VIVA! Pit Señor!

With some road closures and several fumingly clueless motorists during the early hours of January 10, the 2016 edition of the Cebu City Marathon opened.  About 4,000 runners answered the gun for the 42k, 21k and 10k distances.  Organized by Manila-based RunRio, it was generally successful and profitable, and as always, dominated by the Kenyans.

I’ve read negative reactions on social media, mostly complaints on the pricey registration, the quality of the freebies, the lack of food at the finish line and the large amount of money gained by organizers.  We live in an unfair and cruel world that sometimes we don’t get what we want and sometimes we pay too much for so little.  That’s life as we experience it, we live and deal with it.

I had never run the CCM, much less privy to the conduct of the race so it would be better if things are addressed thru the proper channels.  Facebook, Twitter or Instagram won’t solve issues, they could even make things worse, knowing that there are lots of people who are ignorant of the facts that readily jump into the turmoil.

The 2017 edition of the CCM could be supervised and run by Cebu-based groups.  One can be the lead organizer, like the Cebu Executive Runners’ Club, then CERC can request assistance from other groups that are experienced in handling these races and share in the revenues generated.  Maybe, just maybe, there will be minimal complainants. 

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We have a very deep reverence and love for the Child Jesus that from water refilling stations to tricycles to boats to lending firms with usurious rates and everything else in between, they all carry the same name – Sto. Niño.The Sto. Niño has become part of our Catholic lives that everyday, we see His image and name displayed in prominence anywhere and everywhere.

Every third Sunday of January is His feast day and our devotion brings us to the daily novena masses at the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño that even in the wee hours of the 4am 1st mass up to the 7pm final mass, the Pilgrim Center is packed with devotees.

The Augustinian priests who are the administrators of the Basilica say that every year, pilgrims grow in number and I personally can attest to that.  My family always find time to attend the 5:30am 2nd novena mass and yes, the main quadrangle and overhead bleachers are packed, mostly with students, office workers and the requisite selfie-seekers.

The Gozos brings the spiritual in us.  With hands waving, we ask the Sto. Niño to be merciful to us, to protect us and to guide us with His blessings.  If we immerse ourselves in the Gozos and concentrate on the verses, it tells us in a concise way how the Sto. Niño came and chose Cebu and considering all that had happened thru the years, we had been very blessed to have the Child Jesus with us.

It is a good thing that the religious activities of the celebration are not corrupted by the commercialism of the Sinulog, now on its 34th year.  I commend and appreciate the organizers for the smooth parallel running of the religious and commercial aspects without major conflicts or hitches. 

It’s also about time for authorities to require permits and take control of the activities of people with a firmly strong devotion to alcohol.  The after-parties on the sidestreets often become rowdy and in some cases, violent, when wackos in their drunken euphoria test the barrier between clear headedness and insanity.  Good luck to unwary individuals who stray into these streets if they can get out semi-alive.

Limiting and controlling these Sinulog after-parties hopefully will lessen the walking deads the morning after.  The sight of drunks, both male and female, down and out on the sidewalks is not your idea of a tourist attraction.  The buses from the Bureau of Corrections with iron bars as windows should give these plastic-livered souls time to think – is it really worth it to it to spend the night unconscious in a prison bus?

Like a child in need, may we all find solace and trust in the Sto. Niño, knowing fully well that He is our wellspring of mercy and compassion.  VIVA! PIT SENOR!  VIVA! SENOR STO NIÑO!