Ernie’s birthday blowout

Last Saturday, Filipino trackster Ernie Candelario celebrated his 25th birthday in Busan and Nike marketing manager Auty Villarama treated for lunch after rounding up the gang at the Nike hospitality suite in the Marriott Hotel on Haeundae Beach.

Nike Asian Games correspondent Janelle So filed a report for The Star on the track squad’s visit to the suite. Ernie showed up with other Nike track athletes John Lozada, Lerma Bulauitan-Gabito, and Roy Vence.

The suite is located on the third floor of the Marriott and has become a favorite hangout among Nike icons, including basketball stars Takehiko

Orimo, Tien Lei of Chinese-Taipei, and Yao Ming of China. Among the facilities are three notebook computers with internet access, three TVs, Play Station gadgets, a beverage refrigerator, and a sitting lounge.

Janelle said the tracksters are hoping and praying for the best. "They’re competing with inspiration, high hopes and dreams for gold," she noted.

"With beginner’s luck, too, since all four are first-timers in the

Asian Games although they’re anything but rookies. They remain optimistic and hopeful about their chances. They’ve been a regular gold mine in international competitions. Lerma got a silver at the Asian Athletic Championships in Sri Lanka last August. She also brought home a silver at the last Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Kuala Lumpur. Ernie’s most recent conquests were a silver in the 4x400 relay and gold in the 400-meter run at the SEA Games. Roy also took a gold in marathon at the SEA Games."

Climate isn’t a concern among the tracksters, added Janelle. "Everyone’s looking good," she continued. "Though temperature in South Korea is a bit lower than Manila, there is no problem. Prior to coming to Busan, they trained in Baguio where, they claim, it’s cooler."

Janelle said eating in Korea is quite an experience. "Practically, everything here is turo-turo style," she related. "Meaning, we point at pictures for our orders. That’s the best we can do since communication is very difficult. Not too many Koreans speak English. And with the very few who do, you have to pronounce English words the way they do.

Otherwise, they won’t understand. Like we pronounce Marriott Hotel as Mar-yot.

One taxi driver couldn’t understand me because he knew Marriott as Me-rit."

Kimchi is, of course, the staple. But Janelle said it’s too spicy for her taste buds. "Lerma and company also didn’t eat it during Ernie’s birthday blowout," she went on. "We all enjoyed fresh Korean beef cooked on our own table. It’s eaten per piece with a mixture of chopped veggies, wrapped in lettuce. Used to Pinoy-style of eating, Roy, Ernie and John ate theirs with rice. Carbo-loading, I guess."

Auty said the Nike hospitality suite overlooks thousands of Koreans and tourists strolling on Haeundae Beach.

"There’s an exhibit going on at the beach," said Auty. "Artworks made out of different materials. For example, a twin towers mock-up with Korean names in flags at the base. A floating pair of giant Jeans, a paper mache sculpture, a train going towards the sea. And I thought we were creative people. The suite also overlooks the site of the beach volleyball games. Believe it or not, the toilets and shower rooms are air-conditioned considering it’s around 15 to 18 degrees outside."

Last Monday, Auty said Nike cagers Jeffrey Cariaso, Danny and Andy

Seigle, Olsen Racela, Asi Taulava, and Eric Menk visited the suite. Also in the group were Jeffrey’s wife Michelle and Eric’s sister Michelle–fondly called the M&Ms.

"I was still at the stadium watching Lerma in the long jump and Ernie in the men’s 400-meter when they came," said Auty. "The players were OK at the suite. They were entertained by Nike folks then we met up at a nearby Outback restaurant. I chanced upon the group in the streets. I saw Danny on crutches and Andy walking funny–that’s how Andy is, always having fun. "As we sat at the restaurant, Jeffrey made sure we ordered quickly because they had a viewing at 7:30 p.m. So we did. Asi was blabbing about Jeffrey and Olsen getting a haircut just like his and Andy’s, to show support for Danny. They talked about how they made their quarters more comfortable. The 12 players were split into two groups of six per unit. They put one bed in the sala where they play cards and one of them sleeps near the kitchen or in the kitchen area. Food is OK and is available 24 hours at the Athletes Village. The dining area is close to the Philippine team quarters."

Auty said Asi and Andy bought a bunch of Dunkin’ Donuts to bring back to their room after lunch.

According to Janelle, the Athletes Village was constructed on a 105,100-square-meter lot. It has 20 apartment-style buildings with 2,290 units for over 10,000 athletes and officials. Aside from the living quarters, the Village has other facilities to meet the athletes’ needs. There’s a bank, a photo shop, a laundry room, and even a tailor in a vacant elementary school nearby.

"I went around the site a few days ago and saw that the place, though huge, is not yet finished," mentioned Janelle. "The foundations are constructed but there’s hardly any furnishing inside. Flooring is still raw as well as the sides and ceilings. Nonetheless, the facilities are there. For leisure, athletes can go to the coffee shop, disco, internet plaza, and lounge. There’s also a shopping area. For sale are different native products of Korea-fans, dolls and masks which I found interesting. There’s also a huge Nike booth that sells apparel, shoes, and accessories such as bags and a convenience store where you can buy snacks and toiletries.

"Another interesting area is the game room. Here, athletes can play video games. I saw a Dance Rev machine. It’s like Timezone with a Korean flair. I noticed that aside from Koreans and Japanese, players from Qatar and the Mid-East countries enjoy playing video games. There’s also a video-viewing room, art studio and a karaoke room. And for those who’re wondering where Asi and Andy got their haircut, the barbers are in the beauty salon. And that’s probably where the other players are heading for in the next few days. Yes, our boys are shaving their heads for Danny. And should they go on to win the gold, not only will the medal be shiny but also the shaved heads of the whole team."