A big New Year’s run

Cebu greets the New Year with organized chaos.  Immediately after the smoke from all the exploded firecrackers clear and all the missing fingers deposited in I don’t know where, preparations for religious and social events commence almost immediately.

The local Catholic hierarchy prepares for the 9-day novena masses honoring our country’s most popular patron saint, the miraculous image of the Child Jesus, Señor Sto. Niño.  Likewise, the city government and other civic groups prepare for the Sinulog Mardi Gras.  During these times, it is an exercise in patience and temper management as we battle with bumper-to-bumper traffic due to closures of some roads and also thru the courtesy of DPWH, translating to Daghan’g Project Wa’y na Human. 

The local sporting world always starts the year with a marathon and for the past seven or eight years, it continued to improve and innovate, as per acquaintances who had participated and finished.  Put in place people who know what to do and tap other like-minded people, things almost always go better than expected.

I understand that it is now called the Cebu Marathon, from the previously called Cebu City Marathon.  It is now CM, not anymore CCM.  With 3,000-plus runners, it is one of the biggest and arguably one of the best, if not THE best organized foot race in the country to date.

From runners’ accounts, hydration stations as well as refueling stops were strategically located all throughout the race course and with the weather cooperating, runners had a good day pounding the asphalt.  I got amused with some guys recalling their need to find portalets en route as their tummies were not used to power gels which they say were also available aside from the usual bananas and chocolates.  Literally and figuratively speaking, this is what we call “having the runs.”  To the ordinary folks, “nagpuririt.”

I am seriously entertaining the idea of joining the 10K when they do the 2016 edition.  Aside from the impending aches, pains and blisters, I see the look of contentment and accomplishment from the finishers, translated into one three-letter word, fun.  Besides, there was a battalion of runners way too much bigger and heftier than me.  All things considered, chances are I’m in for my first ever 10K.  Yes, it is inflicting pain for enjoyment and I have eleven months to train, if ever.

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A barkadahan basketball league just closed its first season held at the St. John XXIII Seminary gym.  It’s the Kevlo Cup and Team Dax Navs, with a clean 9-0 slate beating YLR Realtors in the championship.  Tournament MVP is Ricoy Judilla.  The team is managed and coached by good friend Dax Navarro.  Kevlo deals in glutathione products, meaning this league is paguwapohay.  Because of gluta, almost all the players are guwapo, according to them, but the pinaka is the coach of the champion team, this is also according to him.

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Hope of the people.  This is the theme for this year’s celebration of the Sto. Niño fiesta.  Yes, with the trust and confidence of child, we turn our hopes and dreams to Sr. Sto. Niño that He may enlighten and guide us to the right path as we continue our journeys thru life’s trials and struggles.  typhoon Yolanda tested our resolve and despite the storms within our bureaucracy, those affected managed to survive.

  Before the year ended, Yolanda came twice, as typhoon Ruby – Returning for Unfinished Business by Yolanda.  Then she forgot something and howled again disguised as typhoon Seniang – Silent Enemy of Yolanda Aiming New Goals.  A new threat is coming, this time typhoon Amang – Another Mission to Attack without Natural Guards.  Storms and typhoons with their code names may batter us year in and year out but always, Señor Sto. Niño has never left us.

VIVA, Pit Señor!  VIVA, Señor Sto. Niño!  Kanamo maluoy ka unta nga kanimo nangilaba.