RUNNR ACADEMY LAUNCHED

 

More than a hundred runners came to Active Zone in Ayala Center to attend the launching of Runnr Academy last Wednesday.

            This free 10-week program is a joint project of Runnr and Ayala Center Cebu to teach the basics of running to enthusiasts.

            Haide Acuna and Brother Carlo Bacalla, fresh from their conquest in the BDM 160 ultra-marathon were the guests. The audience was kept on their seats as Haide outlined some of the training tools that could be found in the internet. Bro. Bacalla, on the other hand, revealed the reasons why he runs. In his long runs, which could be as far as 50 kilometers, he said he discovers many things.

Haide Acuna addressing the participants. Bro Carlo Bacalla is seated in front wearing a white cap.

            The participants will get more meat as the program progresses.

            Next week, Brooks and Polar will present the latest innovation in their lines of products. From then on, there will be lectures on running form, strengthening exercises for runners, running injuries from Coach Pio Solon, Dr. Peter Ramiro.

            Aside from Brooks and Polar, Nike, Adidas and Vibram will also present what’s new in their inventory.

            A paced run around the Cebu Business Park follows the lecture. The distance is approximately five kilometers. Summit is the official hydration fluid of these paced runs, thanks to Zaldie Abapo-Velano, trade marketing officer of Absolute Sales Corporation, a marketing arm of Asia Brewery.

            Leona’s provided the snacks on the first day thanks to Jane-Jane Ong who obliged to our request.

Katrina Cui receives the pair of Newtons she won during the raffle from Jermine Germino, store head Runnr Cebu. Others in the picture are from left, Nelson Selvoza, assistant store head and Raffy Osumo, running consultant.

           Raffles will lace the 10-week program. Katrina Cui of Chong Hua Hospital was the first luck winner as she bagged a new pair of Newton shoes.

            Participants will also get the chance to wear Newton shoes. There are 12 pairs ready to use.

            This is the second edition of Runnr Academy, the first program was in September. Of the 50 who signed up for the program 44 graduated. Among these graduates, more than 30 were able to run either the 21K or 42K in the Cebu City Marathon and Condura Skyway Marathon respectively.

            Participants, who attend at least eight of the ten sessions, will be eligible to graduate, receive a certificate of completion and a commemorative t-shirt.

            Lyle Togono, a member of the first group, said, “I’ve learned so many things during the clinic that were very useful.” Lyle ran the full mary in the Cebu City Marathon.

            Franz Abad, who finished the 21K in the Cebu City Marathon, echoed the same. “Daghan kayo ko nakatonan during our fun run/clinic.”

            Simultaneous to the launch of Runnr Academy in Cebu was the version of the same program by Runnr in Bonifacio High Street at the Bonifacio Global City on the same date – the birthday of Toby Claudio, the founder of Runnr.

FINALLY, LDS MISSIONARIES IN JAPAN 'CALLED HOME'

Photo courtesy of Taylor Family.

At least one of them called home ASAP, not literally, but Elder Kelvin Taylor was able to e-mail his family hours after the devastating quake and tsunami hit Japan last Friday, and said he was OK.

            For a few anxious hours, families were waiting with bated breaths to hear about their missionaries in Japan, specifically those serving in the Sendai Japan Mission. The e-mail from Elder Taylor was an assuring note!

            The missionaries are staying in a fire station in Koriyama Fire Station. Twenty of them, belonging to the Japan Sendai Mission – were attending a zone conference some 35 miles (56 kilometers) away from one of the damaged nuclear plants, when disaster struck.

            My wife and I felt it was a miracle that none of the missionaries was hurt seeing video footages of the quake and tidal wave.

            After a few more hours, the Taylors were exchanging e-mails and pictures with other families who had sons or daughters serving in Japan. Story here: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700118475/LDS-families-finally-hearing-from-missionaries-in-Japan.html.

            Meanwhile, the Church said in a current statement that it is moving missionaries out of the “devastation and radiation threat in Japan has taken the first steps to initiate humanitarian aid to Japan following Friday's magnitude-9.0 earthquake, aftershocks and destructive tsunami waves as well as the subsequent damage to nuclear power plants in the affected areas.” Full story here: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700118775/Mormon-church-in-Japan-Moving-missionaries-making-donations.html.

            Last Sunday we requested our ward members to pray for our brother and sister in Japan. Let’s continue to pray.

ALL MISSIONARIES IN JAPAN ARE SAFE

Image courtesy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The Church issued a statement on March 11, “Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Japan following the recent devastating earthquake and tsunami.” The statement likewise said all full-time missionaries in Japan are safe. The statement further stated that despite difficulty in contacting missionaries in the Sendai Japan Mission all but eight missionaries have been accounted for.

     Here’s the link to the Church’s statement: http://newsroom.lds.org/article/church-statement-on-missionaries-in-japan

     And here’s the link to that report about missionaries dated March 12: http://newsroom.lds.org/article/churchs-missionaries-in-japan-all-accounted-for-and-safe

     Currently, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is assessing the needs of its members hit by the earthquake and tsunami.

     The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints respond to worldwide disasters such as earthquakes, floods, landslide, cholera, etc. through its Welfare Services Emergency Response program. A recent report showed that the Church has responded “to 119 disasters and provided millions of dollars in emergency aid.” Please follow this link for the 2010 report: http://www.ldsmag.com/index.php?option=com_zine&view=article&Itemid=19&ac=1&id=7633

     When I was working for the PBO, I had the chance to do my share, when we drove to Baguio City during that devastating earthquake in 1991. We were one of the first to arrive in the scene. We assessed the situation so essential items were procured, assembled and sent to affected areas. These items were made available to both members and non-members of the Church. I could never forget an experience.

      Let’s remember, in our prayers, our brothers and sisters in the Sendai, Japan area who were affected by the earthquake and tsunami.

BYU'S HONOR CODE

Brandon Davies in action in file photo. Courtesy of AP.

I must say that I don’t really follow US college basketball that much. Not until mid March when Duke would win it all!  But when a school’s third ranked scorer and starting center is suspended and sent off packing – in the latter part of the tournament – when the team is seeking a Final Four appearance stumped me.

            The school is Brigham Young University, a school owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Subject is power forward, the 6-9 Brandon Davies.

Davies was dismissed, the other week for breaking the Honor Code that every freshman that enters BYU signs and commits to uphold. By signing the honor code, students bind themselves to strict compliance to fundamental values such as attending church every Sunday, keeping the Word of Wisdom (in layman’s term: no alcohol, coffee, tea or drugs), keeping chaste (no premarital sex), etc.

            Davies admitted to committing premarital sex with his girlfriend and thus had to be suspended from playing and will eventually be removed from the roster.

            The suspension sent shockwaves to BYU fans and made headlines in the US. Was the honor code too strict? Could BYU, ranked third in the US NCAA, afford to let go of a player that is a vital cog to its championship aspirations?

            The Honor Code for that matter isn’t too strict. Generally, it’s a set of fundamental principles that could set things straight for students while they're in college. More importantly, it’s a commitment that you sign to uphold. Danny Ainge (or any other BYU student) signed it when he played for BYU before playing for Boston. Note, if you don’t agree or won’t sign it, then you go to other schools. There’s no coercion whatsoever.

            BYU could afford to dismiss Davies because he broke the code. I don’t know if the team could perform well without him. So far, BYU is 1-1 after Davies’s dismissal (BYU dropped a game against San Diego 64-82 but handily beat Wyoming 102-78 last Saturday). Still there’s Jimmer Fredette, who averages over 28 points a game.

            For sticking to its Honor Code, the school received a mixture of criticism and commendation. The most sarcastic was from Charlie Pierce of the Boston Globe. In part he said, “It should be stated that the ‘honor code’ that he has been punished for violating really has nothing to do with ‘honor’ at all. It has to do with conduct, and control, and a revoltingly retrograde attitude toward human sexuality that ought to embarrass any institution of higher learning. ... Micromanaging the hormones of young people is a profound waste of time, unless you believe that religion is often measured by the sum total of its attitudes toward the naughty bits.” Read whole comment here: http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/blogsvulture/51379004-56/pierce-byu-honor-code.html.csp

            BYU, however, scored big on its stand on principle. Michael Otterton, the worldwide public affairs honcho of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, wrote in his Washington Post column, “I wondered about the public reaction, however. Were we about to see endless commentaries about how the honor code was too strict, and that Brigham Young University needed to move into the 21st century? My first inkling that something different was about to happen came the next morning when Joe Scarborough was having his usual round-table conversation on MSNBC's "Morning Joe." Amid the banter came this clear message: At a time when so many people and institutions rationalize behavior, here at last is a stand on principle. Whether or not you agree with the specifics of the honor code, the school was willing to sacrifice popularity and acclaim for a principle. Someone on the set even wondered whether they could send their kids to BYU.” Here’s the link to that column: http://onfaith.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/panelists/michael_otterson/2011/03/brandon_davies_suspension_byu_stands_on_principle.html

            I wouldn’t say this is the last we see of Brandon Davies. There will be Church leaders around him who will help him come back. They will nurture him so that he could come back. His friend will be there to comfort him. He will have lots of help. He won’t be left alone to carry the load.

            In the ward that I lead, I have counseled young men who had gone in similar path with Davies. Particularly a young man has come back into being active in Church and has regained the confidence and self-respect he possessed before he got into trouble. In Church, we say, “We hate the sin but we love the sinner!”

            I hope we all could uphold an honor code…