Race Report: Race Against Cancer

Due to a previous engagement, I had to beg off from joining this race last Saturday.  Anyhow, I’m happy to share with you dear readers and followers of this blog the report on the race from Maida Pulido, Huper International Creative and Corporate Communications Director, who mentioned that the event was a huge success.  Kudos to the organizer and the participants of this charity run!  

ooOoo

Charity Run Gives Hope to Cancer Patients,

Pushes Through Amidst Security Jitters

Amidst security jitters following the Boston Marathon bombing, Run Against Cancer charity run for indigent cancer patients successfully pushed through as planned on April 20, 2013 at the Bonifacio Global City (BGC), Taguig.

“We had to infuse more friends from the police to protect the public as well as guarantee the safety of our runners,” said Dr. Charity Gorospe, Corridor of Hope’s adviser and St. Luke’s Cancer Institute-BGC’s director.

Running on wheelchair and kiddie strollers, cancer survivors, patients, and their families joined about 3,000 other runners of Corridor of Hope, the Cancer Support Group of St. Luke’s Cancer Institute. The successful charity event was also presented by SKYJET Airlines and supported by the Department of Health (DOH).

Photos Courtesy of Run Against Cancer

In his message, DOH Assistant Secretary Eric Tayag underscored that “RUN AGAINST CANCER is not only a good event to raise funds for the benefit of indigent cancer patients, it is also a good advocacy campaign to raise awareness on cancer and also to promote Filipino healthy lifestyle.”

Photo courtesy of Tong Pascual Photography

Meanwhile, Dr. Gorospe inspired cancer patients and their families by encouraging them to patiently go through their healing journey with hope in their hearts.

“Corridor of Hope believes that there is no medicine like hope. Thus, going through the cancer treatment process without losing hope means consciously choosing to side with healing and recovery,” said Dr. Gorospe. “A patient’s positive attitude certainly works well with the management of the disease,” she added.

Aside from Asec Tayag and Dr. Gorospe, the event was also attended by various personalities including DLSU Lady Spiker Michele Gumabao, actress Karylle, Philippine Volcanoes’ Andrew Wolff and Chris Everingham, young generation of talents from ABSCBN’s Star Magic Circle, medical practitioners, corporate partners, other cancer support groups, cancer survivors, cancer patients and their families.

Photo courtesy of Run Against Cancer



Photos courtesy of Tong Pascual Photography





SKYJET Airlines gave out two FREE round trip tickets to Batanes and Busuanga via Run Now Fly Later promo to lucky winners

Aside from SKYJET Airlines and DOH, Run Against Cancer was also supported by AHCC Nutrients Philippines, Paramount Life and General Insurance Corporation, Air21, Pocari Sweat, Manila Water, BGC, Manila Bulletin, Manila Times, Philippine Star, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Health Today, Moms Today, 702DZAS, 91.5 BIG Radio, 107.5 WIN Radio, 106.7 EnergyFM, Toby’s Sports, ROX, Runningmate, Runners Runner, and Proactive Sport.

The run was organized by events and productions specialist, HUPER International (02.661.64.89 ask@huperinternational.com).

Photoholic Baguio and Panagbenga 2013

I have been to Baguio quite a number of times that I knew my way around there.  Thanks to previous races and visits.  These really helped.   When running became a top priority, singing with the choir took a backseat.  Thus, it has been a while since the last time I saw some of my choirmates.  I recompensed lost time by joining them for a trip to Baguio last year, a timely visit for me since there were other landmarks or points of interest which I missed exploring during previous visits.  What better way to see and learn the city again than by running or walking around. 

With my choirmates

"K-pop" locals? These remarkable ladies asked me to join them  

I planned to run but ended up walking around the area

Apart from an assortment of vegetables and different handicrafts found in their market, the variety of flowers they have in the city never stopped to amaze me.  For this very reason, I promised myself next time I visit the city it would be in time for their Panagbenga Festival.  So I did.  

These are the photos of flowers which I took in the summer of last year

The city celebrated the flower festival last February 23 and 24 with the theme "A Blooming Odyssey".  Street dances and float parades highlighted the celebration.  I tried to get some good shots of the float parade; however, with the many onlookers plus my-not-so-good position to take the shots, I could only pick one.  The rest of the photos were taken as I was touring the area a day before the big events.

 One of my favorite floats

Little Buddha sculptures inside the Baguio Botanical Garden

I watched a real weaver in action at the Easter Weaving Room

The finish products, a wide array of tribal prints

Fight Scar the Contractubex Way

I've certainly had my share of wounds over the years, most of them mishaps while running. One in 2009, I stumbled while doing one of those training runs and my knees got scraped. The other incident was in 2011; I suffered a chafed skin during a marathon race.

Being scarred after sustaining an injury is a natural effect in the process of wound, but scarring especially when it’s in a noticeable area was a big concern of mine. At that time, I didn’t know which cream to use until my niece asked me to try Contractubex.

Press Release

Contractubex: A Happy New Year Means a Happy New YOU!

Are you all set for the New Year ahead?

You may be prepped with your new planner, polka dotted-outfit and good luck charms to welcome 2013, but are you ready to face the coming year? We all have our own stories to tell, about mistakes we’ve made or accidents we’ve encountered–like a slip or an unintentional fall–that have resulted to a few unwanted scars.

It’s time to leave 2012 behind.

Scars are never a pleasant thing. Seeing a mark or flaw on your skin brings you back to the time you fell while wakeboarding in April, tripping on your heels during your birthday dinner in August, or accidentally burning yourself while baking a batch of homemade cookies in October. Some memories may be worth recalling, but any scar left behind is hardly a wanted souvenir.

 

No scar should keep you from turning a new leaf and making 2013 the best year of your life yet! The best way to do this is to let go of the past and leave it all in the year that was. Now you can, with Contractubex! Contractubex is a clinically proven treatment that combines the triple action of Cepae Extract, Heparin and Allantoin to help reduce the appearance of these unsightly marks on your skin.

You may notice that there are several other scar treatments available in the market today. What makes Contractubex different from other scar treatments is that its ingredients help reduce inflammation and prevent excessive scar formation. Its water-soluble ointment base allows active ingredients to penetrate into deeper layers of the skin.

Contractubex comes in a gel form that makes for its easy application on the skin. Just rub Contractubex on the affected area 3-4 times a day or as prescribed by your doctor. Results may be seen after at least [three] months of use so don’t lose hope when you don’t see results early on. Just follow the instructions carefully and be consistent in applying it on your scars. You’ll know that Contractubex is working when you notice a reduction in redness, relief of tension and less itching on the scar area. Contractubex works best on fresh scars, when the wound is completely closed.

With Contractubex, you can finally move on from the scars of the past, and forward to a more confident, beautiful and happier you, just in time for the New Year ahead!

“2013 will be my year!”

Claim it.

You can.

Explosions Rocked Boston Marathon 2013

I was surprised to see the news on TV early this morning.

This is a gloomy day for all runners and organizations around the world.  In a moment of silence, please join me in praying for those who have perished and been injured (and still fighting for their lives) and the solving of the blast incidents at the Boston Marathon.  My heart reaches out to the people of the City of Boston.

Markdown Madness @ Tektite : Shoe Sale of Up to 70% Discount

One of the biggest annual summer sale events in town, Markdown Madness @ Tektite is happening once again. Enjoy up to a whopping 70% discount on participating brands: Skechers, Keds, Sperry Top-Sider, Saucony, Pony, Merrell, and No Fear from April 15 to 19, 9am to 8pm at the Philippine Stock Exchange Exchange (PSE) Auditorium, Tektite Tower in Ortigas Center, Pasig City.

Markdown Madness is now on its 10th year and promises to be another grand sale with great finds on selected items from participating brands. This is a good time to buy shoes for your summer escapades and vacations, as well as for back-to-school.

Don’t miss this chance to get the best shoe deals in town! Visit MarkdownMadness on Facebook for more information and updates.

An Awardee? : A Recognition "That Never Was" ...

The  unused Mardi Gras mask with
materials carefully selected by yours truly
for this event 

I laud RunRio for its noble cause—giving back to runners and recognizing their achievements in a ceremony prepared solely for them.  But no matter how small or grand an awarding ceremony is, missing out a small detail such as a name of an awardee, is sacrilege.  There’s no excuse for such a mistake.  Imagine if this thing happens to you in big events?  Here you are all geared up only to be informed your name is nowhere to be found.  Faced with this dilemma, you’d rather wish a sinkhole would swallow you in than experience embarrassment.

What’s the problem?  Here’s the problem. My name is not on the list.  Boo for me! If only the organizer knew of the lengths I had to go through prior to this event. It is just too disappointing not finding your name when you most expected it.  Apparently, the committee, if ever there was one, tasked to purge the list and supposedly present an ACCURATE list, did not do its job.  How hard really is it to purge a file? At least, my name’s in the guest list though.  But I came not as a guest (blogger) but as an awardee.  I was told by the staff that the initial list was published in their web site.  So if your name is not found, you need to contact them.  I didn't know this.  I wouldn’t have known of the event until I received the e-invite just a few days back.  I thought everything was in order. I deduced it was sent to me as awardee and not as guest blogger.    

While the staff in control of the computer database, let’s call him Staff D, was nowhere yet at the Registration Counter upon my arrival, another staff, let’s call him Staff X assigned at the P to Z lane commented, after not seeing my name said, “Hindi pala kayo runner, e (You’re not a runner).”  What a way to add insult to injury!  Honestly, I had mixed feelings on how to react and what things to say to him without losing my head.  I must have looked at him incredulously.   I thought of replying a very good expletive rejoinder but tried not to.  

I asked a returning Staff D, “What happened? Why is my name not included? He said, “You indicated only your first name in one leg while in another leg you used your two names.”  I tried to process this information in my mind.  I further asked, “How many surnames the same as mine in your database?”  He answered, “One.”   There you go.  Common sense dictates that information in those names should have been further evaluated and verified.  Checking, for example, the e-mail addresses, birthdays, home addresses among others. Why do awardees have to do this when supposedly it’s the organizer’s job in the first place?  What’s the purpose of having those databases? What’s the use of technology if utilized for naught?

Staff D asked Staff X to add me in the list.  Just the same, I was asked to write my name manually in another paper. Mediocrity is so easy.  I was not alone in this predicament.  There was another runner at the counter “trying to establish he is an awardee”.  

“There’s no reason for me stay here after all,” I said to Staff D.   He only replied, “Kayo po (up to you).”  Now, this is what I call customer service at its finest (a sarcastic thought, of course).  I literally walked away.  Then, decided to go home even before the ceremony started.

I finished the trilogy 21Km-21Km-32Km in 2010 and another trilogy in 2012 21Km-21Km-32Km including the 42Km dubbed as 1st Run United Philippine Marathon.  I blogged my running experiences and even promoted these events.  To top it off, officially finishing those and completing the series, per Staff X statement,  this made me NOT a runner.  What the … !  

I bet, Staff X, couldn’t even finish a one-kilometer run without huffing and puffing. 

On my way home, thoughts played in my mind.  What kind of preparation is this?  Is this their way of raising the bar?  If it’s so, I will take no part in it. This is not raising the bar; this is taking it many notches lower!   

To me, this year’s Runrio Awards, is a total disappointment ... big time!   

Run Against Cancer : a Charity Run for Indigent Cancer Patients (2013 Apr. 20 : Bonifacio Global City)

PROJECT BRIEF

Chilling Statistics

Cancer remains a leading cause of death worldwide according to the World Health Organization. In 2008, it accounted for 7.6 million deaths (around 13% of all deaths). About 70% of all cancer deaths occurred in low- and middle-income countries. Deaths from cancer worldwide are projected to continue to rise to over 13.1 million in 2030.Œ

In the Philippines, recent studies from 2008-2010 have shown a steady increase in cancer incidence. It is also predicted that new cases of cancer will amount to roughly 82,468 new cases in both male and female. 

Now, more than ever, it is important to spread cancer awareness and information to keep the numbers from rising even further.

Challenging Realities

Cancer is a devastating disease that gnaws, not only on the patients, but also on their families. It takes its toll on their bodies, emotions, finances, and relationships. While there are available sophisticated medical technology and equipment, cadre of experts in cancer treatment and management, and protocols equal to the patients’ requirement for healing, the cost of therapy is prohibitively high. With the poverty rate at 45% in Q4 of 2011, most Filipinos cannot afford even the “standard-of-care” treatments. Unless we all step into the ugly picture and stand up to cancer, it might continue to cripple more families and claim more lives.

Frontrunners of Hope

Ever at the forefront of the fight against cancer, the country’s premier tertiary cancer center, ST. LUKE’S MEDICAL CENTER, partners with the St. Luke’s Cancer Institute’s CORRIDOR OF HOPE, INC., to help spread cancer awareness and bring hope to cancer patients and their families.

On 20 April 2013, the St. Luke’s Cancer Institute’s Corridor of Hope, in collaboration with ally medical practitioners, corporate partners, cancer support groups, and cancer patients and families, leads the race to life through RUN AGAINST CANCER, a charity run for the benefit of indigent cancer patients.

Cancer patients’ healing journey is often long and arduous. We can help bridge the gap between indigent cancer patients and their needed treatment if we’d altogether unleash the power of our feet. With our help, they just might be 3K, 5K, or 10K away from their recovery.

Support the race to life. Run against cancer.

Π(World Health Organization, Cancer Fact Sheet, February 2012, http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs297/en/)
 (http://www.psmo.org.ph/philippine-society-of-medical-oncology-leads-celebration-of-cancer-consciousness-week/)

THE OBJECTIVES:

• To raise a minimum of P 20M to help the indigent cancer patients of St. Luke’s Medical Center and other hospitals through partnerships with the cancer support and advocacy groups.

• To create avenues to establish partnership with advocates and supporters for sustainable programs to help the indigent cancer patients.

• To increase awareness about cancer prevention and management.

THE TARGET RUNNERS:

• Cancer Survivors and Families

• Cancer Support Groups

• Advocates of Health

• Company delegates

• Churches

• NGO’s

• Students

• Professional Runners

RUN AGAINST CANCER

A Charity Run for Indigent Cancer Patients initiated by Corridor of Hope, Inc., the official cancer support group of St. Luke’s Medical Center in cooperation with different cancer support groups and organized by Huper Events and Productions Specialist International Corp.

20 April 2013, Saturday

4:30AM Assembly Time

Bonifacio Global City (BGC)

CATEGORY REG FEE*** GUN START

10K P 800.00 5:00AM

5K P 700.00 5:15AM

3K P 600.00 5:30AM

*** Includes race singlet, race bib and race chip

SPECIAL PRIZES:

• Medals and special prizes for Top 5 finishers for each category

• Round tickets for 2 persons for Batanes or Busuanga from Skyjet Airlines to be raffled to all registered runners

• Sampling and freebies from Sponsors and Exhibitors

ONLINE REGISTRATION (20 JANUARY – 18 APRIL 2013)

runningmate.com

ONSITE REGISTRATION (20 JANUARY – 18 APRIL 2013)

ST. LUKE’S MEDICAL CENTER CANCER INSTITUTE

Quezon City and BGC Branches

IN-STORE REGISTRATION AND RACE KIT REDEMPTION (30 MARCH – 18 APRIL 2013)

• Toby’s Arena @ SM Mall of Asia

• Toby’s Sports @ Glorietta Makati

• Toby’s Sports @ Robinson’s Galleria

• Brooks Store @ SM North EDSA

Punta Fuego Turtle Run (2nd : 2013 Mar. 30 : Peninsula de Punta Fuego, Nasugbu, Batangas)

As the country celebrates Holy Week or Semana Santa this week, and if you happen to be in the area, here's one good race to join for the family, the 2nd Turtle Run happening on Saturday, March 30 in Nasugbu, Batangas.  It's a challenging five-kilometer run with the spectacular view and for a good cause too!  Click here for inquiries and registration or  call (632) 751.4027.

Merrell Adventure Run

RACE INFORMATION

Date: 27 April 2013, Saturday

Venue: Mt. Sinai, Pintong Bukawe, San Mateo, Rizal

Race Distances: 5km (Men's & Women's), 10km (Men's & Women's), 21km (Men's & Women's)

RACE KITS DISTRIBUTION SCHEDULE

Race kits and singlets can be claimed starting April 1 to April 21 ONLY in respective registration centers. Singlet sizes will be subject to availability and will be on a first come, first served basis.

ASSEMBLY TIME FOR ALL CATEGORIES: 5:45am

Distance / Gun Start:

21km 6:00am

10km 6:10am

5km   6:20am

Cut-off time of 5 hours for the whole race will be implemented

RACE KIT INCLUSIONS

•Timing Chip, Race Bib, Singlet, Safety Pins

•Rules and Regulations

•Directions to Venue

•Shuttle Option (optional for participants, with extra charge)

REGISTRATION DETAILS

Submit  registration form with your fee from February 15 to April 7 at any Merrel Concept Shops listed below:

MARKET MARKET 

G/F Space 23-24 Phase 8, Gaisano Market Market                  

Taguig City 

Tel. no. (02) 836-1560

TRINOMA

Space 2128 M2, Quezon City

 Tel. No. (02) 915-0197        

SM NORTH EDSA-The Annex

Level 3, The Annex, EDSA, North Avenue 

Quezon City

 Tel. no. (02) 352-2737

FESTIVAL MALL

 2/F Festival Mall, Alabang, Muntinlupa City

 Tel. no. (02) 659-3284 

MARQUEE MALL

Nepo Ave. Angeles City, Pampanga 

Tel. no (045) 304-0654

SM PAMPANGA

Ground Floor, Olongapo-Gapan Road

San Fernando, Pampanga

HARBOR POINT

2nd Floor, Rizal Highway 

Olongapo City

 Tel. no.(02) 542-2235

DASMARIÑAS

Upper Ground Floor, Expansion Wing, Governor's Drive

 Dasmariñas City, Cavite

Singlet sizes will be subject to availability and will be on a first come, first served basis

WATER AND FIRST AID STATIONS

Hydration stations will be provided at the finish line and along the race route.

This is an eco-friendly event.  Each participant is required to bring his/her own hydration pack/bottle.  Organizers will only provide refilling stations along the race course and there will be no cups to avoid littering.

Medical aid will be available at certain points along the way and at the finish line.

INCLEMENT WEATHER

1. In the event of heavy rain, lightning, haze, fog and other inclement weather or adverse weather condition, the event may be delayed or cancelled.

2. Should bad weather persist beyond 7:00am or the condition deemed unsuitable, the event will be cancelled.

3. If rain occurs after the race has started, race participants may continue unless otherwise advised by the designated race official or marshal.

All Top 3 finishers for each race category for both Men's and Women's each get the cash prize along with a gift bag from the sponsors

FINISHERS MEDAL All 21km finishers will receive a finisher’s medal. Medals will also be given to the first 50 finishers for 5km and 10km categories respectively.

CERTIFICATES will be sent through email within two weeks after the race date to those who finish the course in their specific categories.

SUGGESTED EQUIPMENT

Trail running shoes, hydration pack/bottle belt, cap, running gaiters and energy bar or gel, head lamp especially for the 21K runners.

RULES & REGULATIONS 

General Rules

1. All participants below 18 years old must have their registration forms signed by either a parent or a guardian.

2. Registration is non-transferable and non-refundable.

3. Multiple category registration for one person is prohibited for safety purposes and as this may affect or disrupt race results.

4. Participants who choose not to take part in the event after having registered can decide to withdraw. However, please note that there will not be any registration fee refund. Race slots are also strictly non-transferable.

5. Race bib numbers and electronic timing chips must be worn at all times during the race. Official time will be based on the disposable timing chip provided in the race kit. No chip, no time. Without the timing chip, participants are not entitled to win any of the top prizes.

6. Organizers maintain the right to remove any participants from the race. Injuries and medical emergencies are the utmost priority.

7. No late runners will be allowed to run 15 minutes after the gun start of their respective races.

8. All runners are required to have the proper loop band when they cross the finish line; no loop band means disqualification from the race.

9. A cut off time of 5 hours for the whole race will be implemented. Runners on the course after the cut-off time will be pulled out by the Race Marshals.

10. Time penalties and disqualification may be imposed by the race organizers on runners who do not follow race rules.

11. All protests related to the results must be made in writing and submitted to the Race Director within 30 minutes after the official announcement of winners.

12. The organizers reserve the right to make changes at its discretion without prior notice. The organizer's decision is final.

PROXY REGISTRATION

In the event that a participant will not be able to personally register and sign the liability waiver form at the designated registration areas; their representatives must bring the following: (1) downloaded form with signature of participant, (2) authorization letter, and (3) valid ID of the participant and representative.

SHUTTLE SERVICE

Place & Time

Market!Market!, BGC 3:00 am

TriNoma, North Edsa 3:30 am

Php300 round trip, first come, first served basis (payment to be settled only at Merrell Concept Shops)

One Fine Sunday Morning Run

It has been roughly almost two weeks since my visit to Baguio City for the 2013 Panagbenga "a season of blooming" flower festival, but still have yet to write an article about it. Missing to do a long slow distance (LSD) the other weekend, I made up for it last Sunday.

Meanwhile, the day before my long run, a fellow runner sent me this text message: Are you back? My reply was, “Yep,” and even added, “It’s BDM (acronym for Bataan Death March) weekend now.” We exchanged a little friendly banter of doing the LSD there. Half jokingly, half seriously, she prodded me to inquire if we could sign up at the event and run a fifty to seventy-kilometer distance para daw payat kaagad (so as to lose weight instantly). Given the time, I knew it would be impossible to register. This event is organized under strict adherence to BDM rules including registration requirements. I replied, “Huwag na. Done na tayo doon. Beauty rest na muna. (Let’s not. We’re done with it. It’s better to have a beauty rest.) Running around Rockwell or going to another place is OK with me.”

In the end, we agreed to do LSD somewhere in the south, in the scenic trail she told me where she and her running buddy, now a dive instructor at a resort in the Visayas, used to train. A bowl of lugaw or arroz caldo (porridge or congee with chicken topped with hard-boiled egg) at Aling Pina’s Lugawan (canteen) in Silang, Cavite was the prime motivator to do this run.

We left at past 4 AM on Sunday morning and drove straight up to Santa Rosa, Laguna. We arrived in the village, an upscale residential area close to a golf course at almost half past five. As there are sari-sari stores along the way, I only brought enough money with me for any hydration or food need. Sari-sari means variety or a different mix of whatever or mini grocery.

It was still dark with patchy drizzle at times. The long path was almost deserted; the only living creatures in sight were us. The road was lit only by the headlights of a passing car or motorbike, the silence broken only by the noise of the engine and our incessant chatter. We started to walk the course to warm up our rather still sleepy legs, going up a sloping pavement with the first few kilometers relatively less steep than the others. Watching the pre-dawn glow of bluish-gray, purple, pink and orange burst into yellow sunlight, revealing the beauty of Mother Nature at its best. Fantastic sight!

The route is more a trail for bikers than for runners. Judging the way some locals eyed us, I think it was pretty uncommon for them to see female runners taking the same route the bikers would pass later. Anyway, for two hours, not taking water or energy drink, this little detour didn’t bother us, as we were enjoying the sights, taking in a deep breath and loving the wind as it brings the smell of flowers, soil, grass, trees and the feel of the fresh dew on the grass. The good training base in ultra distance running had helped us a lot. We did a combination of slow running, walking.

When I was still a young girl, I was bitten by a dog once. Consequently, I get scared of either stray dogs or the unleashed ones. I learned a few techniques through watching Dog Whisperer episodes on National Geographic channel and tried to apply the Cesar Millan way, ha ha. It helped me muster the courage not to get scared when some of them are barking at us as we walked by. So every time we saw one, even if it’s not barking at us, we stopped running from time to time, walked a bit then resumed a jogging pace.

On our way back, the sky suddenly became overcast with heavy rain clouds, later the rain started to pour, which made running more pleasant. After a few minutes, the rain let up, then just as suddenly the sun shone again. Nearing the place from where we started, we stopped to rest and quenched our thirst with fresh buko juice (coconut water) at Mang (mister) Vic’s buko stall. To top it off, much to our delight, Mang Vic gave us free freshly cut pineapple slices.

Overall, we did the LSD for six hours, covering the areas of Santa Rosa in Laguna, Silang in Cavite, and a portion of Tagaytay with a distance of approximately 48 kilometers. For lunch, we treated ourselves to a great tasting crispy fried shrimps plus a bowl of beef bone marrow/shank soup, a cup of rice each and fresh mango shakes. On our drive back home, we grabbed breads to go and a cup of coffee later, the perfect end to our trip.

I would like to thank this lady adventurer, hard-core ultra marathon runner, and trail seeker, who remains grounded despite all the experience and achievement, Ivy aka the Running Contessa (Italian countess), for the invite, photos, and for bringing me to a good route to run at early morning. Until next time!