Run for Mama Mary

All is set for the Archdiocesan Shrine of our Lady of Lourdes 5K Run that fires off on October 29 in front of Lourdes Parish Church in Punta Princesa. The race is being organized to drum beat the start of the Jubilee Countdown promoting an awareness campaign for the 50th Parish Celebration. Over 600 runners are expected to vie for cash prizes, trophies, singlets, medals and certificates. The champions in both male and female categories will each receive P3,000, the second placers P2,000 and the third placers P1,000. Fourth to tenth placers each will get P300. All finishers will receive singlets and certificates. Expected to join the race are the different barangays of Punta Prinsesa, students and priests from Don Bosco Technical School and the different running clubs.Already confirming their participation are Fr. Peter Porio, CCSC commissioner Rolly Diorico, and Barangay captain Joe Navarro. We are also inviting Vice Mayor Mike Rama and Councilor Yayoy Alcoseba who all live around the area. Officials of the Punta Prinsesa Pastoral Council headed by President Nathan Cavada, coordinator Al Lao, Glenda Berenio and Laila Saballo launched the race at the Scoop Forum at the Baseline Restaurant last Thursday. Already confirming their support of the race are Waterfresh Drinking Water, Mc Donalds South Road, Cebu City Sports Commission and Casa Ilongga Robinsons Place. Registration is now on going at the DSL Office at the Cebu City Sports Center and at the PPC Lourdes Parish Office.

24 - Hour Cycle of Hope

One-legged triathlete Rudy Fernandez gave me a call the other night to inform me that a radio station in Iloilo City has agreed to sponsor a 24-hour cycling for charity for the former Pinoy Big Brother housemate. Rudy will be cycling around the Jaro Plaza (approximately 500 meters) non-stop starting 8:00 a.m. of October 6 until 8:00 a.m of Oct. 7. As Rudy's coach and manager, I told him to think it over as I believe his training is not enough. The project is a fund-raising event geared to help terminally-ill indigents. It's a noble project but I have to condition Rudy first.

UST Tigers Champs?

When this column comes out, there would have been a new champion in the UAAP. Not that I'm from La Salle but I pick the University of Santo Tomas to beat Ateneo De Manila and snare the crown. It looks like Ateneo is having a hard time against the Tigers. In fact if not for that gem of a play engineered by Coach Norman Black, Ateneo would have lost Game 1. "Sa ato pa, naglisod gyud ang Blue Eagles". Now look at Game 2, UST virtually controlled the game and even repulsed repeated rallies by Ateneo. Two pretty ladies Russel Caballero and Ann Ann Ramos believe the Tigers will devour the Eagles.

It's your first Marathon?

Due to the clamor from several running clubs who will be running in the Cebu Sinulog Marathon next year, I'll be providing tips on "How to finish your first Marathon" in my next column. A serious runner is never complete until the finishes a 42 K full marathon and thus be called "marathoner". Remember you are not a marathoner even if you finish the half-marathon (21K).