Life must go on! In one way or another, everybody is affected by the onslaught of Typhoon Ondoy.
Our “training camp” in Pasig City is still surrounded with flooded streets and we don’t have electricity (after 5 days). One of my staff and her family had evacuated her house to a higher place due to flooding and my running coach’s house/residential area is still submerged in water that after four days, he had to evacuate his family due to lack of relief/help coming from the local government and from non-government organizations involved in the relief operations. His family could not withstand the stench of bad smell and the lack of potable water in their place. I am glad my staff and their families are all safe. On the other hand, some of my athletes (due to their duties with the Philippine Army) had been involved in the relief and rehabilitation efforts in Marikina City as part of the manpower that had been “shovelling” and collecting the mud and dirt in the streets for disposal.
Despite all these concerns and activities, we still have to “squeeze” some time to maintain the level of competitive performance of our elite athletes and conduct our “speed training” sessions at the Oval Track without any miss in order to attend to the Team Bald Runner-Professional Group. Yes, we are involved in helping the victims of Typhoon Ondoy but we have to help and attend first to our staff who are also victims of the flooding and at the same time help other runners to keep them focused in their training for the “big” marathon races in the coming weeks! This holds true also to our Elite athletes.
I am overwhelmed by the simultaneous efforts of our runners in coming up with charity and donation efforts to the victims of the floods and Typhoon Ondoy. I really salute and highly commend your efforts with the hope that you continue doing such act even if the victims are in the Visayas, Mindanao, and Batanes. Silently, I’ve been donating some cash and goods for the past year and months to charitable institutions whenever there were typhoons and floods in other parts of the country. And I’ve continously maintained my Project Donate A Shoe and Project Donate A Shirt up to this date with the hope that more donors will contribute in these projects.
Now I know where I will donate those shoes and shirts/singlets that are stocked in our “training camp” and for those which we will receive in the future. After all these relief/rehabilitation activities and “news overload” about distribution of relief goods, I will “silently” go to some places (which are not yet being reached by the relief agencies after 4 days!) near our “training camp” to distribute such donated shoes and shirts/singlets from our friends.
Life and Running must go on! See you at the Starting Line!
(Note: How I wish I could post an article about my insights & observations about the onslaught of Typhoon Ondoy but that would be inconsistent with the advocacy of this blog. Let this blog be devoted to only running)
Do you still remember Duncan, the 12-year old kid/runner who won in the BOTAK’s Paa-bilisan 1-Street Mile Race held at the UP Diliman Campus last month with a time of 4:36 minutes?
I was able to meet him again after I finished the ROTARun 21K race yesterday morning. He just finished his long run workout using the same “old and taped” shoes he used when I first featured him in this blog. His father was with him and I asked his permission for Duncan to join the members of the Elite Team Bald Runner for a “brunch” and meeting in our “training camp”/office after the Awarding Ceremony of the race event.
Finally, I handed Duncan a slightly “used” pair of Newton Racing Shoes which is one of the shoes donated by Mr. Jim Lafferty. The following pictures will show how happy this talented kid was after receiving the said shoes:
Duncan Wearing The Team Bald Runner ShirtThe Happy Duncan While Wearing His Newton Shoes
Months and weeks before the conduct of the first BDM 102, I sent letters of request for support to almost everybody in the government, most especially to politicians whom I know, could support such a sports endeavor. Not one of the politicians gave me a positive response on my request. The Philippine Sports Commission which I depended to be supportive in any sports development gave me a negative response. At least, the PSC gave me a letter of response indicating that they don’t have any budget for the said request. Guys, I am not asking for hundreds of thousands or millions of pesos for this event, I just wanted a “token” for the additional support for the Aid Stations along the route.
Actually, these letters that I’ve sent to these personalities were just a “test” on how far can they support a sports event that commemorates a celebrated part in the history to honor our heroes who fought for freedom and democracy that we enjoy right now. Most of the “politicians”/Senators did not send any letter of response but a number of them sent a written negative response on the said request. Unfortunately, I received the following letters from them.
On the brighter side, one of the politicians whom I know personally gave me P 5,000 as support, five (5) weeks after the conduct of the race. The support was too late, however, I immediately contributed the said money to the Charity to help the hundreds of families affected due to a typhoon in Cagayan Valley on that very week that I received the money.
As for the other politicians who, most of them are running for the highest political position of the land next year, they did not answer those daily calls for us to follow-up our request and some of them whom we talked would tell us that they could not support our event. So, these politicians did not pass our “test”. They are only good for their “soundbytes”, “appearances” and “pronouncements” that they support sports up to the point that you see them and read their news releases printed on the broadsheets. I hope and pray that these “presidentiables & vice-presidentiables” will not win in the next election and for the other “politicians” not to be able to be re-elected in their positions.
Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Response To Request
Department of Tourism's Letter of Response
Letter From Senator Loren LegardaSenator Panfilo Lacson's Letter of Response
In one of the posts I’ve read in the Internet, I came up with the following allegations about how much “these politicians” would receive during their stint in their positions. Based from the “source”, these allegations could be true!
GUSTO KONG MAGING SENADOR NG PILIPINAS
ANG SARAP MAGING SENADOR!
Miriam Defensor Santiago was featured in Correspondents last week.
Maganda rin naman ang naidudulot ng pagiging prangka ni Senador Miriam Defensor-Santiago. Ayon kay Santiago , marami ang tumatak-bong Senador dahil sa laki ng budget na ibinibigay sa kanila kada buwan.
Lumalabas na P35,000 suweldo nila kada buwan ay pakitang-tao lang sa milyun-milyong budget ng bawat senador. Kada buwan ay may Fixed Monthly Budget ang bawat Senador ng humigit-kumulang P2 Milyon.
Sa opisina pa lang nila ay humigit-kumulang P500,000 ang budget nila sa Maintenance and Operating Expenses (Rental, Utilities, Supplies at Domestic Travels) at P500,000 para sa Staff at Personal expenses. Kaya para makatipid ang ibang Senador, kaunti lang ang staff na kinukuha nila. Nagtataka ka pa kung bakit mayroong mga Ghost Employee?
Bukod diyan, may P760,000 allowance pa sila kada buwan para naman sa Foreign Travel. At ang masakit pa nito, hindi na kailngan i-liquidate ang mga resibo ng mga gastusin ‘yan kundi Certification lang ang Requirement.
Heto pa, lahat sila ay Chairman ng mg Komite sa Senado. Ang Committee Chairman ay tumatanggap din ng budget na sinlaki ng tinatanggap ng mga Senador na humigit-kumulang P1 Milyon din! Hindi sila mawawalan ng Komite dahil 24 lang ang ating mga Senador at 37 naman ang Committee sa Senado. There’s food for everybody ‘ika nga! Lumalabas na doble ang kanilang benepesiyo at kita kapag sila ay nabiyayaan ng Committee Chairmanship.
Sa P200 milyon na Budget para sa Pork Barrel ng mga Senador bawat taon, awtomatikong may 10% na S.O.P. o kita ng Senador na P20 milyon. Ito ang porsiyento na ibinibigay ng mga kontratista sa mga Senador na nagbibigay sa kanila ng mga Infrastructure at Livelihood Project.
Bago matapos ang termino ng isang Senador, kumita na siya ng P100 milyon saPork Barrel pa lang. Yung ibang Senador mas gahaman, hindi lang 10% kundi 20 – 30% ang komisyon hinihingi sa mga kontratista.
Pansinin niyo na lang ang pagbabago ng buhay ng ilan sa ating mga Senador simula nang manungkulan sa puwesto. Kung dati ay simple lang ang kanilang pamumuhay ngayon ay nakatira na sila sa mga eksklusibong subdivision, maraming bahay sa Pilipinas at abroad at mahigit lima ang sasakyan.
Ngayon nagtataka ka pa ba kung bakit gumagastos ng daan-daang milyong piso ang mga Senador sa kampanya para sa isang posisyon na P35,000 lang ang suweldo kada buwan? Bawing-bawi pala ang gastos kapag naupo na!
ANG SARAP MAGING SENADOR! ! !
I wonder how much is the budget for a Cabinet Secretary or in a Department under the Executive Branch of the Government.
“Bakit kaya hindi nila maisipan na magdagdag ng Cabinet Position para sa Department of Youth and Sports Development (or Excellence) para mawala at palitan na ang Philippine Sports Commission?”
For next year’s edition of BDM 102, we will never send any letter of request to these sports institutions and “politicians”. We will try to seek support from the private and corporate sector this time and from the “usual friends” who have the “heart” to support us and who believe in our advocacy.
Tatakbo Ka Ba? GMA-7 5K/10K Run @ The Fort/ 6:02 AM 30 August 2009
This was my general feeling when I finally registered to participate in the GMA-7 10K Run. Who cares about the incoming elections, anyway? The purpose of my participation of this run was to evaluate my racing performance after doing a lot of running workouts for the past weeks. I wanted to run in this race with an average pace of less than 5 minutes per kilometer.
One of the 3 Stages Prepared For The Race
The race was scheduled at 5:30 AM and I was already at the starting area at about 5:15 AM. I was surprised to see the festive atmosphere of the place with the presence of three (3) elevated stages; one for the race which was located at the far back of the runners & front-left side of the starting line and another big covered stage for the “special program” initiated by GMA-7 for the swearing in of oath by the candidates for the presidential elective position. Most of the runners at the corral area were not interested or listening on what the Emcees were announcing. In the first place, I don’t watch GMA-7 programs and I really don’t know the personalities or even the news broadcasters. Instead, I started to stretch my leg muscles while waiting for the race to start. I saw the family of Annalene aka The Meek Runner and I approached them. I had a brief time talking to them until such time the Emcees transferred at the front of the starting area and continued their program. We were surprised that we just heard the starting gun.
"Mass Start" For the 5K & 10K Runners
The number of runners who joined this race was also unprecedented. There were lots of runners and I can estimate that it reached at least 4,000 + participants. I am sure the runners did not participate the race because of the presence of the politicians but I am pretty sure most of the runners just wanted to run and the rest of the participants wanted to see the “stars” and personalities of GMA-7.
The other small stage infront of the Starting Line
The race finally started at 6:02 AM and it was a “mass start” for both the 5K & 10K runs. Since I was few meters from the front runners, I started slowly making sure to warm-up my leg muscles. I weaved through the slower runners as I tried to find my comfortable space and pace during the start of the race. From the start, I slowly passed the slower ones and those who made a dash from the starting area who ultimately run slower after running for about a kilometer. All the streets were fully packed with runners and I could hardly weaved through the runners. It was only at the 2.5-km turn-around where the 10K runners started to have more space. From the 2.5-km point, I started to peak up my pace and was able to pass more of the runners. Running towards the Market! Market! area was a breeze as I saw a lot of familiar faces who were ahead of me and those who were trailing me as I passed at the turn-around area.
The problem about the narrow route at the British School and at the vicinity of DILG’s Public Safety College started to be encountered by the 10K runners as most of the 5K runners and “walkers” occupied the road. At this point, it was the last 3 Kms of the 10K route. I had another problem of weaving through the slower runners & “walkers” that made my pace slower up to the point when I reached the road in between the new St Luke’s Hospital and the Ford Car Store.
After running through the streets west of Rizal Drive, I knew I still have one more kilometer to go before the Finish Line. On the last Five Hundred Meters before the Finish Line, I had to slow down because of so many spectators along the route who completely filled almost one-half of the road. The spectators were waiting for the “stars” and GMA-7 personalities to finish the race.
After Crossing The Finish Line
I finished the 10K run in 46:29 minutes with an average pace of 4:40 minutes per kilometer (based from my GF watch). I was able to run well during the race but it could had been better if not for the numerous runners that clogged the narrow streets along the route.
After the race, I did not bother watching the program being prepared by GMA-7 for the politicians. I just overheard that they were reciting an oath that mentioned that “they will be honest, that they will serve the poor and hungry, that they will not abuse their power, that they will not “pocket” the money of the government which are to be used for education, social services, and infrastructure, that they will “so and so”. Whatever, Guys! It sucks to see the politicians reciting such oath infront of the runners and signing such oath on LIVE TV Telecast. If you can not even support or see to it that we attain Sports Excellence in the country, then stop promising to serve the “poor and the hungry” and the the whole country! To me, everything was “bull….”; empty promises; and a “show” to be forgotten after it will be published on the daily newspapers & seen on TV newscasts and finally, I am sure the Race Organizer was laughing all the way to the bank despite of so many “lapses” (again)!
I am already tired mentioning to this blog the different “lapses” of the Race Organizers. As a runner, I just want the following things to be perfect, at least—appropriate length of table for the water stations; abundance of water & water cups in Water Stations; accuracy on the route distance; presence of digital clock at the Finish Line & publication of Race Results; and lastly, punctuality of scheduled time on the start for the race.
The "Presidentiables" & Politicians At The Biggest Stage
The race was significant because I was able to meet new acquiantances (Raffy Uytiepo & others); awarded my “1,000-Km Club” Finisher’s T-Shirt to Joseph Baltazar; talked to the family of David & Rowena from Great Britain; meet a young runner at the age of 11 years old who beat me by one second; meet the Finishers of the 1st BDM 102K (Ralph Salvador, Eric Socrates, & Dionisio Potonia); talked to the registrants of the 1st MASTERS 15K Run; and happy to see the awarding of the winners of this race who are members of my Elite Team Bald Runner. The following pictures will speak for themselves:
At The Team Bald Runner Booth (Note: BR's Logo)Natz aka i2runner with GF & Coach TitusAwarded "1,000-Km Club" Finisher's T-Shirt To Joseph Baltazar (On my left side)Raffy Uytiepo, "El Numero Uno" Race Organizer of Cebu City (on my right)Kid Lindangan (11-year old young runner) & Dad After The Finish Line
It was a sudden invitation to the Hardcore Runners to offer a “runabout” for President Cory Aquino on the day of her burial. It was supposed to be a minimum of 50-Km run around Metro Manila but due to sudden “meetings” for the day and plan for the runners to conserve their strength in preparation for the Baguio City MILO Eliminations this coming Sunday, it was decided to have a run of about 20 kilometers, rain or shine! The assembly time was set at 5:00 AM of August 5 at the ROX, Bonifacio High Street and the runners arrived one by one. Finally, we assembled a group of 7 runners—Jonel aka Bugobugo; Jerry Karundeng aka High Altitude; Lester Choayap; Francisco Lapira; BR; Mari Javier; & Kim O Connell. Our run started at 5:20 AM with the plan to run at least a 20K distance.
Goodbye To The 1st Lady President of the Country (Photo From LA Times)
After running for about 1 1/2 kilometers, we met Sir Amado aka Reinier6666 whom I thought to be going back to where he started already. He was too early for his daily workout and I thought he was at the ULTRA Oval Track as it was his weekday run. I guess, he was also doing his personal tribute run for the former President. We continued our slow and steady run at Lawton Avenue despite the strong rains and wind. Our plan was to reach NAIA 3 and have our turn-around point at the “big circle/rotunda” before the entrance of the said airport terminal. Since it was a “runabout”, we expected to have “stops” for photo-ops and we did just like that.
Assembly Time at 5:00 AM @ R.O.X.
While passing along the Headquarters Philippine Army along Lawton Avenue, I tried to recall those times when the former President Cory Aquino was still a housewife when she arrived from the United States after former Senator Ninoy Aquino was assassinated in August 21, 1983. One thing led to another— Agrava Commission was created to investigate the killing; RAM-AFP was silently organized within the military & constabulary; former President Marcos was secretly treated for a kidney illness that he needed to have his regular dialysis treatments; former First Lady Imelda Marcos & AFP Chief of Staff Fabian Ver were suspected to be the ones holding the power of the government; former Pres Marcos was being suspected as the “mastermind” in the killing of Sen Ninoy; a campaign period for a “snap election” for the Presidency was declared; Cory Aquino was pushed by the people & opposition and challenged Ferdie Marcos; Scandal in the NAMFREL canvassing of votes; Marcos was declared the Winner but Public Protests & Rallies started to grow; Cory visited Cebu & Mindanao while an attempted Coup D’ Etat was discovered by the Palace; Senior Officers of the AFP were presented to the Media as Coup Plotters; Defense Secretary Enrile, as the Suspected Mastermind of the Coup, asked the Public and the Church to protect him and the “coup plotters” from being arrested; PC Commanding General Fidel Ramos joined Secretary Enrile; sea of people occupied EDSA and finally, it culminated to the very famous “People’s Power Revolt of 1986”. Former Pres Marcos, Family & entourage left the country for Hawaii and Pres Cory Aquino took her oath as the new President and later declared a “revolutionary” government. And the rest was history.
Running Under The Rain
I am proud to recall that I was then an intelligence officer assigned with the National Intelligence & Security Authority (NISA) in Region 1 covering the provinces of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra, La Union, Pangasinan, Benguet, and Mountain Province. After Ninoy’s assassination, I was sent to Fort Benning, Georgia for my “foreign schooling” and I was promoted to the rank of Major before leaving the country. When I arrived back to the country, the RAM-AFP was already active in its recruitment but I stayed to my duties in Region 1.
After the People’s Power Revolt of 1986, I opted to be assigned to the Philippine Military Academy as Tactical Officer & Instructor together with almost 40 officers formerly assigned with units/offices identified with the former President Marcos. My assignment at the Academy brought back my passion in running after a year of complete rest. It was here where I introduced the “1,000-Km Club” to my officers and men and I can still recall those weekend runs we did from PMA to San Fabian Beach in Pangasinan via Kennon Road or to Bauang Beach via Naguilian Road. Those were good 35-50+Km runs with limited water and food supply along the way! But lots of food and beer at the finish line!
Slow Distance Run For Tita CoryAnother View of the Picture Above
The following were the things that kept coming back to my memory while I was running last Wednesday and the things I could remember during the administration of President Cory:
1) I’ve never been assigned to a unit in the AFP to personally meet or shake her hand up to the point that I’ve never seen her in person! I guess, she limited her exposure to the military due to the coup d’etat attempts to her administration.
2) I was then the Chief Intelligence Officer of PMA when the PMA Bombing Incident happened, six days before Pres Cory’s visit to PMA for the Graduation Ceremony of PMA Class 1987. It resulted to the death of one Senior Officer ( a Colonel & a graduate of the US Air Force Academy) and the injury of other officers and civilian employees. It is still unsolved. If not for my love in running, I should had been in the place where the bombing incident happened. I was then the Officer-In-Charge of the PMA Running Team that participated in one of the weekend runs in Manila and my team arrived at the camp in the morning of the day of the incident. Instead of going directly to the Grandstand for a Graduation ceremony rehearsal, I dropped by my office to sign or act on documents and clearances. I was in my office when the bombing incident happened. Since the security of all the places/venues where the President would be going as scheduled were turned-over to the Presidential Security and security people from Camp Aguinaldo, the responsibility of providing security on said places were not given to the authorities of the Academy!
Still Raining Infront of NAIA 3
3) Seven (7) Coup D’ Etat attempts of the military tried to unseat Pres Cory during her administration but I’ve never been a part of any of these destabilization moves. While I was assigned in PMA, one of the “RAM leaders” who was then assigned also in PMA, tried to recruit me as part of his team from Baguio City. I refused to join his group. The said officer led a group of officers and PMA cadets in an attempt to provide support to the “raiders” of Camp Aguinaldo in 1987 while I remained at Fort Del Pilar with the Commandant of Cadets and the Superintendent. Since then, I got the trust and confidence of the PMA’s leadership.
4) I was re-assigned in Mindanao in the middle part of 1989 and I thought it was the end of my running. I was fortunate to be assigned to a senior officer who goes out every night to “eat & drink”; sleep at midnight or 1:00 AM; and wake up at 4:30 AM to run the mountain trails of Pulacan, Pagadian City, Zamboanga Del Sur for 1 to 1 1/2 hours. This was my daily ritual until the December 1989 Bloodiest Coup Attempt against Pres Cory.
Brief Stops For Photo-Ops
5) The Area Commander in Mindanao was designated as the Commanding General of the Philippine Army as a result of a massive relief of Commanders involved in the December 1989 Coup attempt. As most of the key leaders of the coup attempt went “underground” and due to the need to counter the efforts of the military destabilizers, a “special unit” was organized to locate and arrest these suspected destabilizers within the military. I was made to report to Manila by the newly-designated Commanding General and he designated me as the deputy commander of such unit and later became as its Commander until such time that Pres Cory turned over her administration to the winner of the Presidential Elections in 1992. Since the creation of this “special unit”, there were no longer destabilization plots within the military against Pres Cory’s administration up to the time she ended her term.
Waiting For The Other Runners @ Bayani Road
On hindsight, we, the Filipino people gained so much freedom and democracy after the people deposed the dictatorship and “iron-fist” administration of former President Marcos and we accepted the leadership of former Pres Cory which is the embodiment of transparency, honesty, understanding, humility, and efforts to look for the welfare of the greater Filipinos. The freedom we gained resulted to the following personal opinion and observations that happened during President Cory’s administration:
1) The resurgence of the Communist Party of the Philippines/New People’s Army was attributed during the administration of Pres Cory when he brought back Jose Ma. Sison to the country from exile.
2) The MNLF Faction of Nur Misuari was revived and he was made to return to the Philippines after a self-imposed exile in the Middle East.
3) Her administration never attempted to use the Bataan Nuclear Plant despite its approval to use it by experts (according to the book of the late former Secretary of Energy Velasco)
4) Do you still remember those months of daily “brownouts” and “blackouts” where almost all the establishments were forced to buy their own generators?
5) Have you observed that The Urban Poor and “professional” squatters in Metro Manila grew exponentially because of the Lina Law enacted and passed during the term of Pres Cory?
6) It resulted to the death of those efficient “Love Bus” plying in almost all parts of Metro Manila & Suburbs. The demise of the PNR System also followed. If we could have prevented those bus transportation franchises with second-hand buses from China plying on our main streets in Manila, we could have a better traffic flow of vehicles.
7) Of course, it was the end of the very successful Project Gintong Alay in Sports. Winning as Overall 1st Runner-Up in the 1986 ASEAN Games was a result of athletes produced by Project Gintong Alay of the former administration.
8) We fought against nepotism during the dictatorship of Pres Marcos, but look what is happening around us with the members of the family of political clans being elected and/or designated to government positions. When will we stop those “Kamag-anak Inc.”?
9) Too much freedom of speech and freedom of expression to the point of accusing somebody through the media. There are times when news are just plain “gossips” where we “judge” the accused through public opinion.
10) Too much laws, ordinances, rules & regulations enacted but weak in their implimentation.
11) We had a new Constitution in 1987 which up to this time we are trying to change. The Constitution gave us more freedom and it gave us also more Congressmen!
12) Have you observed that those “big shopping malls” started to grow like mushrooms during the administration of Pres Cory? I am not insinuating that Pres Cory was connected with these Malls but I have a strong suspicion that the money used were money left behind by the Marcoses with their “dummies”. Since I am from the North, I always think that the only road/infrastructure she made during her administration was the Dau-Sta. Rita Extension of the NLEX.
13) There was no MILO Marathon for four (4) years during the administration of Pres Cory.
14) Lastly, it was Pres Cory Aquino who signed the law on the Bases Conversion Act which created the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) whose primary mission was to sell all the military camps within Metro Manila with the end-view of relocating the Headquarters of the different Major Services of the Armed Forces of the Philippines outside Metro Manila for the simple reason that the AFP was suspected to be a “threat” to her administration due to the numerous coup attempts. The proceeds of these sales were supposed to go to the “modernization” of the AFP. That’s the reason why we have “The Fort”/Market! Market!/new St Luke’s Hospital/International Schools/Heritage Park/McKinley Hill at the former Fort Bonifacio AREA and Marriott Hotel & NAIA 3 at the Camp Villamor AREA. As to where those proceeds of the sale went, I really do not know where did they go! In fairness to Pres Cory, such sale transactions were made after her administration.
Pit Stop @ Phil Army Golf Course
In the end, despite those imperfections and observations, the administration of Pres Cory gave birth to the “professionalism” in the military and police. Our present AFP/PNP Retirement Law enacted during her time, limited the age of every men in uniform up to the age of 56 years old as the retirement age. If not for this law, I could not have made it to the rank of Major General (Two-Star) rank when I retired from the Armed Forces of the Philippines. There was no way where retirable Generals were extended in their military active service.
We gained so much freedom and democracy since the time of Pres Cory but it is up to us to contribute in our own way so that freedom will live on forever. Freedom does not mean cheating in road races; not being responsive to some “lapses” during road races as observed by runners; taking advantage of others; or being divisive with one another. Freedom to me simply means doing what is right; being fair to everybody; being honest/transparent; and sharing one’s blessings to those who are in need and less-fortunate.
Goodbye, President Cory! (Photo From Inquirer.net)
Thank you very much, President Cory for giving me a chance to have served you as my President & Commander-In-Chief!!! The 20.5 Kilometers that I and my friends had offered to you may not be enough to equal the pain you have gone through on those last few days and for those years you served the country but I know that such distance and effort for the said run is enough to pay tribute to what you have contributed to the country as well as for the whole world and humanity.
My snappy salute!
(Note: Photos During the “Runabout” Courtesy of Bugobugo85 & High Altitude)
Jim Lafferty, President & CEO of Procter & Gamble Philippines, invited the members of the Elite Team Bald Runner for the Palms Country Club Charity Run last Saturday, August 1, 2009 and have them sponsored for the registration fees and breakfast but all the members were scheduled to have their weekend long run and I had to tell him that they could not join the said race.
Instead, he invited me and Coach Titus to watch the race, have breakfast at the Clubhouse, and receive almost “new” running shoes for my Project Donate A Shoe.
Coach Titus and I arrived at the Palms Country Club minutes before the start of the race and I was able to meet and talk to Jim and his daughter Kristen; Patrick Concepcion aka Running Shield & wife; Eric Pasion aka Runner For Change; Ian Alacar of BOTAK; Paul Calvin; and Jan Imperio.
S. Cesar, Eric, Jay, Ian, BR, Patrick & Mabu
The race consisted of 3K Fun Run, 5K, & 10K distance runs. There were about more than a hundred who joined the race and it was held without any funfare. After the race had started, Coach Titus and I positioned ourselves at the street before the entrance to the Palms Country Club compound and we, eventually, became Race Marshals as we directed all the runners if they need to run another loop or not by looking at the color of their race numbers. I also became the unofficial photographer for the Lafferty family, Patrick, and the other runners.
Before The Start Of The RaceRunners of the 5K RaceJan Imperio of Tm BR-Professional Group Finished 2nd Overall in the 10K Run
The best part of this event was the breakfast invitation. Although I did not run the race and did not feel hungry, the breakfast turned out to be a “heavy” one! But what made the breakfast more significant were the ideas and insights that Mr Lafferty shared on how it takes to be a Champion or Olympian in Athletics and for that matter, in any kind of Sports. The best part of what he said is that, “The best athletes are assholes!!!” (If you want an explanation of this statement, I have to explain it verbally).
Before leaving the Palms Country Club, Mr Lafferty donated fifteen (15) running shoes which to my surprise turned out to be racing shoes from Newton, Nike Racers (not available in the country), Adidas Racing Flats, Puma and Mizuno Racers. These shoes are destined to be used by Elite athletes!
BR, Jim Lafferty, & Coach Titus With The Donated ShoesAll Shoes Are Racing Flats Which Are Very Light
The following are the latest comments sent to me by the Moderator/Administrator of BDM 102 website (www.bataan102.com), Eric Pasion aka Run For Change as a result of the conduct of the 1st BDM 102K Ultramarathon Race:
All of you great athletes have much to be proud of and a job well done to all of you. Last year, April 8-9 2008, myself and my good friend Ariel Lesap from Panay Island marched this same route which took us 2 days. The heat and sun was relentless and how happy we were to put our hands on the 102 km. marker! So it astounds me to see your website ! Not only did you run it, you ran it in hours ! I am 50, but some of your ages are unbelievable ! Younger generations will be inspired by your run ! Thank you for bringing much needed awareness to Bataan and the infamous Death March where so many brave souls perished and still sleep beneath the hallowed ground of Bataan. God Bless you all,….Paul Dillon
Hi,
I am very thrilled to know that there is some kind of a memorial marathon for the Bataan Death March. I would however would like to make a couple of suggestion:
1. Make it a two day walk with a campout somewhere inbetween the start and the finish.
2. Create a foundation to honor the Bataan Death March participants in the Bataan such as erecting some kind of a monument and museum.
My father was a survivor and even before he passed away two years ago, could not discuss the details of the ‘death march’.
If this was made into a two day walk and advertised in the Philippines and the U.S., I’m sure that you will receive quite a number of applicants, including me and my family. I would like to walk my father’s walk and do it in his memory as well as his grandchildren. This can also help the economy of Bataan for it will need hotels and restaurants and maybe tour guides.
This is not to commercialize the horrific experience of those that walked to their death and those that survived but to let us, the living experience what they went through and how they dedicated their lives for Freedom, and what it stands for.
Joy Rojas was able to read my post about her present location and at the same time read the e-mail I sent to her. While I am waiting for her permission to post or make a story about her side on the incident that happened to them after she and her pacer/support crew, Mat reached Las Vegas, she sent me some pictures showing her running along the route she is taking towards her destination.
Enjoy the view and imagine yourself running with her.
Joy Rojas at Lake Mead, NevadaJoy & Mat Running TogetherRunning Along The Mountains of Kanab, UtahJoy Rojas On Her Way To Walsenburg, Colorado
At present, I am reading a book entitled, “Getting To The Point: In A Dozen Pairs Of Shoes” by Brian R. Stark. This book is about the personal account of the author as a “Transcontinental Runner” by running along the newly designed American Discovery Trail (ADT), starting at Cape Henlopen State Park in Lewes, Delaware to Point Reyes National Seashore (50 miles north of San Francisco, California). It was a solo trail run without any support and crew covering a distance of 5,000 miles which he completed in 238 days (8 months) from March to November 1998.While reading this book, I thought of Joy Rojas of Takbong Pangarap Run Across America as to where she is now after starting her 120 days run from Eagle Rock, California to New York City on the 2nd week of May this year. She is already one-half of her scheduled duration to complete her feat and there is no available update about her. This is the very reason why I asked a question on my Twitter about her whereabouts.Yesterday, I received an e-mail from Ben Gaetos, an ultra runner friend from Los Angeles who ran with Joy Rojas for 5 miles from Eagle Rock Plaza (start of the run), informing me that Mat Macabe called him and Ben relayed to me the salient information about the progress of Joy Rojas run across America.Joy Rojas and Mat Macabe are presently somewhere in the plains of Kansas after crossing the high mountain ranges of the Rocky Mountains which means that they were able to cross the states of California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and Colorado.
According to Mat Macabe, Chuck Crisanto, one of the crew/support, abandoned them in Las Vegas, Nevada. I think Mr Chuck Crisanto was supposed to be the PR guy and driver of their support vehicle and at the same time alternate support crew to Mat Macabe. Moreover, Chuck Crisanto brought with him his wife and his 2 toddlers in the trip. Mat also claimed that Chuck was out all the time shopping and when on the run, he’s nowhere on the road as he uses the Freeway instead of following Joy’s run on the side roads. The worse is that Mat also said that Chuck is in his possession 70% of the donated money to support the run. Fortunately, Joy and Mat found someone to support them after Chuck Crisanto abandoned them. The “Good Samaritan” is an editor or owner of a Pinoy newspaper who provided them with a support vehicle.
The abovementioned information came from the side of Mat Macabe who is in constant contact with Joy Rojas being her pacer & support crew. I really do not know personally Mr Chuck Crisanto as he should be able to explain his side about the said information about him and his family’s whereabouts.
Yesterday, I sent an e-mail to Joy Rojas as she requested Ben Gaetos to find out and send to her my e-mail address. I hope Joy Rojas will be able to respond to my message. If you have the time and want to send a message of support to Joy Rojas, you can send your e-mail message to www.thepoc.net.
The picture of Joy Rojas was taken from the following news report of Joseph Pimentel of the Asian Journal Los Angeles dated July 11, 2009.
Joy Rojas In Kansas
Joy Rojas in Kansas
Sunday, 12 July 2009 23:49 Joseph Pimentel / AJPress Los Angeles
LOS ANGELES – THE text message read, “We are in Great Bend, Kansas, staying on highway 50 and 56.”
She followed it with a phone call to this reporter.
“We’ve made it to Kansas,” exclaimed Filipina marathoner Joy Rojas to the Asian Journal last Thursday July 9. “It’s totally different running here than it was in Colorado. Kansas is flat and hot with lots of corn and wheat fields, lots of sun.”
She says the Midwest sun gets as hot as Manila in the summer.
The 44-year-old Rojas is less than halfway from her goal of running across the United States of America.
Waking up at 6am everyday, Rojas has been running 30 to 35 miles a day since she began her Trans-USA run called Takbong Pangarap or Dream Run at the Eagle Rock Plaza in Los Angeles, California on May 10. She made a quick stop over in Las Vegas, Nevada where she was celebrated during Western Union Customer Appreciation Day on May 23 and another stopover at the Western Union headquarters in Denver, Colorado. Western Union is one of the sponsors of her Trans-USA run.
She says that she’s on her way to reaching her goal of arriving at the Philippine Consulate in New York City on September 8.
So far, Rojas and her trainer, Mat Macabe, have run for more than 40 days now, crossed five states, jogged over 1,000 miles, and touched the lives of many people who see the two running on highways and streets across America.
While passing through Arizona, a couple saw Rojas and Macabe running. When they found out the reason for Rojas’ run, they immediately invited the Filipina and her partner to their home for dinner. The same thing happened in Colorado. Rojas recalls how before reaching Denver, a Filipino man read the words “Can we ignite the Filipino spirit across America?” on the Western Union support vehicle. He then immediately introduced himself to Rojas and Macabe. After the day’s run, the Filipino man came over to their hotel where he cooked them dinner consisting of elk and deer that the man had hunted.
“Can you believe that? All of these strangers that we meet everyday have been so kind and generous to us,” said Rojas. “I’m a vegetarian but when he asked if I was eating elk and deer I said ‘for you, I will.’ You have to be a gracious guest.”
Another time in Colorado, Rojas met a group of cyclists on the road like her but they were biking across the US from San Francisco to New Hampshire.
Rojas and the cyclists took pictures and wished each other well.
The experience has been so far so good, says Rojas.
Rojas also admits that the run sometimes is a bit unforgiving. In Colorado, she had to withstand the high altitude and steep roads that at times, required her to stop and walk but she continues to persevere.
Despite being tired at times after a long day’s run, she says that by the time she wakes up the next morning, she feels refreshed and ready to go.
A survivor of tuberculosis, Rojas’s is running for her beneficiaries: a Division of the Philippine Heart Center and the Anti-TB Program of the Inner Wheel Club of Quezon City, District 378
Rojas said that after Colorado, her run should be smooth as the flat plains of Kansas.
The Bald Runner’s “Project Donate A Shoe” Booth will be available at the Start/Finish Area at the vicinity of the Quirino Grandstand this coming Sunday. Donated shoes from Joe Matias of A Runners Circle Running Specialty Store in Los Angeles, California; Ultrarunners Ben Gaetos/Carmela Layson of Los Angeles, California; Mark Robinson of Nottinghamshire, England; and from the members of the Team Bald Runner-Professional Group will be distributed to runners with old, tattered, worn-out and dilapidated running shoes. It should be noted that only runners will be entertained in this activity.
At the same time, donors will be welcomed to visit the booth and the Bald Runner will be there to accept their shoe donations, to include Finisher’s T-Shirts for the Project “Donate A Shirt”.
See you at the Start/Finish Line of the MILO Marathon Eliminations this Sunday! Good luck!
Bald Runner 
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