So. Leyte Running Capital

Southern  Leyte Provincial Tourism Officer Nedgar Garvez, blew into town to finalize preparation with Basilica Sto. Niño regarding the upcoming commemoration of the first Mass in the Philippines in Limasawa Island on March 30.  Nedgar was shooting two birds with one stone as we also tackled the mechanics of the Governor Roger Mercado Cup Southern Leyte Marathon Relay set during the province anniversary on July 1.  Nedgar  said the governor was really excited and even made some changes, clustering the marathons.  Eliminations will be held in five clusters including Maasin City.  Each  town will be fielding 10 runners each who will run 4 kilometers.  We are also cooking a triathlon in  Limasawa Island and an ultramarathon in Agas Agas, Sogod, site of the tallest bridge in the country at 100 meters.  We will also be conducting trail runs, what with the many majestic hills in Maasin and nearby mountain barangays.  In fact, Maasin City Mayor Maloney Samaco, himself a sports buff, held a trail run to camp Danao with an elevation of 1,000 feet above sea level.  Also being planned is a step-up run to the Mama Mary Shrine in Jalleca Hill.  Runners will run 5 kilometers from Maasin City Plaza to the shrine climbing 300 steps to the finish.  By the way, Mayor Maloney also  organized the first triathlon in the City and has brought PBA games to Leyte.  He is one of those responsible for the rise of the Pagara brothers in boxing.  With close coordination between Mayor Maloney, Representative Damian Mercado and Governor Roger Mercado, I’m sure Southern Leyte’s sports activities will continue to boom especially, running.  By the way some of   Maasin City’s products are El Presidente Ramon Fernandez, Olympian Jake Rojas and former tennis star Ringo Navarosa.  And oh yes! Mike Hanopol of Jeproks fame.

SHOES FOR BAIL

I don’t know if my good friend judge Gabby Ingles would  agree to a decision rendered in a Framincham district court recently.  Jason Duval, 39, was in court  to answer charges of possession of Class B substance and driving to endanger in 2012.  The court issued a warrant for Duval’s arrest because he has not paid $450 in court costs.  Duval said “Wa siya’y kwarta, pordoy siya kay”  he was going into a divorce but offered his week-old Nike shoes costing $85 as bail.  Judge Douglas Stoddart-agreed to return  his shoes if he paid $100 in $25 weekly installments. Gabby said “Puwede sa States pero dinhi dili puwede, presohon jud.”

DID YOU KNOW?

Alain “Spiderman” Robert, a rock climber from France has climbed more than 70 skycrapers and monuments in a span of 8 years with his bare hands and without a safety net.  Alain has scaled the Sears Tower in Chicago which is 1,450 feet tall.

Tony Sandoval who won the 1980 Olympics Marathon Trials and Bob Kempainen, who won the 1996 Olympic Marathon Trials are both medical doctors.