Run Poop Run (this is an unforgettable race story)

I just finished an 8k-race an hour ago and I’m still having this internal debate on which is going to be my most unforgettable race story: would it be my 1st race where I got a medal for last year’s 10k Milo Marathon or this 5th race where I pooped in the middle of the run! Shodishongkslongks ya! Hahaha the athlete in me could bear the embarrassment of uncovering this secret rather than taking the humiliation of finishing 5th to the last at a very slow pace hahaha whatda!

I didn’t hear it when my alarm went at 4am. I only woke up when Mr. Ocbeña was about to leave the house and while the thousand others were already at the Iloilo Freedom Grandstand. That panic mode affected my confidence level by 5 notches low. Worse, I missed my dose of dark chocolate and instead, drank my energy drink which was a bad bad move. Some people seem to remain hard-headed no matter how many times they have read about the dos and don’ts before the race hehe.

I started the race with a threatening tummy and the impact of running made it worse. The gravity finally did it when I ran down the fly over! I had to decide whether to finish or back out. So, I did a lot of deep breathing and managed to stay on the streets until I ran into Mr. Ocbeña and sir jun who were on their way back and told him to trace me back if ever I don’t show up at the finish line. Just a few meters away between them and the turning point I got sooo desperate that when I saw an open gate to a school I had to ran backwards and ask manong caretaker if I could pee (pee lang kuno). Oh phuleeeezzz.. don’t even bother asking what happened in the next 10-15 minutes! Hahahaha and more lols! I am sooo indebted and grateful to that school in Molo (I don’t wish to tarnish the name by mentioning it here hehe) and to manong caretaker, I lavya! (oh, and did i mention all the rest rooms were closed?)

This is the first time that I wasn’t able to get that finisher shirt!

To avoid this, please don’t be a hard-headed fool like me and get into actual practice these important rules before the race:

1. Avoid taking energy drink before the race!

The main ingredient in all “energy drinks” is carbohydrates or sugar. Sugar is the energy source all of our cells use to function...so the more we ingest, the better we will perform. Right? Not exactly.

A well balanced sport drink will have between 19 and 25 grams of sugar per 8 oz of drink. Research has shown that a concentration higher than 25g/oz slows gastric emptying. That means that the water which dilutes the sugar will not enter the blood stream, enhancing dehydration. Also, if consumed too soon prior to competition, a high sugar drink may cause gastric distress (nausea or vomiting). A drink too high in fructose (a simple sugar) may lead to diarrhea. Both of these side-effects can exacerbate dehydration. Energy drinks should also not be used as a rehydration source after exercise for the reasons previously mentioned. –sources: 2009 David Edell, onlymatch4u thru yahoo answers

2. Eat your chocolate or banana only few minutes before the race.

Ingesting high levels of sugar can also lead to a sugar high and crash. That is, the sugar enters the blood stream and provides a “blast” of energy, the athlete feels good and performs well. Once that sugar is burned up, usually in about 30 to 45 minutes, there is a sugar crash. The athlete’s reflexes slow, they may feel dizzy, muscle power decreases and performance falls off. –source: 2009 David Edell

3. Double-tie your shoelaces.

4. The rest you can find in the net..

Congrats to my cousin-in-law, alexandra ‘sunshine’ ganzon, for finishing 7th in 5k category. Many athletes like shine intentionally join in the 5k that’s why I don’t like running in that category :p

Congrats and thank you Iloilo Society Commercial, Inc. for organizing another running event in Iloilo. See you all on September 26 for the 34th Milo Marathon!

Happy 112th Independence Day, Philippines! 

dream job

boredom.. that's what brought me here ;) i got tired of staying in my comfort zone. i wanted to have a new environment & more fresh challenges.

my calling though, i believe, is to become a professional dancer (you may consider din yung sa redlight district hehe) but when circumstances shun me away from becoming that person.. i didn't know whatelse to do.

after several introspection and more introspection i have accepted my fate and decided on the next best thing for me. so now.. i'd be happy to become a writer, a travel/adventure/documentary host, a rock-n-roll mom of abandoned children (create my own foundation for kids), a freelance stage artist (both backstage & onstage). give me anything but a desk job!

i wanted to become a doctor but dislikes memorizing... i wanted to become a nun but fell in love... i wanted to become a lawyer but decided i don't want to become a professional liar... i wanted to become an engineer but got afraid i'd become a full-fledged lesbo... i wanted to become a politician but decided i can't give up my goodnight sleep... i wanted to become a chef but the tuition fee is just soooo haayyy... i wanted to become a triumph-beedees underwear model (bra only) but they can't afford my TF...

ang daming hang-ups! hay.. so yesterday, i decided na mag-aartista na lang. i'll audition for survivor philippines again, come hell or high water!! hehehe.. wish me luck! (wish me luck na maaprub leave ko)

The Dalai Lama, Mayor Treñas, and Me

I may not have the popular image of a religious person but definitely I do believe in the existence of God and the many mysteries attached.

This may sound odd to those who only knew me after puberty but half my age I had been an exemplary churchgoer, even seriously considered following the footprints of St. Anne, wear the robe (which I am certain I would look good), and deprive the humanity of the beauty that would only be as good to their eyes alone. I was a member of a Catholic parish choir and became a follower of a certain congregation, El Shaddai. (I’m not making this up and I’m still ok.)

Unorthodox as it may seem I have found peace in my independent relationship with God. I do not like the idea of belonging to a certain religion because I simply believe that when there are two or more that gather together, there is politics. And I simply can not equate faith with that. Barely to mention the extensive hypocrisy and blasphemy often used as a guise to make one look good (and pathetic).

Among the many groups that I have looked into Buddhism appealed to me because of its sincerity to the idea and practice of simplicity and goodness. Personally, I would like to consider Mother Theresa as a Buddhist more than a Catholic. And I like her.

What brought me into thinking about this is the great real-ization that came to me while I was battling between two forces. Not the normal good and bad but the toughest fight in choosing between the me that I’ve known myself to be and the me that wants to become.

Until now no one has ever made me want to meet him personally but the great character in the person of His Holiness, the Dalai Lama. Even after the disillusionment I have embraced and countered from previous teachers as I journeyed through life myself, this distant-ed mentor that I chose to indefinitely enroll in has continued to inspire me and gained my respect as he is to me an epitome of goodness.

When I heard he was having an Aussie tour in June 2007, I just know exactly that he has something timely to tell me.

Fortunately, a seemingly nice person named Ala was able to quote His holiness during his hour speech though may not so accurately:

After the events of Sept. 11, everyone feels that the world has changed, and that is how the media loves to paint it. But that is not true. The world is still the same. When I look out my window the wind still goes like that -(makes gestures with his hands). It is still the same sun. The only difference is there are more airport regulations now. (laughs)

It’s the same as celebrating New Year’s eve. People like to celebrate and wait for the sun to rise thinking that it’s a new day and a new sun. How childish! It is still the same sun!

The problem with people is that they like to focus on just one event, and then they want to generalize on the whole world. But if you have a holistic view on reality, if you look at a whole picture of the earth, I really see the world is improving, and that humanity is becoming deeper and more interconnected, through information and tourism.

For example, in the past and even earlier in the 20th century, people would willingly fight in wars, as an honor. But at this present day and age, in America for example, there are so many more people now who are against the war, and who advocates non-violent, compassionate means. In the Soviet Union and in the Philippines, dictators and oppressive political structures are toppled through peaceful, non-violent means. This is something very new.

Then there is the growing environmental awareness. Till the beginning of the 20th century, we did not feel we had any sense of duty to care for the earth.

9-11 is just one event. Do not let just one event delude you into thinking humanity is doomed. If you look at the whole picture of the earth, it is improving.

How could one man from miles and sectors away know exactly what to tell me on how I should be thinking at this certain point of my life? Emphasis was given to his last words because it hit me hard and made me real-ize I should liberate myself from the undesirable addiction that I have caught myself into these days.

Three hours after I got the message from His Holiness, I got to know about Mayor Treñas Executive Order No. 20-2007 “prohibiting fixers in all departments of the city government”! Wow! Indeed, something is happening. And this is improvement.

I salute the man for his political will. I have followed his other projects and decisions that could make him undesirable to some prospective voters yet he pursued, albeit unpopular. With this I am making a mental note that I will try to recognize him whenever we meet at the mall or in whatever circumstance.

What connects His Holiness, Dalai Lama, Mayor Treñas, and me is the thought that the world is such a great place to live in, that there is actually hope for humanity, and that living is much much and way way better than not having to experience life’s complexities at all.

The recent event in my life is just one event, though I am not discounting its significance. It has always been believed that everything has its purpose. I am still uncertain of the purpose of this one though. Important thing is I feel good now and grateful that I have been liberated.

On my last note, I would recommend you to watch a 2007 movie, The Holiday. The movie trailer gave me an impression that it is just another feel good movie since it stars among others Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz. It turned out, peculiarly, that it has certain depth. A must-see film if a person wants to be liberated from something. I found myself paradoxically in the characters of both Amanda and Iris. Also, I was some of Graham and Miles. The whole movie was about me and all the rest who are not afraid to love and take its consequences, and who loves life enough to continue living with a peaceful smile deep within.


-j

My loyal texters

my celfone stopped making alert sounds for a month now.. when in the recent past it used to beep almost every minute. each beep can either give me a good laugh, a smirk, a frown, a sigh, goosebumps, a heart rate of 200 beats per minute! each beep has always been important to me no matter if it’s only ‘ok’, thanks ;), u, cu, or tc since these came from persons i luv luv and ms ms gd gd gd and care so much about.

the same beeps made my phone bills shoot up to an average of 3k a month for several years. practically, it’s a bad and unwise habit since I don’t use it for business. looking closer though it implies that i value friendship and family ties more than anything else. it is an investment for something intangible. (nice try) still looks economically ugly.

ok. so i shifted to prepaid subscription as i had no choice since my line got barred eternally! this new no. is only known to less than 20 persons. pardon me if i don’t reply instantly. obviously, I am suffering from this no-load-situation not because of any superb reasons but it’s always that i’m too lazy to go to these loading stations where each time i don’t know how much to load. this is truly an ordeal for me. anyhow, i have convinced myself that because of this no one sends thoughts to me anymore except maybe for a couple of beeps each week from alicia and pawa (which I always love reading and rereading).

i am a very passionate person when it comes to relationships that’s why my system requires constant sharing of thoughts and circumstances, even trivial uns. doubly, it real-ly makes this silence sadder. through all these i was able to discover my loyal texters. they stay unfailingly with me the moment i wake up, when i eat, and whenever. tenks 2346, 2007, 2318, 2870 for always being there to disturb the deafening silence.

gods and goddesses, send me somebody who is tangible and real and could keep up with me. never felt so alone. i say, i’ve seen better days. -j

wet and dry.. and again.
(my one-day solo adventure in camiguin island)

It’s saying I was having the time of my life. Traveling alone, setting foot on the place for the first time with only a map, some basic info you get from the internet, a light pack, and a little smile given away at the right time is my idea of a worthwhile trip. I cannot let myself into a well-planned trip because everything would be almost predictable. So it’s definitely not my cup o’ tea. I would always go for a little adventure. So, there I was, finding myself touring the entire island of Camiguin in one day. (see Camiguin fotos)

6 Provinces/5 Days

Being in different places in relatively almost the same time is like having the chance to embrace the world. I know. Considering the world perspective is like putting my statement overrated. But it’s simply how I feel during those crossing-the-seas times.

The adventure started with a petite breakfast in my much-loved Iloilo. Tête-à-tête with Pets at the airport in Cebu while waiting for her flight to Manila. We talked like we haven’t been away from each other. The kind you share with those who are closest to your soul. Glad that Wewe (Pet’s cool husband) was there, too, to accompany me. I had another breakfast at their place in Lapu-Lapu and slept till after noon. Bought a boat ticket for Cagayan de Oro after dinner at SM-Cebu. Once there, I took the PUJ that will take me to Lim Ket Kai, CDO’s main commercial complex. A simple tip when one is new at a certain place: take the public utility ride and go to places as if you’re one of the locals. It always works, for safety and savings. The two-hour ride to Bukidnon is a surprise because I didn’t expect the roads to be fairly good. It didn’t help to have this stereotype on southern stuff. My bad, tsk tsk.. Of all PR6 who seemed so sure to be at Teresa’s military wedding, only Lads and I made it. And to think we were the ones who weren’t so sure about going! I had fun with the gurls on the wedding eve. The following day, in the middle of Teresa’s wedding reception, I left for Misamis Oriental. Didn’t feel good at all that I have to leave such a good wedding reception. I just had to catch up on the last ferry that would take me to Camiguin Island. It was dark when we docked. I checked in this very cozy Enigmata tree house with only a backpacker’s budget. In the morning, I started one of the most unforgettable days of my life.. seeing and embracing the whole mesmerizing island in one day. I simply had the most breathtaking sights before me. The long list of itinerary includes visit at the Phivolcs with Mt. Hibok-Hibok facing me, 250-ft Katibawasan Falls, Ardent Hot Spring, White Island, Sunken Cemetery, Old Church that was buried during the 1871 volcanic eruption, Bura-bura Soda Pool, Sto. Niño Cold Spring, Guinsiliban, Mantigue Island, and Ostrich breeding farm. I had only me but I had fun!

Create vs. Appreciate

Remember the moment when you start making assessment of your preoccupations and trying to align them to your own set of values…

Lately I have found myself indulged in good movies, not feel-good ones, mind, but great movies that can make me want to be in it. Good books variably take most of my time these days, too. For a brief rousing moment, it dawned on me that what I have been doing is merely appreciating someone else’s work!

I am no different to a reporter who makes it her business to tell about the story of other people instead of being the story herself. Rather than being the initiator I tolerated myself being a mere spectator. A mortal sin. This is how I would normally react or view the situation when I’m not behaving oddly.

With this awakening yet lacking the luxury of time I have at least managed to materialize what I call my life logo.


(hazy effect is necessary)

Do, not watch.

Buhok at Ekonomiya

Makakamura. Ito ang isa sa mga pangunahing dahilan ng aking pagpapagupit. Maiksi lang naman yung ginupit pero maraming pwedeng maitulong sa pagtitipid partikular na sa aking badyet, at sa ekonomiya ng ating bansa sa kabuuan. Ilan sa mga bagay-bagay ay ang shampoo, oras sa pagsusuklay at paliligo, tubig, nutrients na mapupunta sa buhok imbis na sa katawan, at iba pa.

Subalit…

Hindi ko naisip na mas magastos pa pala yung maintenance ng isang taong maiksi ang buhok. Kwarenta kada semana! Whaaaa!!!!!