Category: Sports Program

Philippine Sports Stakeholders Conference

On By kingofpotsIn Insights, Sports Program1 Comment

Due to my daily running workouts at the ULTRA Oval Track, I was informed that an important conference about Philippine Sports was scheduled to be conducted within the middle of this week. After my confirmation that the said conference was open to the public, I decided to attend this one as an observer even if I will be missing my daily running workout.

The conference was some sort of a public seminar/lecture to all the stakeholders of Philippine Sports—School’s Physical Education Teachers, School’s Sports Coaches, Heads and members of the different National Sports Federations, Athletes, National Coaches, Sports Administrators in the Local Government Units from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, Members of the Media, Sports Volunteers, Sports Instructors, PNP, AFP, and the Public. The seminar/conference was held at the ULTRA Sports Arena for the whole day last 10 December 2008.

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The conference started with an opening program where the Guest of Honor and Speaker was Senator Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan II, the Chairman on the Senate’s Sub-Committee on Sports Competitiveness. In his speech, he stressed that the main problems in Philippine Sports are: the lack of sports infrastructure and the lack of financial support. To drive his point, he made comparison of the cost of one daily breakfast-food for an Olympic Champion Michael Phelps to the prevailing financial support to a Filipino athlete. It seems that Phelps’ breakfast for two days is equivalent to one month allowance for a Filipino athlete. He stressed also that there should be a long-term program for sports and its development on the “grassroot” level which needs the overall collaboration of every citizen and institutions of the government and the private sector. 

During the Plenary Session, the following speakers presented their respective lecture:

Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez of the Philippine Sports Commission—“Lessons Learned From PSC: Successes and Failures

Mr Manuel Pangilinan, Chairman of PLDT—“Sports Development and Private Individual Patnership: A Model For Success”

Hon. Ronaldo Puno, Secretary of the Department of Interior & Local Government—“Building A Sporting Nation Through Sports For All”

Hon. Jesli Lapuz, Secretary of the Department of Education—“Investing In The Future of Sports Through Grassroots Development”

Chairman Emmanuel Angeles of the Commission On Higher Education—“Professional Preparation In Pursuit of Excellence In Sport”

Hon. Jose Cojuangco, Jr, President of the Philippine Olympic Committee—“Working Towards The Olympic Dream: call For Partnership”

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PSC Chairman Butch Ramirez and his 3 Commissioners with Capt Espejo & BR

The Plenary Session ended with the signing of: Sports Commitment Of Unity and Support for the Philippine Sports Insitute.

The participants were invited to the Philippine Sports Institute for the Blessing and Inauguration of the Philippine Sports Intsitute’s Facilities with Mr Manny Pangilinan as the Guest of Honor.

Personally, I’ve enjoyed listening to these speakers’ lectures and insights on Philippine Sports in order to find out what is really the prevailing situation and future plans in our quest for excellence in sports. This activity/event was an opportunity for me to meet old friends in the sports world and also to be able to “network” with other sports practitioners and supporters.

I would say, there is “hope” for us to excel in sports and bring us towards that elusive first Gold Medal in the Olympic Games if only we “cooperate and support” each other.

Open For Membership #2

On By kingofpotsIn Insights, Runners' Training, Running, Sports ProgramLeave a comment

After I have opened the membership of Team Bald Runner to everybody, I received positive feedback and application for membership from runners in the team’s blogsite at www.teambaldrunner.wordpress.com. My staff was able to make a list of the applicants and their respective e-mail address.

As I met and talked to some members of the Hardcore Group and friends for the past days, I got good comments and possibilities for new “ideas” and “services to offer” by Team Bald Runner.

As response to such feedbacks, I have added “Pages” to the site and for us to answer some of the concerns of the applicants. Please find time to check them and leave your comment/s.

“Specific-Endurance Test”

On By kingofpotsIn Books, Insights, Jogging, Runners' Training, Running, Sports ProgramLeave a comment

If there is “Physical Fitness Test” for the Officers and Soldiers of any Armed Forces of any country in order to determine the level of their fitness and endurance based from military standards, there is also some sort of “fitness test” for runners based from the distance of the road race they are going to participate or compete.

In the book, “Run Faster: From 5K To The Marathon” by Brad Hudson, he suggests that if a runner is following a training plan for a certain race, he/she has to schedule a “specific-endurance” test (spec test) in order to assess if there is an improvement towards his/her desired goal depending on his/her target finish time to an specific road race. To some coaches and runners, such term is also called as “time trials” which are usually done in an oval track or in a road race.  Such test should be done at least every 5-6 weeks. However, running in a road race is a practical option for 5K and 10K runners who can run such distances every few weeks without overtaxing their bodies. As for the half-marathon and marathon distances, the only option for the runners to test their endurance and speed is to perform a very “race-specific” workout. Continue reading ““Specific-Endurance Test”” →

Update: Project Donate A Shoe (June ’08)

On By kingofpotsIn Jogging, Pictures, Running, Sports Program9 Comments

The Project Donate A Shoe is now under the auspices of the “Bald Runner’s Events” which is now a duly registered entity which has a license to operate from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). Capt Ferdie Espejo came up with a new tarpaulin background of our booth, which you see in the background on all the pictures taken. Captain Espejo will be my frontman and associate in this understaking.

Last Sunday, we have launced also our Project Donate A Shirt, which will become as a repository of all donated old, used, and new Finisher’s T-shirts, from runners which in turn to be donated to families residing on Gawad Kalinga (GK) communities in Metro Manila and to other victims of disasters and calamities in the country. 

Hereunder are some of the pictures of our good donors and recipients of these projects. Continue reading “Update: Project Donate A Shoe (June ’08)” →

Robin Petrini & Donate A Shoe

On By kingofpotsIn Insights, Jogging, Running, Sports Program1 Comment

Last Thursday morning, Captain Ferdie Espejo sent me a text message informing me that a box of about one cubic foot arrived at the office of the DND-AFP Gintong Pangarap at Camp Aguinaldo where the sender is a certain Robin Petrini, Head Coach, Softball Team of Pennsylvania State University, USA. I instructed Capt Espejo to open the box and he informed me that it contained four (4) pairs of slightly used running shoes.

Coach Robin Petrini sent three (3) pairs of Saucony Running Shoes and one (1) pair of Nike shoes for the Project Donate A Shoe.

My immediate instinct after I got the information that somebody from the USA sent a box full of shoes was to “google” the name of Robin Petrini. Look what I’ve found!

Coach Robin, thank you very much for your support. I hope I will be able to personally thank you for your effort of sending such shoes to the Philippines. May God bless you always. 

Project Donate A Shoe @ 2008 Doc Fit Run

On By kingofpotsIn Insights, Jogging, Running, Sports ProgramLeave a comment

25 May 2008 @ UP Diliman Campus

After I finished the 2008 Doc Fit 10K Run, I was approached by Councilor Doray Delarmente of Quezon City and she introduced herself to me. I had known beforehand in her blog that she is also a passionate runner and had been very serious in improving her finish time in every road race that she participated. She is also a regular visitor of this blog and writes good comments about my posts. We had a brief conversation and asked her about her father who had been with me in the same office where I was assigned when I was a Captain. After some photo-ops with her, she told me that she is donating some pairs of running shoes to the Project Donate A Shoe. Councilor Doray donated four (4) Nike running shoes. It was nice of her to support this project of mine. Thanks, Councilor Doray! I hope you are now proudly wearing the “ONE” wristband that I gave you.

A guy who just completed the 10K run also approached me at the vicinity of the Project Donate A Shoe booth and gave me two (2) pairs of Adidas running shoes. He introduced himself as Jay who did not want to be known by his complete name and did not want also to have a photo-ops with me. Anyway, he is married and presently working at Banco De Oro at Ayala Branch. In my brief conversation with him, he told me that he found out about this Project from one of the Janitors in their office. The janitor, according to him, runs from Bulacan to Makati City, to their office, on a daily basis and he was a recipient of one of the donated shoes through this Project. Wow! I have to know and meet this janitor and donate more shoes to him! Jay, thank you very much for your support and please proudly wear the “ONE” wristband that I gave you.

At present, a total of 44 pairs of running shoes had been donated from our “kind-hearted” runners; 34 pairs had been distributed to our “less-fortunate” runners and 10 pairs are “on hand” for distribution. Our booth will be available at the Sta Lucia Mall 10-Mile Run on 08 June 2008. For particulars and immediate contact with my staff, please visit/click the “Project Donate A Shoe” Page. 

Army PFT Challenge # 2

On By kingofpotsIn Running, Sports ProgramLeave a comment

For those who are interested to join the 8th Army Physical Fitness Test Challenge, they should be at the Philippine Army Gymnasium at 5:00 AM tomorrow (13 March 2008) for the registration. Race numbers will be issued to every participant. After the registration, warm-up and stretching exercises will be done. All the participants will be divided into groups depending on the number of available proctors/exercise marshalls in the Push-ups and Sit-Ups events. All participants will start at the same time for the 2-mile run. Food and water will be available..free!

Registration is FREE.

See you at the PA Gymnasium tomorrow morning!

Army Physical Fitness Test Challenge

On By kingofpotsIn Running, Sports Program4 Comments

This is a sports event that I introduced when I was the Assistant Chief of Staff for Training and Education, G-8, of the Philippine Army in 2000. Being the overall head for Training and Education for the Philippine Army, I strictly implemented the Commanding General’s Policy of the Philippine Army on the implementation of the Philippine Army Physical Fitness to all its Officers and Enlisted Men for them to pass the standards set forth according to one’s age.

This Physical Fitness Test consists of Push-Ups, Sit-Ups, and 2-Mile Run which is done in that order in one session with at least 15 minutes of rest in between event/exercise. The Push-ups and Sit-Ups have a time duration of performance of 2 minutes which means that you have to make your repetitions within 2 minutes. There is a Table of Reference for the number of repetitions for the push-ups & sit-ups and time of finish in the 2-mile run that correspond/equivalent to a certain rating or grade. The passing rating/grade is 70% depending on one’s age. (The older the person is, the lesser number of repetitons needed to pass the push-ups & sit-ups, and lesser time to finish the 2-mile run). This test is done on a quarterly basis. For officers who fail or did not take the test, they will be reprimanded, not considered for promotion, not considered for local & foreign schoolings, not considered for “commander” positions, and they will undergo physical fitness improvement classes & duties. For enlisted personnel who fails or did not take the test, they will be demoted to lower ranks and undergo physical fitness classes & duties.

Later, I thought of making this an sports event as part of the Month’s long celebration of the Philippine Army’s Foundation Anniversary during the month of March. I got this idea when I came across a sports event in San Diego, California which was dubbed as “Navy Seals Fitness Challenge” when I was visiting my family in Los Angeles in the summer of 1999. The sports event consisted of five events—swimming, push-ups, pull-ups, sit-ups, and running.

My “shop” in the Philippine Army Headquarters came up with the “mechanics” of translating our Physical Fitness Test into what is now called the “Army Physical Fitness Challenge”. Every repetition of the Push-Ups and Sit-ups corresponds to a certain point and the time of finish in the 2-mile run corresponds also to a number of points. The higher the number of accumulated points from these three events, the better chances for a participant to land on the top list. There are age categories on this event and a separate awards for the male and female groups. It’s inaugural event started on the PA Anniversary in March 2000. Since then, it became a hit and a success that even national athletes and civilians started to join the said event.

At present, the 8th Annual Army Physical Fitness Challenge will be held o/a 6:00 AM of 13 March 2008 (next Thursday) at the Hqs Philippine Army Grandstand, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. For particulars, contact PA Gymnasium or Special Service Unit, PA in Fort Bonifacio. 

Everybody is invited to join and experience this event. Minimal participating fee is required.

If you want to test yourself on the Army Physical Fitness Test, please click here.

Note: I’ve been a consistent Gold Medal Physical Fitness Medal/Badge Awardee (100% rating) for the past 10 years.

09 March 2008: DND-AFP Gintong Pangarap Half-Marathon

On By kingofpotsIn Half-Marathon, Jogging, Races, Running, Sports ProgramLeave a comment

It’s final…The DND-AFP “Gintong Pangarap” Half-Marathon is reset to 09 March 2008. This will be hosted by the Philippine Air Force and it will start at the Grandstand at Camp Villamor Air Base, Pasay City on or about 5:00 AM.

Flyers and Registration Forms will be available at the Subic International Marathon this Sunday and in the succeeding weekend road races.

Details of the race will be posted later on this blogsite.

Results: 6th DND-AFP Gintong Pangarap Team Relay

On By kingofpotsIn Race Results, Running, Sports ProgramLeave a comment

The following are the results of the 6th DND-AFP Gintong Pangarap Team Relay on 16 December 2007 at Bonifacio Naval Station (BNS), Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. Teams were categorized as Military and Civilian where each category was divided to Seniors (40 years old and above) and Juniors (39 years old and below). Each team consists of two male and one female runners where each runner runs 7K. The team with the lowest total aggregate time wins.

Military Team (Seniors):

Place      Team                   Members              Time 

1st         Philippine Army    Rey Antoque            1:24:02

                                               Daisy Castillon

                                               Rodolfo Tacadino

2nd       Philippine Army    Elpidio Lucero         1:27:48

                                               Rogelio Adenig

                                               Rosario Sarcol

3rd        Philippine Army    Gemma Padrinas    1:35:22 

                                               Edgar Serrano  

                                               Maximo Ulanday

4th       Philippine Navy     Ronald Despi           1:40:14

                                              Luzviminda Camacho

                                              Roy Vence

5th       Philippine Army    Narciso Maligaya     1:43:17

                                              Merlyn Quillo

                                              Artemio Ladia

Military Team (Juniors):

1st      Philippine Army     Adonis Lobaton       1:14:56

                                             Jujet De Asis  

                                             Anna Vargas

2nd    Philippine Navy     Enate Sayrol             1:24:48

                                            Ballester Sustenes

                                            Vicente Eclipse

3rd     Philippine Navy    Emerciano Jimenes  1:24:54

                                           Ailyn Morillo

                                           Raquel Espinosa

4th     Philipine Army     Ma. Alice De la Cruz  1:25:45

                                           Alley Quisay

                                           Mamerto Corpuz

5th    Philippine Air Force  Jonas Art Bacnagan  1:26:40

                                                 Rovel Canillo

                                                 Myrna Flamiano

Civilian Team (Juniors):

1st     Spearhead Runners    John Higger Quinones  1:21:22

                                                 Theresa Bolloso

                                                 Carlos Jose Pedregosa

2nd   Global Runners           Amelita Arcilla               1:26:03

                                                 Angelo Arcilla      

                                                 Ruel Arcilla

3rd   Global Runners            Genevieve De La Pena  1:36:02

                                                 Andres Tabafa

                                                 Romeo Monis

4th  Happy Feet Runners    Joemar Paras               1:37:36

                                                 Jaymie Pizarro

                                                 Benjamin Chan

5th   Global Runners            Mark Peralta                1:47:49

                                                 Jonathan David

                                                 Maria Fe Dumandan 

Civilian Team (Seniors):

1st    M2 Global Runners    Ma. Luisa Dulnuan     1:33:22

                                                Ricardo Pauig

                                                Gregorio Heray

2nd   Spearhead Runners   Helen Castillo             1:39:07

                                                Ferdinand Espejo

                                                Edgardo Pedregosa

(Note: There were 70 Military and 24 Civilian Teams which participated in the said event)