Smart move

When SMART’s Grace Ruperto offered me to direct the PLDT-SMART 10 Miler, I was a bit hesitant. You see, she was only giving us less in a month to come up with 2,000 runners and to think that we were just coming from the heels of the Cebu City Marathon. I was afraid the runners were still in no mood to run but I knew with PLDT and SMART connections, we could gather at least 1,500. I also doubted the capacity of the PLDT and SMART agents to deliver (shame on me), but they were just amazing. Lyle Togonon and Kent Dela Calzada were registering a lot of corporate accounts like Toyo, Lear, Chong Hua, Lexmark, WT Construction, Aboitiz Group to mention a few, making life for my pretty registration clerk Jeah Sabio, a bit hard. “ Di na gani ko ma kainom ug tubig,” said Jeah. Anyway, as early as Monday, we have to stop registration as we hit over 2,000 runners and we only had 2,000 singlets and race bibs made. During race day, about 2,600 runners answered the starter’s gun fired by SMART bigwig, Pato Gregorio. An unknown runner from Bacolod City Joel Alcorin dropped the upset axe on the heavy favorites, Mendel Lopez, Philip Duenas and Adonis Singson. Actually the Bacolod runner was sponsored by Grace Ruperto who was delited no end. With the success of the race, Pato said he intends to make the event yearly. The success however couldn’t have been possible if not for our sponsors and backers. A million thanks to Gatorade for providing the sports drinks. Waterfresh Drinking Water of Lilio Lim, Dunkin Donuts, Marco Polo, Plaza Hotel, Sunstar, Cebu Daily News, The Freeman, Amazing TV, Juicy Cologne for the finishers t-shirt, Anchor Milk and Genovis Vitamins. And to those whose names escape us for the moment, thanks a lot!

No Coordination

While in Iloilo, I got word from nearby Bacolod City now experiencing “Azkal Fever” that politics is again rearing its ugly head. My good friend Mayor Bing Leonardia feels he’s being ignored by my former classmate, Newk Puentevella, now POC president. There’s no coordination between the city and the organizers. If you recall, Newk ran for mayor in the last election against Bing and lost. Another friend, football bigwig Nonong Araneta and PSC Chair Richie Garcia (both Ilonggos) said “Ano ni sila man?”

JARO

After Typhoon Frank destroyed our house in Banker’s Village several years ago, we had to build a new one in a place where floods seldom occur. We moved to Arevalo district. But having lived in Jaro for most of my early years, I still considered myself as “taga-Jaro gid”. Of course Jaro is home to most prominent families in Iloilo like the Montinolas, Ledesmas, Locsins, Jalbuenas, etc. I also make it to a point to be in Jaro every February 2, that’s the Jaro Fiesta or the Feast of Nuestra Señora de Candelaria. Well it’s not only the eating here, but a lot of activities as well including the famous “bulang” (cockfighting) that lasts for 3 days and for this year the take is a whooping 5 million. It was also an opportunity for yours truly to schedule running events that are almost equaling Cebu, with two races happening at the same time. Next year we will be preparing for the First Dinagyang International Marathon while several duathlons, triathlons and trail runs are also being planned in nearby Guimaras. For sure I’m going to organize a Casa Ilongga Run this year, marking the Ilonggo food chain’s 30 years in existence.