’s International Games is the responsibility of the POC. I might be wrong but this is my impression about their arrangements when sending our National Athletes to such IOC meets/games.
Anyway, it is true that our athletes arrived in Laos in two separate “chartered” flights direct from Manila. My source of information could not determine if it is really true that one plane was boarded by PSC-supported athletes while the other plane was boarded by additional athletes recommended by POC and POC Officials. I also confirmed that there were no officials from the PSC who joined the delegation & party. However, by knowing that the delegation of our country nearly reached 400, there is a need for two planes to ferry our athletes and officials.
You might be wondering why our delegation was able to get a chartered flight from the Philippine Air Lines. It is because the release of the funds to buy for the tickets for our athletes and officials were delayed and in turn it would be expensive to buy them with few days before the scheduled departure. The other reason for the chartered flight is that, there is no direct flight from Manila to Laos and our delagation has to change plane from Bangkok/Saigon/Hongkong and this will entail additional expenses and more hours for the trip.
And now this is the worst part, the executives who were present during the 25th SEA Games Opening Ceremonies almost cried when they saw our Philippine Delegation marching at the Oval Track in “Athletic Attire” (Athletic Jacket; jogging pants & rubber shoes) while the other Country Delegations were wearing Suits & Leather Shoes. I was told that the Vietnam delegation wore a Barong Tagalog- look alike with “crumpled” look (“Gusot Mayaman Barong”). And the best part among the worst news is that, the uniform that our delegation wore during the Opening Ceremony was given on the day before the delegation left Manila. (Note: If you want to see a picture of our delegation during the Opening Ceremony, browse at www.laoseagames2009.com and click at the Photo Gallery on the left side of the site. Look for picture #38 and click it).
I am not making a post showing a “crab mentality” attitude in our sports excellence program but I am trying to show the prevailing situation in our sports, moreso, with the “message” we are showing to our neighboring countries and to our people. We always talk and read about “unity in purpose” and “unity among us” but for us, as a nation competitng with other nations in an international sports meet, we should show our best.
The good news is that Ed “Vertek” Buenavista and Jo-An Banayag won the Gold Medals in the Men’s & Ladies’ Marathon Race in this morning’s 25th SEA Games Athletics events. Their finish times at 2:21+ and 2:46+ hours, respectively are good enough to win the gold medal with a cash incentive of P 300,000 each, but it is still far from the ASIAN and OLYMPIC Games’ standards. Nevertheless, what is important is that we got the GOLD in the most important running event for us who are long distance runners!
Whatever will be the final results of the 25th SEA Games, I hope there will be no “finger pointing” as to who should be blamed for our dismal performance and lowest output in the history of the SEA Games. However, I am still sure of the following assessment: (1) that “politics” and “sports” do not mix, and (2) for the government and the private sector to help in the funding and support to our athletes.
Let us see what will happen to our National Team in the next ASIAN Games which will be held in 2010, next year!
1. On December 8, it will be one month sice I finished the PIM Pasig River Marathon where I had an injury. “Purists & Hardcores” in running are not supposed to be talking or discussing much about their injuries related to running but for the benifit of the “newbies”/beginners who are reading this blog, I don’t want them to experience what I am going through right now. The way I look at it, it will take weeks for me to rest and recover to give ample time for my muscle strain to heal.
2. Age—At my present age of 57, I consider myself as a strong and seasoned runner but my age is trying to catch up with reality. Various studies indicate that those runners who remain highly fit and avoid serious injury or illness will average at least 0.5 percent decline in performance per year from age 35 to 60 years old. After the age of 60, performance dropoff tends to increase. I think this is the reason why running-related injury is starting to show up. I hope that through my running, I would be able to slow down the aging process.
3. Ample Time For Rest & Recovery—I have to re-evaluate my road races in the coming months as I need more time to rest and recover in between road races. At least, one ultramarathon race and two marathon races per year would be a good quota for a year.
4. More Stretching & Warm-Up—Before my races for the months of October and November, I shortened my stretching “rituals” and warm-up exercises. I was too confident that the early kilometers of the race with a slow pace would “warm-up” my running legs but I was wrong! I should have made some extended warm-up jogging and stretching exercises before finally going to the coral in the starting area. At least, I would be able to sweat a little before the start of the race. It would be more effective if I did some “drills” before the race. The older you get, you need more time to warm-up and stretch before a major road race.
5. Supplementary Training/Weight Training—For almost six months, I stopped going to the gym for my supplementary weight training and concentrated more with my tempo, interval and long runs in preparation for the MILO Finals, QCIM Half-Marathon, SIM and PIM Pasig Marathon. I was wrong! Some of those tiny muscle groups in my legs were not strengthened by just running only. I still believe that there is a need for strength training to complement one’s running workouts. Pilates and Yoga are also recommended as additional supplementary training for older runners like me.
6. Deep-Muscle Massage With More Time To Heal—I always find time to have a regular deep-muscle massage before and after marathon races. After a satisfactory performance in the Subic International Marathon, I had a massage because of the occurrence of a muscle cramps on my left lower leg on the last kilometer before the Finish Line. I did not wait for my muscles to recover and immediately had a long run a day after the race. After the run, this was where I started to feel a muscle strain on my calf muscle. Instead of resting, I went out again to do my long runs. More massage was done on my legs but I was not able to have my affected muscle to heal for a longer time until I joined the PIM Pasig River Marathon. It is then advisable not to run a distance of a marathon race when there is a pain (even a slight pain!) that recurs whenever you have your running workouts at least two weeks before the actual race.
7. Combination of Everything—The way I look at what had happened, the cause of my injury is a combination of what I’ve stated above—old age (ha! ha! ha!), more time to heal & recover after major races, more time for pain to heal after massage, and lack of supplementary weight training & warm-up/stretching.
Critique on the 2009 Philippine International Marathon: A Run For The River/ November 8, 2009
This was titile of my post on my critique on the conduct of the 2008 Pasig River Heritage Marathon. And I am going to use it again to express my views about the conduct of the said race under the administration by the ABS-CBN Foundation. However, this critique will be limited to the conduct of the Marathon Race.
The Good
After being delayed for 9 months, the first good point in this race is that its 9th edition (since 2000) was conducted before the year 2009 ended. The Pasig River Heritage Marathon, as stipulated in an Executive Order, is supposed to be conducted every last Sunday of the month of February. The second good point is that the race is spearheaded by the largest TV broadcast media of the country and its foundation, ABS-CBN Foundation. The third good point is that the race course almost covered all the known and historical bridges that cross the Pasig River and it also followed almost 80% of the original route of the past marathon editions. And the fourth good point is that the Race Director is Mr Rudy Biscocho, who had honed his expertise in road racing organizing since the early 80s.
Although ABS-CBN Foundation through Ms Gina Lopez of Bantay Kalikasan has spearheaded the program “Kapit Bisig Para Sa Ilog Pasig”, I am still confused if the Foundation is doing its part as one of the key members of the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission under the Chairmanship of the DENR Secretary, Hon. Lito Atienza or the Foundation is doing the (marathon) project on their own without any accountability with the said Commission.
The Pasig River Heritage Marathon has always been a very challenging course and its point-to-point course concept is very commendable as it showcases the different communities and cities in Metro Manila and at the same time relive the history of urban development from the old Walled City of Intramuros to the most modern structures of The Fort.
The Bad
The registration and giving of race packets from the Race Organizer to the runners was the number one “bad” point of the Road Race. Second, I got the “worst” singlet for a major race this year! The fabric used was too heavy and it did not have any logo of the race. Third, the Marathon Race Logo was copied from another Road Race in the United States. Fourth, the Marathon Race Finishers were not awarded with any Finisher’s Medal. Even if you have a well-renowned and veteran Race Director/Organizer and runners who are employed with the ABS-CBN Foundation who could influence the Major Sponsor that a Finisher’s Medal is a MUST in a Marathon Race, it doesn not mean that they could influence their Major Sponsors who are not seasoned/competitive runners in order to make this race a perfect one! Maybe, a “copied logo” would not be wise to be inscripted in a Finisher’s Logo or else the Foundation could be sued for copyright infringement. It could be a good reason why they did not give any Finisher’s Medal. Fifth, my basic standards on water station (distance in between stations; length of table; and quantity of cups) were not met. Sixth, the accuracy of the distance was not met and it was lacking for about 800 meters. Since the 2004 edition of the race, the original course (Intramuros to The Fort) was certified by IAAF and AIMS. I hope the Race Organizer will ask the same international bodies to certify this race course.
The Ugly
First, the ugly part of the Marathon Race is the silent treatment my staff and other runners got from the ABS-CBN Foundation and Race Organizer/Director with regards to the Prizes for the Top Runners a few days before race day. What is worst is that the Cash Prizes and Cash Certificates were not given during the Awarding Ceremony or immediately after the Race. Instead, the winners were promised to receive their prizes after 5 days! I heard that one of the Kenyan runners who left Manila last Tuesday for Kuala Lumpur came back on Friday to receive his winning prize! My Elite Team Bald Runner won 1st Runner-Up in the 20-Man Relay Team Race but they were promised to receive their Prize after 5 days, Friday to be exact.
Second, I could not understand why is it that the biggest TV network in the country could not “frontload” its resources for the operational and technical needs of the runners to include cash prizes, better registration system, better quality of singlets, and better support to the runners. Basing from their media releases after the race, this road race was attended by 22,000 runners which is a record-breaking data for a running event in the country. However, if you convert this in monetary terms, this figure will translate to P 5.5 Million (Pesos) earnings from registration fees alone! This is not to include the support coming from the other sponsors of the race. With said amount of money, the ABS-CBN Foundation would have been “transparent” in terms of prizes and “giveaways” for the elite and other runners/finishers. How I wished that they would be transparent also in telling to the public, through their media releases, how much did the race/event earned for the Pasig River Project.
Lastly, the Pasig River is still ugly, in sight and smell, with all the “illegal settlers”, sewerage and waste disposal of the communities from its banks. Hopefully, the seven (7) years that the ABS-CBN Foundation had promised to serve as the “spearhead” organization to clean the Pasig River will show a significant development. The following is the visionary depiction of the Pasig River:
Vision For The Pasig River
The Ugliest
After 5 days of waiting, the members of my Elite Team Bald Runner were able to receive their Prize from the ABS-CBN Foundation as the team placed 1st Runner-Up in the 20-Man Relay Team. The members were surprised to receive P 30,000 worth of Gift Certificates from Gold’s Gym. Each Gift Certificate is worth P 5,000 for a One Month Entry & Use of the Gold’s Gym Facilities. The athletes were frustrated to receive such GCs because they don’t need to go to the Gym in order to improve their Finish Times. Or are they trying to fool the athletes that a one month use of the gym is worth P 5,000? I could be mistaken but I am a VIP member of the said Gym and I know that I only pay less than one-half of the said amount every month! However, after contacting some members and Personal Trainers of Gold’s Gym, I found out that each GC is sold at P 2,000 each.
I heard that one of the Coaches of one of the winning teams tore the Gift Certificates into pieces after receiving them as he expected Cash Prize of P 50,000 to be given and not Gift Certificates. I can sympathize with these coach & athletes as they need CASH from their winnings. They need the money to sustain their training for food, sports drinks, vitamins, running shoes and expenses for registration fees in incoming races! I really don’t know if ABS-CBN Foundation is guilty of DECEPTION in the publication of their Prizes. However, I am sure that the ABS-CBN Foundation is guilty of deceiving my athletes and the other runners for placing the value of each GC to P 5,000, instead of P 2,000!!!
Gold's Gym GCs @ P 5,000 each Per Month
I hope that there will be “takers” of these GCs from Gold’s Gym if they will be sold at P 2,000 each. The money from the sale of these GCs would mean a lot for the support of my elite athletes.
In summary, I will not expect the ABS-CBN Foundation to issue an Official Statement to answer this Critique because all Major Sponsors of all past Road Races has expressed the same statement and I predict that the Foundation will issue the said statement as shown below:
“ABS-CBN Foundation is New In Running & It Promises To Improve On the Conduct of the Next PIM Edition”
While massaging my injured calf muscle, I came upon a blog about the history of the Clean & Green Foundation which is the main sponsor of the past 8 editions of the Pasig River Heritage International Marathon. Before coming up with my critique with the last Sunday’s Philippine International Marathon: A Run For The River, I think my readers and those “newbies” in this Marathon Race should know the history of the Clean & Green Foundation that started the Pasig River Marathon Race and its advocacy.
I hope that the ABS-CBN Foundation would be transparent enough to inform the public if they received some assets or funds from the defunct Clean & Green Foundation or open their “books” since the Foundation took the responsibility of cleaning the Pasig River.
THE CLEAN & GREEN FOUNDATION INC. CLOSING DOWN????
FACTSHEET
On the Labor and Organizational Problems
Presently besetting the Clean & Green Foundation, Incorporated
Prepared by the Clean & Green Foundation Incorporated Employees Union
02 April 2008 In January 1994, the Clean & Green Foundation was created with then first lady Amelita M. Ramos as founder and chairperson. The board of trustees were initially composed of industry leaders and famous persons to be personally close to her. Joining Mrs Ramos in the board were then Fort Bonifacio Development Corporation bigwig Ricardo S. Pascua, Aurora Arnaez of the Social Security System, Jaime Paredes of Apo Hiking Society, Doris Teresa Magsaysay-Ho of Magsaysay Shipping, among others. The board was later to be joined by Angel Ramos-Jones and Ms Boots Anson-Roa. Ms Roa would later resign from the Board. First gentleman Attorney Jose Miguel Arroyo was a one-time honorary chairperson.
In its incorporation papers filed before the Securities and Exchange Commission (Numbered ANO94-000388), the Foundation declared that its first objective is to “Formulate, initiate, undertake, promote, sponsor, assist, finance projects, programs, activities to cleanse, improve, rehabilitate and develop the environment, and to maintain the environment in a clean, healthy and sanitary state.” It also declared that “The Term for which the Foundation is to exist is 50 years…”
The Foundation’s first project was The Orchidarium, a garden in Rizal Park. In an agreement with the National Parks Development Committee, an underdeveloped hectare was loaned at no cost to the organization to develop and operate as an orchid garden. It then became a private garden where visitors have to buy tickets to enter. Functions such as wedding receptions are charged P30,000 for use of the garden. Grants from private companies were used to enhance the garden.
In March 1995, the River Rehabilitation Secretariat of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources gave the Foundation a one million peso seed money to operate Piso Para sa Pasig. PPP was originally a project of the RRS-DENR. Its first objective was to raise fifty million pesos as trust fund for succeeding Pasig River rehabilitation advocacy projects.
Through high profile income-generating projects and activities such as vanity car plates, concerts, grants, collection cans, among others, PPP was able to raise forty million pesos in cash and about ten million pesos worth of donations in kind (oil paintings, Persian rugs, vehicles, free office space, and many others.) The proceeds were deposited into two trust funds (a peso and a dollar fund account) with then Far East Bank and Trust Company and later was transferred to the Bank of Philippine Islands when the latter took over the former. It was originally planned that only their interests and incomes were to be used as operation and project funds of the CGFI.
No doubt, Mrs Ramos’ status as first lady was instrumental in the fund-generating PPP project. Even without being asked, some companies would call up the CGFI office to inform the secretariat that checks were ready for pick up. But it can not be denied that humble Filipinos, school children, common pedestrians, professionals, workers, the faithful in various churches, and many others contributed to the fund through the many ubiquitous donation cans distributed everywhere. They all believed their monies would be properly spent for the rehabilitation of the Pasig River. C&GFI never disabused the public of this belief. Even Foundation employees believed this pitch.
From 1997, when the PPP fund-raising period ended, to 2005, the Foundation indeed spent its incomes, the interests from the funds and parts of the principal amounts to various river rehabilitation advocacy programs. Among these were a Pasig River painting contest, an essay and cartooning contest with student publications, an annual concert, an annual symposium attended by various stakeholders, the Pasig River Heritage Marathon which was first in 2000 and later later became the International Philippine for the Pasig River, among many others.
But breaking from its declared modus operandi, the Foundation used part of the funds to buy two solid waste collecting boats that easily cost 15 million pesos in all. The boats have been turned over the MMDA but is now gathering rust behind Malacañang Palace because the government does not have funds to operate them. The Foundation also spent for the enhancement of Roxas Boulevard in time for the APEC Meeting in the country during President Fidel Ramos’ term. CGFI also spent for the enhancement of at least two bridges spanning the Pasig as part of its Project Bridges that benefitted nine of the existing 13 bridges of the river.
Mainly because corporate sponsorships have dried up after the Ramos administration, money was harder to come by starting from 1998. In 2005, CGFI president Ricardo Pascua said that C&GFI’s may only have another five years if belts were not tightened and expenses far outweigh the income generated. Mrs Ramos then recommended a retiree from International School to join C&GFI as Finance and Administration Manager—Estrella Villegas – primarily, as Mrs Ramos said, “to fix the figures.” Curiously, the “fixer” was allowed to collect more monetary benefits that if computed along with her basic salary are more than what the executive directors received. More employees were also hired to assist Ms Villegas. Their inclusions among the employees were therefore not belt-tightening measures.
In the years 2004 to 2006, CGFI failed to properly report its finances to the SEC and was adjudged “delinquent” by the Commission.
Still, CGFI was losing money from its various projects such as the marathon, The Orchidarium, and the National Ecolabelling Program-Green Choice Philippines-which it is implementing in behalf of the DENR and the Department of Trade and Industry.
Mainly through the efforts of former executive director Imelda P. Sarmiento, grants were approved to turn around the organization’s financial bleeding. From Nokia, the Orchidarium was given 5.33 million pesos. From Mitsui Company of Japan, CGFI’s Trees4Life program would receive a total of 18 million pesos—7.8 million pesos of which was already received. From Cemex Corporation, Green Choice received 1.5 million pesos. Around the same amount was separately received from Unilever Philippines and Pride Detergents for Green Choice. Four million was received from Samsung for the marathon. Three hundred thousand pesos was received from Ford Motors for Trees4Life. Another million was received from the DTI for Green Choice and another three million is expected.
In June 2004, Senator Ramon Magsaysay pledged 1.5 million pesos for the Orchidarium from his PDAF. Because the end-beneficiary was an NGO, the fund was coursed through the City Government of Manila. In November 2005, the full amount was given to CGFI. Ms Villegas spent a few hundred thousand pesos to repair leaky roofs at the Orchidarium but majority of the amount was invested in the money market.
In July 2007, Mr Pascua unceremoniously fired Ms Sarmiento as executive director. Ms Sarmiento is contesting the move as illegal dismissal. CGFI offered to settle for practically twice the amount of her original separation pay but Ms Sarmiento turned it down, insisting on a public apology from the board as part of the deal.
In the period between July 2007 to January 2008, Ms Villegas, as officer in charge of the CGFI secretariat caused the dismissal of orchid consultant Jun Golamco, project director Norby Bautista, project director Raymund Villanueva and other rank and file employees, all of whom she perceive to be loyal to Ms Sarmiento. Ms Villegas also threatened to decrease the wages and benefits of the rank and file employees befitting their status as gardeners, security guards and messengers. All of the employees thus threatened were vocally loyal to Ms Sarmiento who believe her dismissal was unjust.
On 3 November 2007 the rank and file employees organized the Clean & Green Foundation Incorporated Employees Association as a reaction to Ms Villegas and Mr Pascua’s decisions regarding their rights and employment. It was promptly federated with the Association of Democratic Labor Unions-Kilusang Mayo Uno and registered with the Department of Labor and Employment. The union also promptly asked Mrs Ramos and the rest of the board for a meeting. They were turned down and ignored each time by Mrs Ramos, Ms Ho and Mr Pascua.
On 25 January 2008, dismissed project director Raymund Villanueva filed an illegal dismissal case against Mrs Ramos and Mr Pascua before the National Labor Relations Commission.
On 9 January 2008, the new executive director, presumably acting in behalf of the board and Ms Villegas, categorically stated that the only way CGFI would be prevented from closing down is for the union to dissolve itself. Various forms of harassments to apply pressure on the union to do just this to no avail, led by the likes of project director June M. Alvarez and others.
On 21 January 2008, Mrs Ramos resigned as chairperson and member of the board.
On 26 February 2008, Mr Pascua informed DOLE of the board’s intention to dissolve CGFI because of Mrs Ramos’ resignation from the Clean and Green Foundation, Inc. Effective date was 31 March 2008.
On 7 March 2008, the union filed a union busting case against the board before the National Conciliation and Mediation Board of the DOLE. They believe that the reason cited by Mr Pascua was “in bad faith” and that the real reason was to bust the union. They said that the foundation does not cease to exist with the resignation of a board member. There have been three hearings so far.
On 31 March 2008 the Clean and Green Foundation is already effective close to the public and other transactions.
Outstanding issues: For CGFI to close shop after it learned of the formation of the union and after failing to influence it to dissolve itself is clearly union busting;
The CGFI board of directors are eminent persons in Philippine society while they are violating the most basic rights of humble persons such as clerks, gardeners, drivers, messengers and guards;
CGFI can not just close shop without accounting for the public funds awarded to it by the government, such as the River Rehabilitation Secretation seed money, the Ecolabelling budget from the DTI, the PDAF grant from Senator Magsaysay that it kept in the banks instead of using it.
CGFI must also justify why it is abandoning its Pasig River rehabilitation advocacy when it led millions of Filipinos to believe that their Piso Para sa Pasig was for this cause.
CGFI must account for the hundred million pesos it was able to amass during its 13-year run.
CGFI must face the illegal dismissal labor charges filed against them.
Bald Runner 
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