Dreams come true

After the fall of the sugar industry in Negros in the early 80s, our family oil distribution business was not spared together with the other corporations that closed shop. With our last savings, we moved to Manila and opened a boarding house and a small eatery to cater to our borders. My father then said how he dreams that one day our painted signage will be in neon, due to our hard work, that dream was soon realized. Casa Ilongga became the biggest food chain in the country, specializing in Ilonggo cuisine. Last year, I met Rotarian Andrew Jimenez who talked about organizing a first ever Rotary run in Cebu. After a failed partnership with one organizer, Andrew asked me if we could stage a run in the near future. Andrew said he has long been dreaming of holding that race, well the “future didn’t take too long as we planned the first Cebu Rotary 10K Run. It was also a mission to make the Rotarians dream, real. Well, the rest is history. Last Sunday, over 1,000 runners answered the starter’s gun fired by CERC past president Judge Gabby Ingles.

Celebrity Runners

It must be recalled that we have to stop registration as we only planned to limit participation to 500. But due to the clamor of many runners we increased the entries, but still have to reject over 100 more. It seemed everybody was at Sumilon Road in the Cebu Business Park that Sunday morning. Some of the familiar faces were Councilor Edgar Labella, Dr. Peter Mancao, Yong Larrazabal and wife Donna Cruz, Atan, Jerry and Jeson Guardo, Joel Garganera, Mary Anne De Los Santos, Haide Acuña, Edgar, Jun and Rex Canton and the rest of their Kabangis Runners and Ayala’s Joy Polloso. The Cebu Executive Runners Clun headed by Jesse Taborada came in full force. And of course, the Rotarians from the different clubs.

Out Of Towners

With road races getting scare in the other parts of the country, the out-of-towners have regarded Cebu as the Mecca of running. Bukidnon’s Crifranreadel Indapan, made up of the absence of former Milo Marathon national record holder Cresenciano Sabal (who failed to arrive), to rule the race in 32:04. Still recovering from a fourth-place finish in the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon, Mendel Lopez, took second in 32:21 with SWU’s John Philip Dueñas pocketing third in 32:32. Reprinel Banzon came in fourth in 35:28. In the women’s division, Zamboanga’s Mary Grace Delos Santos made it a double for the visitors as she won in 39:43, Madelyn Carter was second in 41:44 while Cerly Rose Baylon salvaged third in 51:24. In the 5K division, Joel Delposo outkicked brother Eugene, to win in 18:01. Eugene clocked 18:34 for second while Jess Gonzaga pocketed third in 18:37. In the distaff side, Leszl Gitaruelas was back on her winning ways as she grabbed the crown in 22:27 to frustrate Mary Jane Beboso who timed 23:27 for second place. Haziel Retavale wound up third in 28:33. Donna Cruz Larrazabal surprised the field as she finished fifth in 30:42. Donna’s time should have been slightly lower if the course was not extended by 400 meters to avoid a turn around. The Rotary Run was sponsored by Summit Drinking Water, ABS-CBN, Ayala Center Cebu, White Flower, Precor USA, Finix Corporation, Alcordo Advertising, Jollibee, Arthro, Central Ice Cream, 100 plus, Holiday Gym and Spa, Great Life Financial, Oleia, Freestar, Philam Life, the Spa and Adrenaline X. It was also backed by Eruf, Seiko, SRP Bikers and the Philippine Sports Commission Region VII.       

NOTE:

Congratulations to Rening Ylaya who will be awarded during the Cebu Charter Day today (February 24). Some people questioned Rening’s selection, but Councilor Ed Labella said it’s not only in the medals and trophies won, it’s the inspiration. You don’t have to be a national athlete to get recognition. -THE FREEMAN