Mary Grace, left, with Toby Claudio, right, and Sherwin Managil.
Photo taken inside RUNNR Ayala in November 2009.
Mary Grace Delos Santos, fresh from her second place finish in the women’s 21k category of the Standard Chartered Kuala Lumpur Marathon in Malaysia last week, will meet the press today at Mooon Café in Ayala.
Beside her will be RUNNR founder Toby Claudio, who was the brain behind the participation of Mary Gace in Kuala Lumpur.
Mary Grace should be able to tell her story of what transpired during the race. I had the chance to talk to her after she arrived in Cebu Monday morning but wouldn’t dare to preempt her. She will tell it the way it happened.
Meantime, let me say that there was nobody as excited when Mary Grace won than Toby Claudio.
Sir Toby called me past noon of June 28 and asked if heard about Mary Grace. I told him that I received a text that she won second place but is waiting for an e-mail from her. He was excited over the phone and congratulated me! In my mind, I was saying, “No, Sir, we have to congratulate you for believing in Mary Grace!”
As was written in the papers, Sir Toby went to say, ““I was thinking that if Mary Grace could finish the race with a good time, I’d be more than happy. Her winning second place truly exceeded expectations!”
I won’t be able to attend the press conference because I’m flying to today to Manila but I know it’s gonna be a blast!
Runners who would pass by it still wonder what that “beautiful building” is. To those who would listen, I’d tell them it is a “House of the Lord.”
It is. On its façade, it declares, “Holiness to the Lord, House of the Lord.”
On June 13, 2010, that “beautiful building” along Gorordo Avenue was officially dedicated (offered) to the Lord by President Thomas S. Monson, the prophet, seer and revelator in these modern times.
President Monson offered the dedicatory prayer in all three sessions that day. He personally wrote the dedicatory prayer.
The CebuPhilippinesTemple then became the 133rd operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will serves some 200,000 members of the Church in the Visayas and Mindanao area.
It is also the second temple in the Philippines. The first is the ManilaTemple that is located in a similarly hilly portion of Greenmeadows Subdivision in Quezon City.
A day before the dedication, more than 3,000 youth from Visayas and Mindanao performed at Cebu Coliseum and through dances and presentations depicted the history of the Philippines before President Monson, President Eyring, Elder Oaks, Bishop Burton, Elder Walker, Elder Edwards, Elder Ko, Elder Teh and many other leaders of the Church.
For two weeks, from May 21 to June 5, the temple was opened for public viewing. At the end of the open house, more than 45,000 came to visit.
My family and I participated in these activities. My children Jason and Kiyo were involved in the cultural show while my wife and I acted as tour guides in two days that our stake was assigned to the open house.
Having a temple here in Cebu makes it easier for members (from Visayas and Mindanao) to perform sacred ordinances that could only be performed in the temple. Some of these ordinances include temple marriage, family sealing, endowment and baptism for the dead.
On a personal note, I’d never expected that I’ll be part of another temple dedication. I was in Manila when ground was broken for the temple there. I volunteered labor during its construction, covered the open and dedication for the Tambuli Magazine (now called Liahona) and even sang in the choir during one of the dedicatory services.
I would be delighted, if in another 26 years (the ManilaTemple was dedicated in 1984 and the CebuTemple was dedicated in 2010) another temple will be built in the Philippines. I should be able to live long enough to come to the dedication of that temple.
The prophet Isaiah described it centuries ago…“And it shall come to pass in thealast days, thatthebmountainoftheLord’schouse shall be destablished in the top ofthemountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all enations shall flow unto it.
I’m a living witness and I’m happy to say that this scripture has been fulfilled!
TEXT OF DEDICATORY PRAYER OF THECEBUCITYPHILIPPINESTEMPLE
By President Thomas S. Monson, June 13, 2010
Our Eternal Father in heaven, Thou great Elohim, who liveth and reigneth from everlasting to everlasting, who created the heavens, the earth, and all things thereon, we bow before Thee this day in this beautiful edifice to dedicate it unto Thee.
We thank Thee for the gift of Thy Beloved Son, who came into the world according to Thy divine plan to show us by His example how we should live. We express our profound gratitude for the infinite love manifested in His atoning sacrifice as He gave Himself a ransom for all mankind, breaking the bands of death and opening the gates of salvation. We praise His holy name, our Redeemer and our Lord.
Our hearts are filled with thanksgiving unto Thee for the light of Thy everlasting gospel, restored to earth in this, the dispensation of the fulness of times, through the instrumentality of the Prophet Joseph Smith. We are grateful that Thou didst restore, by heavenly messengers, the Aaronic and Melchizedek priesthoods and subsequently all of the keys of the priesthood ever held by Thy prophets from the days of Adam through Abraham and Moses to Malachi.
We are grateful for the faith of those who, nearly half a century ago, first came to the Philippines as missionaries of Thy Church. We thank Thee, as well, for the great and faithful service of the thousands of missionaries who have followed in their footsteps, sharing Thy message with those willing and ready to listen and to receive the gospel.
We thank Thee for the promise found in the Book of Mormon that in the latter days Thou wouldst remember Thy children on the isles of the sea. We are in a nation of many islands, whose people love truth and whose hearts are responsive to the message of the eternal gospel. We thank Thee for their faith. We thank Thee for their spirit of sacrifice. Bless them that neither they nor the generations which follow them will go hungry or be without shelter from the storms that beat about them.
We are grateful for the completion of this Holy House. Wilt Thou bless those faithful members here and throughout the world who have contributed their tithes which have made possible this magnificent edifice for Thy name's honor and glory and for the blessing of all who enter herein.
We ask Thee to bless all who walk in righteousness and faith and obedience to the commandments Thou hast given. Wilt thou provide comfort to them when they face adversity. Wilt Thou sustain and strengthen them when the winds of opposition blow against them. Wilt Thou bring joy and peace into their hearts and the assurance of Thy everlasting love.
Father in Heaven bless, we pray Thee, those called to lead Thy Church here upon the earth, that they may have Thy guiding influence and inspiration. May they have the vitality, the wisdom and the spirituality necessary to accomplish Thy purposes.
Bless the temple president and his counselors, together with their wives, and all who assist in the operation of this temple.
Help the youth of Thy Church stand firm for truth and righteousness. Open wide to their view the gates of learning, of understanding and of service in Thy kingdom. Build within them strength to resist the temptations of the world. Give them the will to walk in virtue and faith, to be prayerful and to look to Thee as their constant anchor.
Now, our Beloved Father, acting in the authority of the Holy Priesthood which comes from Thee, and in the name of Thy Beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, we dedicate this, the Cebu City Philippines Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as Thy house and the house of Thy Son. We dedicate it for the administering of those ordinances and covenants which are eternal and everlasting. We dedicate it for the performing of sacred service for both the living and the dead. We dedicate the baptismal font, the facilities used for the initiatory ordinances, the endowment rooms, the sealing rooms and the altars found therein. We dedicate this beautiful celestial room, and every other facility in this, Thy holy house.
May Thy watch care be over this beautiful temple, that it shall be holy to all who shall enter it. May those who enter to serve here leave the world behind and reflect on the things of eternity. May no one who is unworthy cross the threshold of this, Thy house. May its sanctity never be violated by those with unclean hands or evil designs. We pray that none shall interfere in any way with the sacred work for which this structure has been erected.
We dedicate the ancillary buildings and the ground on which the temple stands. We dedicate this beautiful structure, from the unseen footings to the majestic figure of Moroni crowning its highest point.
May this House provide a spirit of peace to all who observe its majesty, and especially to those who enter for their own sacred ordinances and to perform the work for those beyond the veil. Let them feel of Thy divine love and mercy.
As we dedicate this sacred edifice, we rededicate our very lives to Thee and to Thy work.
And now we dedicate this temple as an abode for Thee and Thy Son. Let Thy glorious light ever shine upon it. Wilt Thou place Thy ratifying seal of approval upon this dedicatory service and upon all we have done and shall do in this, Thy Holy House, which we now present to Thee.
May we, Thy children, merit Thy bounteous blessings and Thy watchful care, we pray, in the name of Thy Beloved Son, even the name of Jesus Christ the Lord, amen.
Ed Paez (holding the American flag) runs with Ron Delos Reyes (with Philippine flag), RaffyUytiepo and Roy Vence.
Today, the nation commemorates ArawngKagitingan as a tribute to Filipino and American soldiers who gallantly put up their last defense in Bataan and Corregidor against the invading Japanese Imperial Army in 1942.
There’s an annual ceremony at the Mount Samat Shrine in Bataan and in almost all major cities and provinces in the country to mark this historic event.
I’d like to draw attention, however, to a different kind of commemoration started by a group of runners twenty-five years ago.
In 1986, Edmundo “Ed” Paez, a sportswriter and president of the San Fernando Runners Unlimited Inc. (SAFER RUN) started retracing the original trail of the infamous 1942 Death March.
More than 10,000 Filipino and American soldiers died from torture, disease and starvation during the trek and more would die in prison camp in Capas, Tarlac.
Paez’s foray into the trail was rather forced. Two years back, in 1984, Max Telford a New Zealand ultra-marathoner tried to retrace the trail. According to Paez, his group had “to put up a supporting role by trying to escort Telford out of Cabalen country in 1985.” Telford, however, didn’t allow local runners to run with him, asked them to run behind their back-up vehicles and so they withdrew and left Telford on his own. Without a guide, Telford tried twice but failed to retrace the original route.
Paez then painstakingly made his own research – reading books, visiting historical sites and interviewing Death March survivors – then organized the first Bataan Death March Ultra-Marathon.
He wanted that that a Filipino would be the first to retrace the route of the Bataan Death March of 1942.
Armed with dogged determination, Paez organized the first batch of ultra-marathoners, in all composed of 29 members of SAFER RUN. In that first staging of the run in April 8 and 9, 1986, the runner had only P500 for pocket money and subsisted with “binalot nadahongkanin, canned sardines, boiled eggs, drinking water, smoked and dried fish.”
With a dump truck as their back-up vehicle (donated by the late Pampanga Governor Bren Guiao) the group ran (the marathon is non-competitive) until they reached the marker at San Fernando, Pampanga or a total of 102 kilometers.
The group, this time with more back-up vehicles, again hit the road.
According to RaffyUytiepo, one of the original members of the group, they would run like a relay team – one runner starts – then others would take turns to run the distance. The tired runner would take needed rest aboard the dump truck.
The runners passed through the towns of Limay, Orion, Pilar, Balanga, Abucay, Samal, Orani, Hermosa, Dinalupihan, all the way to San Fernando, Pampanga. For the final trek to Capas, the runners would board their back-up vehicles, then run the final 12 kilometers to the marker and meet the veterans waiting for them.
Raffy said he had run this ultra-marathon with some of the biggest names in Philippine sports like Mona Sulaiman, Orly Bauzon, Ian Cruz, Susie Quibol, Lorrie Bauzon, Carolino Gonzales, Rey Antoque, JonaGayumba-Atienza, CresencianoSabal, Bernardo Desmito, Jr., Josie Bauzon, Cesar Guarin, Ron Delos Reyes and many others.
Raffy said the run would usually take two days, thus they would start on April 8. He recalled that the runners would hoist the Filipino, American and Japanese flags along the way.
He also said that they would wear costumes during their runs. Because he was fairer than most of the runners, he would always get the part to play an American GI.
“We were running, and I couldn’t remember when it was then, but one of the runners was dressed up like a Japanese soldier. Out of the blues, an old man started throwing stones at the runner because he mistook him as Japanese! We have to restrain and explain to the old man that we were Filipinos that we were just trying to commemorate the Bataan Death March,” Raffy recalled.
Raffy also said that when they reach CampO’Donell in Capas, Tarlac, veterans would greet them. He said the number of veterans have dwindled through the years. He related that every year he would see less and less of these veterans.
This year, on its twenty-fifth anniversary, a commemorative passing of torch will start with a send-off at Kilometer 0 marker on April 8. Abraham Regala, a WWII veteran and post commander, will hand the torch to Ed Paez.
From there, runners will run through the province of Bataan, get a night’s sleep in Lubao, Pampanga. The next day, they should be able to pass through Guagua and BacolorSan Fernando, Pampanga.
Again, SAFER RUN heads the group runners, who will now be joined by Caloocan North Running Club, City of Sta. Rosa Runners, Tarlac City Runners, Philippine Army Special Services Unit, Light Armor Division, 2nd Infantry Division and other running clubs from the Running Confederation of the Philippines (Run CPI).
At the Capas, Tarlac marker with some of the living WWII veterans.
From Pampanga, the runners will motor to Capas, Tarlac, where they will run the remaining 12-kilometers to the Capas National Shrine where the runners will light the urn. (Why another ceremony at Capas, Tarlac? The soldiers who survived the Bataan to San Fernando, Pampanga march where herded into trains and transported to Capas, Tarlac where they were incarcerated for 41 months.)
RUNNR is proud to be one of the sponsors of The Great Lapu-Lapu Run 2010 slated to take off April 18. Matter of fact, giveaways for the event (bags, visors, socks and many other goodies) are ready for pick-up at RUNNR Ayala.
To help further promote the event, RUNNR is giving 10% off on its inventory to those who have already registered for this running spectacle.
Just show the claim stub (as proof of registration) and avail of the discount beginning April 1-18, 2010.
Motion All-Weather Trainer is the newest in the line of Newton running shoes. Available in a variety of size at RUNNR Ayala.
Runners who have craved for a pair of Newtons will get a chance to own a pair beginning today when RUNNR Ayala goes on a 3-day sale.
In cooperation with Ayala Malls’ Graduation Sale, RUNNR offers 10% off on Newtons, CWX, Nathan fuel belts and many other “direct” items. (Direct items are goods that RUNNR directly carry.)
RUNNR will also offer 10% off on Nike and Adidas products from shoes to apparel.
Hurry up. Visit RUNNR now and avail of discounts from March 26 to March 28!
Noy Jopson (4th from left) with RUNNR Staff, from left, Yhaz,Raffy, Rose, Gladys and John Olen.
When RUNNR staff was encouraged by their managers to participate in fun runs so they could better understand their customers – the runners – little did they know that they would be hooked into running!
RUNNR staff has been on the road since then!
After getting used to those 5Ks and 7Ks, RUNNR staff is poised to take in part in the 10K category of The Great Lapu-Lapu Run on April 18. The staff had the chance last week to invite Noy Jopson (one of the country’s leading triathlete and organizer of the Great Lapu-Lapu Run) for a picture. Of course, Noy obliged and assured the staff that they will be given eights slots FREE in the forthcoming run that features 3K, 5K, 10K and 21K distances.
The Great Lapu-Lapu Run on April 18 is currently the talk of town what with the possible participation of Eduardo “Vertik” Buenavista the country’s record-holder in the marathon. There’s Cris Sabal, Eric Panique (third placer in the Cebu City Marathon last January 10, 2010), Alquin Bolivar, Rene Desuyo, veteran Roy Vence and many other runners from around the country.
Perhaps even the Kenyans (those based in Manila) would want to come to Cebu and compete.
Of course, there are local runners who are capable of winning as well like Mendel Lopez, Simon Losiaboi, Elmer Bartolo and upcoming talent Jobert Carolino.
The women’s division is even more exciting. Eillen Tolentino is coming to town. The news excites Mary Grace Delos Santos, who is eager to avenge her defeat at the hands of Tolentino during the Cebu City Marathon on January 10, 2010.
A trip to next year’s Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon awaits the best-placed Filipino runner in both the men and women’s categories.
In the meantime, RUNNR staff is keeping their weekends booked with running events. Before the Great Lapu-Lapu Run, there’s the Pinay in Action (an all-women running event sponsored by Senator Pia Cayetano).
RUNNR staff first participated in the Seminary Fund Run in November 2009. They then ran in the 5K category of the Cebu City Marathon and joined the 2nd Rotary Run and Quota Club 12K Classic.
At the Start/Finish Line of the Quota 12K Classic. From left, Yhaz, Claude, Renze, Arland, Rose, Manny and Jhe.
A pose after the Quota 12K Classic. From left, Mark, Yhaz,Reel Bontol, Arland, Raffy, Louriz, Noy, Renze, Jhe and Manny.
Cebuano runners will get a chance to attend a free running clinic by Arland Macasieb, the mutli-titled Fil-Am triathlete.
RUNNR will be flying in Macasieb for a two-day clinic on March 5-6 at Active Zone in Ayala.
Titled “Optimal Running Technique,” Macasieb will discuss a variety of topics including common running errors in recreational runners, attributes of elite runners, running posture, tools, drills and skills and formula for speed.
The first session of the clinic on March 5 will be from 6-8 pm while the second session will be on March 6 from 1-3 pm.
Macasieb, as of this writing, is competing in the 2010 Malaysia Ironman Triathlon race in Langkawi, Malaysia.
The New Jersey-based triathlete is a 3-time Philippine national thriathlon champion (2000, 2005 and 2006) and was a 6-time World Ironman Championship finisher including a stint in the 1998 Hawaii Ironman World Championship where he was the first Filipino to compete and finish the race.
Furthermore, he has won two bronze medals for the Philippines in triathlon in the 2005 and 2007 SEA Games.
Macasieb has the academic background to go with his athletic prowess. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science from RutgersUniversity and a master’s degree in Exercise Science from MontclairUniversity.
Macasieb lists one of his goals as “to help and grow the sport of triathlon and speed skating in both the US and the Philippines.”
This is the second time Macasieb conducted a running clinic in the Philippines. The first was in August last year at Bonifacio High Street in PasigCity.
For more details about this clinic, please contact RUNNR Ayala at telephone number 505-2883.
William Llaguno, third from left, Toby's assistant manager for operations and franchising, pose with Elmer Bartolo and Mary Grace Delos Santos, fourth and fifth from left, respectively, after Llaguno presented Bartolo with a new pair of Newton Racers last Tuesday at RUNNR store in Ayala. Others in the picture are, from left, John Olen Gentiles, Yhazer Gonzaga, Jermine Germino, Rose Abellana and Raffy Osumo.
RUNNR is proud to be associated with Cebu’s elite runners like Elmer Bartolo and Mary Grace Delos Santos and is willing to fulfill their needs.
RUNNR presented Bartolo a new pair of Newton Racer last Tuesday afternoon through William Llaguno, the store’s assistant manager for operations and franchising.
“We are proud to be associated with elite runners in Cebu like Elmer Bartolo and Mary Grace Delos Santos. We are happy too that we’re able to help them in their needs. We’re thankful that we were made aware of Elmer Bartolo’s need, thus we were able to help,” Llaguno said.
Bartolo came to RUNNR two weeks back and asked if the store could “sponsor” a pair of running shoes for him because robbers had stolen his running racers.
He recalled that after washing his shoes, he left it to dry outside of their boarding house when robbers chanced upon it. The racers that the robbers took were relatively new, thus leaving Bartolo with old and almost tattered racers.
Toby Claudio, the CEO of RUNNR, immediately approved a pair of Newtons for Bartolo upon learning of the runner’s predicament. Claudio had earlier given a pair of Newton Racers to Mary Grace Delos Santos that she wore in winning the Davao City Marathon last December 2009.
“I’m very happy and thankful to RUNNR for their sponsorship,” Bartolo said in Cebuano after fitting the shoes and giving it a thumb’s up.
Bartolo, who hails from Davao, is best remembered for his record-breaking run in the 1st Minuzo-Shell 21K half-marathon race in 2008 where he set the national record of 1:10:20.
Last Sunday, he won the 7K category of the 2nd Rotary Fun Run last Sunday with a time of 24:58.
Aside from his new pair of Newton, RUNNR also gave Bartolo a new pair of running socks. RUNNR will also provided Bartolo and Delos Santos with running jerseys with an embroidered Philippine flag that they could use in local and international races.
Bartolo and Delos Santos are busy preparing for The Great Lapu-Lapu Run on April 18 that features a 21K distance. The winners of the 21K category – in the men and women’s division, aside from cash prizes - will represent Cebu in the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon next year.
“Vertik” Buenavista overtook two Kenyans on his way to winning the Century Tuna 21K half-marathon held at BonifacioGlobalCity in Taguig last Sunday.
Buenavista, the reigning SEA Games marathon champion and Philippine marathon record holder, clocked 1:08:18 to top Willy Tanui (the Cebu City Marathon winner) and Willy Rotich. Tanui and Rotich came in at 1:10:13 and 1:10:15, respectively.
Some weeks back, Alley Quisay darted from the last 10 meters to beat Kember Kiberless in the PSC Run for Heart 10K race last February 15.
Quisay, who lost at least two races to Kiberless, lulled his rival into complacency then darted out of nowhere to beat the Kenyan. The 30-year-old veteran from Bolinao, Pangasinan, clocked 31:27. Kiberless came in at 31:29.
In the Condura Run for the Dolphins, Feb. 7, Elmer and Crisenciano Sabal nearly upended David Kipsang in the full marathon. Elmer and Crisenciano were running toe-to-toe with Kipsang until the 38th kilometer mark. But when Kipsang made his move, only Elmer could give chase because Cris had cramps.
Kipsang finished with a time of 2:38:02 while Elmer had a time of 2:38:59. His brother Cris, who finished third, submitted a time of 2:39: 40.
If there’s a good thing about this, it’s the fact that the gap between Kenyans and Pinoys are narrowing.
The Bald Runner, in his blog in January, said that his team is learning a lot from the Kenyans and it wouldn’t be too long when the locals would beat the Kenyans.
In local races, Simon Losiaboi finally lost a race after he was DQ’d last Sunday in the 2nd Rotary Fun Run. Losiaboi was penalized after he used another bib number. He was given the #1 race number (when he was registered) in deference to his lofty billing in local running contests but his patron Tyrone Tan came late and was unable to give the race bib to his ward.
Mendel Lopez took the crown and the champion’s pot.
Lopez was leading Losiaboi until the last 100 meters when the latter broke away and left Lopez for what could have been a come-from-behind victory.
It wasn’t meant to be.
Race officials lowered the boom on Losiaboi after Lopez and other runners formally lodged a protest. I saw the handwritten protest signed by Lopez and other runners with the protest fee attached to it.
It was the second time Losiaboi used a different race bib. In the Kasadya Run, he used a different bib number but never penalized because the other runners didn’t lodge a protest.
A few weeks back, Elmer Bartolo nearly turned the tables on Losiaboi in the Run for Smile 10K race. Bartolo submitted a time of 33:41.47, a minute or so slower than Losiaboi’s winning time of 32:23.15.
While a minute would mean a lead of at least 200 meters, but the gap is getting narrow as well in local races.
I spoke to Elmer during one of my morning gigs at the oval and he said that if there was another runner with him, they could give Simon a big headache.
Elmer said Simon run behind him all the time as he dictated the pace. If there was another runner who could block off Simon, Bartolo feels that he could finally put an end to Simon’s domination of local races.
Of course, it means local runners have to train harder so they could run Simon’s pace.
Elmer said he’s amazed at the strength of Simon. During speed training, not only could he run fast but also his recover time is so short!
I wish we could compare notes with The Bald Runner, whose runners – the Sabal Brothers – nearly pull the rug from Kipsang.
Then there’s Vertik who proved that the Kenyans are beatable.
I noticed that when the Kenyans were winning last year Buenavista and many of our national female runners was busy preparing for the SEA Games. Now that there’s no forthcoming international competition to prepare for, I’m expecting some fierce rivalry between the Kenyans and Vertik.
Cliff Abrahan, Rex Wagas, Eugene Cabusao and me a.k.a. The Fantastic Four!
Eugene Cabusao, Rex Wagas, Cliff Abrahan and I earned a rather conspicuous moniker – The Fantastic Four! Mike Limpag, sports editor of the Sun Star newspaper, cast upon us as such moniker after he read the blog of Haide Acuna posted in Marathon Foodie. A few other stories were written about the four of us and I couldn’t help but chuckle every time I recall our adventure during the Cebu City Marathon. I guess that one was really for the books. A few weeks back, Cliff wrote his “version” of the story in Sun Star. Again, I couldn’t help but grin. With all the publicity, we couldn’t even hide. Just like the other day at Abellana. After I finished my laps at the swimming pool I found Scott (forgot his surname) at the shower room. I met him at the pool in December (when I resorted to swimming because of my aching back) then a few more times at RUNNR before the Cebu City Marathon. He was running the 21K he said. I told him I’m running my first marathon and we ended up wishing each other Godspeed. On this particular occasion, Scott remembered me when I greeted him and the first thing he asked me was, “Did you finish the marathon?” “What was your time?” I told him I finished last with three others then he interrupted me. “You must be Raffy,” he said. “I read about you, you guys were the Fantastic Four!” Since 01-10-10, I met Cliff a couple of times already. I’ve also met Rex while I was on my way out of the oval last week. The only guy I haven’t met our contacted yet after the marathon is Eugene. Cliff joined the practice run for the Rotary Fun Run last Sunday. Rex, when I saw him, said he has been practicing as well. Cliff will join the Run with a Smile on Feb. 14 and the 2nd Rotary Fun Run on Feb. 21. Rex mentioned he would be joining as well. Eugene, despite his silence, has the time to practice at his camp somewhere in Samar, so I would suppose he’s now in good shape. He will be providing support to his wife Haide Acuna when she runs the BDM 102 ultra marathon in March. I was thinking, if Cliff, Rex and me are running in February, could we convince Eugene to come to Cebu to run with us? It would be cool if he could take a break so the Fantastic 4 could have a reunion! Wouldn’t that be wonderful? I told Cliff, however, that this time he has to be in shape because whoever finishes last in these races has to buy lunch for the group! I also told him I’m not going to wait for nobody this time. Of course, I’m just kidding. Eugene, if ever you read this blog, please send smoke signal if you could come to Cebu on Feb. 21 so we could run together. The Fantastic 4 wouldn’t be complete without you!
I was perched on the bench with my counselors Sunday waiting for members to arrive for Sacrament Meeting. Then I thought I've seen something. When I decided to take a closer look, she was already strolling towards the pulpit.
Whoopi had followed Sister Vengco to church without her knowing it! We tried to get the dog out of the sacrament hall as we were about the start the meeting but then she would run. Without a leash, it was not easy for us to tie her on something.
I don't know if Whoopi would could be counted as "attendance" but Sister Vengco couldn't bring her back to their house without missing the sacrament. So for the rest of the sacrament, Whoopi was outside the hall!
After sacrament, we tried to bring her to the back portion of the meetinghouse but then she would run back.
If there was someone happy about Whoopi being around it was my 5-year-old son James. He brought her to his Primary class! The other children weren't that happy or so it seems. There was grandmother who cautioned her grandson that Whoopi might bite him!
Make a long story short, Whoopi went to Church last Sunday.
Early Monday morning, after I have washed the van, I strongly felt I have to go back to church! So I went. Lo and behold, when I opened the gate towards the sacrament hall, Whoopi was there!
She probably had gone back to church and was trapped inside!
She sort of bounced up when she saw me and after I opened the gate, she was all over me. After printing a form I needed, I took her into my arms and brought her home!
Sister Vengco was surprised but thankful to see Whoopi home. She said they have been looking for Whoopi all night and thought she had been kidnapped or what!
Before I left, I waved at Whoopi, who seemed to have waved back at me!
Whoopi was saying thank you just like the story of a whale below from the San Francisco Chronicle sent to me by Frank Lewandowski.
A female humpback whale had become entangled in a spider web of crab traps and lines. She was weighted down by hundreds of pounds of traps that caused her to struggle to stay afloat.
She also had hundreds of yards of line rope wrapped around her body, her tail, her torso, a line tugging in her mouth. A fisherman spotted her just east of the Farallon Islands (outside the Golden Gate ) and radioed an environmental group for help.
Within a few hours, the rescue team arrived and determined that she was so bad off, the only way to save her was to dive in and untangle her. They worked for hours with curved knives and eventually freed her. When she was free, the divers say she swam in what seemed like joyous circles.
She then came back to each and every diver, one at a time, and nudged them, pushed them gently around - she was thanking them.
Some said it was the most incredibly beautiful experience of their lives. The guy who cut the rope out of her mouth said her eyes were following him the whole time, and he will never be the same.
You could just imagine how it be like when the day "the lamb and the lion shall lie down together without any ire" shall come....
When a door is shut, a window opens. This I learned very recently. What immediately came to my mind after was - there must be a reason why. I didn't have to look further. I have been trying to force myself to blog but never got into it until the other day when I sat down and gave blogging a try. The window of opportunity is now open for me! A window is smaller than a door but its through the window that blessings flow. A passage in the Old Testament goes like this..."prove me now herewith,saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." May this blog bring some kind of a blessing to those who are willing to read...
