Running away

     

     I belittle this event and in most of the run I joined I thought that this is the fastest and easiest hurdle.  I miscalculated the time that I would finish the 5km race in 30 minutes and I even SMS my sister that I would meet her in the city between 5-5:30pm to see a friend.  Alas, this wasn’t that easy, lesson learned: figure out the situation first.

     The sun is high when Ferdie, Donna and I got to the venue, it hasn't started yet but we are soaking in our sweat from registration to service bus queue going to the site.  It’s good that we run late on our call time and the heat of the sun at 3:30 pm, that was our flag-off time, was still warm and will not relatively burn our skin.  Again, another misconception.

    At the start of the race, there was a mix feeling of scruple and excitement because to us, this is our first.  On the first 500 meters, as I got near to the reality, there was already a group of Zombies waiting for us to chase and get the flags tied on our waist.  We must keep at least one flag until we cross the finish line, as a token, we will get the survivor shirt.  In our group there was one runner who arrayed in a spider man costume, I had a dilemma whether I will run with Spidy or not because most of the Zombies that we came across aimed for him.  It was a deciding point for me as I thought that he’s a superhero, another misconception. I woke up my mind that this is for real, I have to save myself and my two dangling flags.  We are not prepared to the obstacles, even a training before this event was not in our plan.  It’s good that not anyone of us had an injury, just a muscle pain that has been stretched beyond what our body expected to happen. It was a sigh of relief when I finally slide down the water which I thought that it was the last stumbling block to the finish line, whew, I need to crawl in the sand and under the net on the way to the quarantine area. But I cheated and opted not to do that, instead, I cross over through a small gap without tormenting myself creeping.  Luckily there’s no Zombies in that area, because the gist there is that they will not harm or get your flags if you passed through the last tripping. I salute Ferdie and Donna for groveling in the sand without hesitation.

     It was fun and full of suspense and surprises, but this will be my first and last Zombie run that I will join.  I was gasping for air after each encounter with the Zombies, aside from running, I was laughing and screaming during the event.  There was a big difference between the real competition and this event.  I can pace it and stop anytime I want when I'm competing.

     Here's the link of what happened in our run.  'Til next time folks!

http://youtu.be/5uAGj8cSBT4

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151667384921524&set=vb.103298870129&type=2&theater

...ber Months

   

photo credits to www.panoramio.com

     At the strike of …ber months, it signals the start of jolly season in the Philippines.  Kids will start to count how many sleeps to Christmas.  This is how Filipinos are excited to welcome the Natale.

     In my family, while we do the countdown, we celebrate the birthdays of Cla, Kendrick, my dear Nanay, Jairus, Kyle and Ate, then after December 11, that’s after my Ate’s birthday, the days are numbered to Christmas.  But why Filipinos do are so excited to welcome the season? Base on my observation it all emanate from the culture that we grown-up to and hope that everything would change.

Photo credits to www.wasppaintball.com.au

     I don’t have any inkling how this all started but in my presumption, it is already a part of our culture.  Some nations would laugh on us or wonder, but it’s our uniqueness.  Without admitting in your heart, being a Pinoy will come out naturally as these months rolling, many of us will start to list down and save to buy gifts for our friends and loved ones.  I’d been away from my homeland for six years and I confess that I have that excitement too, and I didn't miss to end my night shift by greeting my colleagues “Merry Christmas”.  It is a lame satisfaction but do you know how this pleasure brings to the heart in every one of us especially the kids?  When I was a kid, I remember my mom, that all of us go to the nearby city in bunch to shop for new clothes and foods to serve on Christmas Eve.  It shows that it all started in ages and passed it on to young generations.  This culture is undeniable that you are true Filipino where ever you are.

Filipino Christmas tradition
Photo credits to www.topicsonearth.com

     Calamity is concomitant in the Philippines when these months onsets.  But as early as June, storm is synonymous to us.  I’m not referring literally to natural calamities, but calamities that our nation is going through.  Pork barrel scam and corruptions that involves elected government officials.  Another unique quality of Pinoys is unity.  We are united when someone posted a shout out on Facebook or tweeted an appeal to help our fellowman who were submerged from flood due to typhoon Maring and monsoon.  Just a post will unite us to fight any calamities that destroys the credibility of our officials.  The Million People March last August 29 that coincides the National Heroes day, identifies that you are true hero who calls for a transparent and be true to his oath as an elected officials.  Many things had been said and plans laid out to tidy the mess and exercise R.I.P. (reject, investigate, prosecute) the root of this evil practices.  As reports says that this whole hullabaloo will be covered by another big news or this whole process will take century to try in court and there’s no culprit to indict because of the big names are involved with connections from the authorities.  Hope is only left in every Filipinos although it’s too vague to resolve the cancer that stricken the system.  A hope that would save our nation and a prayer that this yuletide season will bring a change in every Filipinos. 

Typhoon Trami(Maring)
photo credits to weatherngayon.wordpress.com

Photo credits to www.enchos.com

Photo credits to sundaypunch.prepys.com

Photo credits to www.rappler.com

     As Filipinos, no matter how problems piled up, we still have the luxury to smile and takes life to go on, but I hope that we should not change on our stand.  We are known that all bygones be bygones after a few years, those offenders and who betrayed the public trust will be elected, we should learned from the past mistakes.  We should not change, even the …ber months is here. We must forgive but not forget.

Filipino smile
Photo credits to psms29.com

    In …ber months, we begin the Yule season, anticipate that many things will happen.  Whether it is beneficial or bad.  We, Filipinos will never be desolate rather, we will rise with retaliation carrying the culture in our hearts.  Don’t stop, we’re now on the ladder of recognition that once upon a time, we are just one dot in the world map.  Rise above Filipinos!  Let’s consider every day is …ber. 

     On a lighter note, I was inspired to write this blog while playing the Christmas Company an album from The Company. It’s so advance to greet all of you, but MERRY CHRISTMAS!

At PasarBella

    

photo credits to sumabeachlifestyle.com

      PasarBella is another place to explore for my friend Melanie as part of our food adventure.  Although this is my second time to visit this place but it still excites me to introduce to someone who is new to this haven of food lovers.

     We were melancholic maybe because we came from the night shift and we fasted for 10 hours for our annual health screening.  Even if we are feeble, we were able to make at 1:45pm pick up time at Toa Payoh going to the Grandstand formerly The Turf City in Bukit Timah.  For those who wanted to explore the place you can visit their website at www.pasarbella.com and  have a short overview of their wide array of their merchandise.

     Albeit it was a late lunch, as we used to that routine, but we enjoyed the moment. We toured the place first to allow Melanie to choose what she want to crave on.  Some would be surprise because the items are a bit pricey, ranging from S$11.00-S$40.00.  We ended and enjoyed the spaghetti in red pesto for me and penne in pink shrimp paste for my friend and goes with Iron-Wo-man salad (baby spinach in strawberry dressing with feta cheese, roasted almond, boiled pumpkin and golden raisins). I was pleased to hear from Melanie that she liked the salad and she thought that it was bitter just like the other green salad she tried before.  Don’t be discourage to visit this place for those who are not vegetable lovers because you can still try the Paella, roasted suckling pig, pasta in black ink, couscous tabbouleh salad, varieties of sausages, beef steaks and many more.  We stayed for two and a half hours to finish the servings with picture taking and posting our selfie pictures on Instagram and a chit chat.

Spaghetti in Red Pesto Sauce

Penne in Pink Shrimp Paste

Iron (Wo)man  Salad

     It was raining outside and it’s good that we have our umbrellas. Umbrella is a must have, because there’s no covered path walk going to the bus pick up point.  I beg my friend to have a short engagement because of the weather and I’m having headache, and both of us would have an early rest.

   

     At PasarBella, we wrap up the adventure with a gastronomic satisfaction to our palate and tummy and back there with more friends to munch different menu.

     Until next time folks and get ready on our next adventure.

With my good friend Melanie

Why I'm Running?

   

My running buddies in Lucban

     Running is the most famous sports activities that you can see now a days, from local to international events just to name a few is the Boston Marathon that started in 1897.

     Running to health buffs is a good exercise and gives a lot of benefits, losing weight, staying in shape and improving body composition. But, why do I run? Aside from physical advantage,  my perspective change in my 1 year of running.  It helps me to meditate and widen my horizon to be creative in pursuing my dreams.

     I normally takes 10 km spin when I’m training and it takes for me about an hour and 7 minutes, which is my fastest, to reach the end of the run.  I think, 10 km will be my farthest, no more no less because of my tarsal tunnel syndrome.  In the course of 1 hour, so many ideas playing in my mind, I would say that little did I know that I was already meditating.  Some would resort to yoga or using the prayer beads in order to keep track. I found this activity as my formal way to analyze and balance my mind to weigh my anger or hatred and happiness.  Furthermore, it also ease many health issues such as hypertension, as I dreadful to have it because it runs in our family; depression and anxiety from work and personal life. 

     As I traverse the road, many dreams had been formed and still up in the wall when will it be realize.  When I watched the talk of May El-Khalil (http://youtu.be/u1K6hnm09xs) about making peace in Marathon, she dreamt big on how she can unite the Lebanese to run with one purpose and without carrying any political color.  It all came true and even invited runners from different nation with one hope that in one gunshot, peace and unity to Lebanon will ensue. A gunshot distinct from the sounds that Lebanese heard from the civil war. I was literally diffident after her speech because when I compared my dreams to her dreams, it made me realize that everything is possible if I have the fundamentals of hard work, dedication and perseverance. 

     Why I’m running? It gives me a wide room to reflect and even dream more.  To some, whose purpose is for physical gain, maybe you should try what I’m doing. 

Don't Lose Hope

     If days are tough and feel that there’s no remedy.  One thing that would remind me is the excerpt from the movie The Pursuit of Happyness, when Chris is talking to his son, Christopher

     Chris Gardner (Will Smith): “Hey don’t ever let somebody tell you, you can’t do some, not even me, all right?”

     Christopher Gardner (Jaden Smith): “All right.”

     Chris Gardner: You got a dream, you’ve got to protect it, and people can't do some themselves, they wanna tell you, you can't do it…you want something? Go and get it, period.”

     Be always on the positive side and don’t dwell on the mistakes or failure from the past.

  

Photo credits to www.dudemeetsdad.com

Reconnecting from the Past

     On every vacation I made in the Philippines, I rarely plans because I know that I could squeezed all the things I wanted to do in a short span of my stay in my home land.

     My last vacation was not the usual one, because one person is missing to welcome my homecoming as we always take a gander on our window where my mom normally sit.  One thing I noticed and didn’t realized that I was going back to the activities and savor again the food that I wasn’t tried for the longest time.  Base on my observation, going back to the things I got used to is already a part of my system.

     I grew up that everyone in the family reads a newspaper as part of everyday routine.  As far as I can remember, we subscribed from Manila Bulletin, Daily Express to Philippine Star.  To let you know, I hate reading and one time my mom gave me a book about dogs, it gets old and the pages were torn because I always attempt to read it but I ended up reading only one chapter.  I developed my reading habit when I was in college until I learned to be updated and started to join the daily routine of my family.  In my few days of stay in Lucban, I read the newspaper from opinion to lifestyle section although I can read it online but I don’t know why I’m not fond of reading the news in the net. 

     I’d been away for a month since my last visit but cravings for foods that I grew up with will never be missed.  Aside from the dishes that Ate Benny cooks for us, my brother introduced me to try chicken ball which according to my nephews is yummy because of the sauce, a mix of vinegar and chili.  My sixty pesos is gone to satisfy our cravings every afternoon.

Pansit Hab-hab

Sinaing sa Gata and Nilupak (minuk-mok)

Pinaltok (Bilo-bilo)

Maruyang malagkit

Chicken balls

     I’ve never seen my former colleagues on my last year vacation because of the weather.  I made a trip to Luisiana to make some catching up and to my surprise most of them are still witty and energetic. After a couple of hours of seeing my former coworkers, I went back to Lucban to meet my godson, Patrick, who happened to be in town also to take a little break from school in Ireland.  We had a chit-chat over dinner at Buddys Restaurant and I was startled with his fluent Tagalog tongue.  Sadly, we need to wrapped up and bade our goodbyes, clueless when we'll bump each other again. 

May kumare and kumpare from LDH

Pansit hab-hab(ing) with my Ates

With my godson, Patrick on a dinner date

     I contacted my high school bff, Arlene, to invite my close high school friends  and have a kumustahan over dinner at our favorite dining restaurant.  It's good to meet again Rosanna, my over-joyed  friend as we fondly call her because of her crisp laugh every time when any of us cracked a funny lines.  It was years the last time we saw her and still looks the same with her mischievous facade despite of the fact that lines are already evident in our forehead. I may not regularly see you when I'm in town, but I hope that this rendezvous have more next.

Kumustahan with my high school friends 

     I took the chance to run with my neighbors, and we navigated the 10 km-diversion road.  It was a thrilling experience because I felt close to the nature and breathed in fresh scents of the palay in the rice field and away from the bustling life here in Singapore. In my last phone conversation with my mom on day before she pass away that she'll wait and see me at the airport on my scheduled vacation leave on June, instead I visited her tomb after a month we buried her.  Progress is rolling and only last touch is needed when I glimpsed her resting place.

Passionate runners

Paid a visit to my mom's tomb

     No matter how far we are, “babalik ka din” where we came from and it will remind and continue to instil the good values of reminiscing the past. 

In my opinion...

     When I was a small kid, there is only one surname I know has the capability to lead my country, the most influential and authoritative family of politicians.  This assumption change when my country undergone a bloodless revolution to fight the dictatorship.  It was an eye opener to many Filipinos blinded by their suppositions that my country will rise above as a mighty nation.

    Every time that the Congress and Senate will open their joint session, SONA (State of the Nation Address) of the President is the much awaited part to hear the accomplishments, selling points to be accommodate by foreign investors and plans to uplift the lives of the marginalized sectors. I was immersed when the first time I watched it in 2012 maybe because I was thirsty and many Filipinos to the change.  Change that stemmed from poverty and corruption.

    There was an apparent difference between modest life and poverty in our country.  A family from a poverty level, eating a four square meals in a day is enough to live and still wondering what’s next the following day.  It’s good to know that the government has serious and profound blueprint on how will lift the lives of the Filipinos from the impecunious lives that started in the 70’s.  A promising life, but it turned out a nightmare to many who believes in democracy and equality.  Programs, such as Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program is an assistance channelled to deserving families.  A program that teaches how they will stand on their own and use the money wisely by sending their children to school and start a small business that would slowly wean from the assistance.  There are so many programs are indisposed that was mentioned and some are rolling out since his inception from his position.  If we are united to achieve on what he has started, it is possible that no Filipinos will be hungry and indigent in years to come.

     My full awareness started when I became a public servant.  I was hesitant to go back to my roots but my admiration to my parents as a civil servant, I was enticed to start my life all over again and work in the nearby town as an obedient employee to the crooked processes.  I think all of us learned to be blind in many vague transactions and porous contracts, as many politicians says that their constituents is what matters most but little did we know that the projects are not deemed to the needs of the people.  Sad to say, funds are redirected to their own pockets.  How long this system will continue?  President Pnoy should be and still true to his word that the days of these wicked officials are numbered and start to take the “tuwid na daan”.

 

     In my opinion, change should start in the heart of every Filipinos.  It doesn't question your status if you are rich or poor to share your abilities to be a powerful country.  What are these talents? Prying eyes to corruptions, loud voice to denounce irregularities and a vigilant citizen to an erring officials.

     In my opinion, President Pnoy should include that morality will be mention in his next SONA.  Maybe, to instruct our schools to give a high emphasis on this subject.  “Tuwid na daan” is about morality. To remind the subject and object of this problem may touch their dormant good heart due to sneering power.

     Nothing is impossible to a united and patriotic Filipinos.   

Future Manila Bay Skyline (Photo credits to www.juanprogress.com)

Faring the Tradition

     I got fascinated with its chewy, sweet and nutty taste of cake made of lotus paste.  Many selections of moon cake that you can choose from here in Singapore, in  traditional flavor like lotus paste and egg yolk or varieties of fillings like durian, chocolate, coffee or ice cream. It normally goes with hot Chinese tea, but I preferred as my dessert to mask the saltiness of my meal.

     This tradition started when I first tasted here in Singapore, where most of the famous hotels, restaurant or bakeshop showcasing their most unique recipe that would perfectly seize the palate of a free spirited consumer. To make it more inviting, packaging is another selling point.

     

     I tried coffee and chocolate but egg yolk, from salted duck egg, is the most outstanding for me, I eat it in small wedges, as I cut it, the egg yolk reveals, resembling  the shape of the moon that symbolizes the festival.  In Chinese, moon represents festival reunion of families where they get together on this special day to eat festive fruits and moon cakes. 

     I never thought that this festival is celebrated on 15th of September or early October in the chinese calendar.  But for me, once the ghost month is over it's the start of this festival and to my surprise, my friend Melanie also observes this as a yearly tradition. When I asked her if she is keen to buy, she nod to me right away.  This year, I bought my moon cake at Takashimaya Square with my good friend where we were able to choose to a number of participating outlets offering an ample discount if we will buy a box of four or two. 

     Faring from this pattern will continue because it talks about  tradition adhering to family.  'Til next year and maybe I'll be more aggressive to try exotic flavor.