Guess Who's Studying Law for Midterms?

"Dura lex sed lex"  means ---
"The law may be hard to observe or difficult to obey, but it remains the law and must be therefore followed just the same"

Rah and Marge Covering Hot and Cold in a Jeepney

Just wanna share an intermission number Marge and I did last week in our school student body's Meeting de Avance. While studying for my next class, Marge asked me if I could accompany her sing - that same afternoon. Without thinking twice, I said yes. We played Katy Perry's Hot and Cold mashed up with Jeepney by Isponds Cola :)

 Enjoy. :)


 

Thanks for watching.

Our Kite Flying Date

There's nothing like a 10 peso peddler cotton candy in Rizal Park.
It just brings out the child in us.

Paying tribute to our National Hero, Jose Rizal.

Here's our one hundred peso kite who we named Ego the Eagle.

Up up and away! Launch pad at Quirino Grandstand grounds.

Fly fly away! There's our kite right there.
"Hang on there, Ego!"

And then, suddenly, there was no wind. So, Ego the Eagle crashed.
Here's my second attempt to launch him. Running came handy :)

We decided to retire our kite for the day. All the wind was in Binondo because it was Chinese New Year! Our next mission -- find the water dragon and witness a lion dance.

Why I'm Running

with my running mate Bong

"The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start." -John Bingham

I run because it makes me happy. I will keep on running until the day it ceases to bring happiness.

Pouring out one's reasons for running is hard. Like a confession, it is personal. Some may not understand, some may not care at all, but it is my hope that, in some way, people will discover the right sport for them as we runners did, whether it's running or something else.

There are a lot of reasons why people get into running: to lose weight, to heal a broken heart, to overcome adversity, some run for fitness, some - a combination of different reasons. The reason why I found my self running I guess is a combination of different reasons, too. But if I were to choose just one reason, I think it is because of this: "Running makes me happy." Whenever I see people running, I'm like a child in awe. It's like a circus show, a cotton candy, a balloon, and all the things that can make a child in me amazed and inspired. When I'm in a park, a track oval, a race, anywhere where people are running, it's almost as if I can absorb their happy auras. The happiness running brought to my life changed my life in ways I never imagined possible.

With my speedster cousin Donna

I was insomniac ever since I can remember. The long nights were endless and the mornings were torture. I was a zombie throughout the day and an owl at night. Through the years I've tried to cure myself of this curse. Milk, listening to soft music, beer, sleeping pills, counting sheep, nothing worked - not until I tried running in the morning. I resolved to buy the largest, loudest alarm clock at SM; I resolved to set it up at five every morning and told myself that no matter what, I will run. Running at a regular schedule brought my sleeping patterns back to normal, the quality of my sleep has tremendously improved, sleeping on time became easy, and mornings have become as beautiful as ever before. Sunrise. It is glorious. For me a single sunrise is better than a hundred sunsets.

Running also showed me what commitment is about. Before I was running, I was scared to commit in anything. I was afraid to pour in my heart into something. It seemed to me that every goal was the ultimate end. I just wanted to finish a task for the sake of just finishing it. I just wanted to be on the background. I hated groups, I hated organizations, I hated any institution that required sticking around. But when I discovered my love for running, I realized that commitment isn't that hard if you're doing something that makes you happy.

Air running and the runner's high :)

Just like in running, I realized that commitment isn't a goal but a journey. It is doing what makes you happy daily (with regularity). Just like in running, where the finish line is not the ultimate reward, the prize in commitment is the belief that it makes you a better person - the belief that you are part of something larger, a bigger plan, something really important, and you are happy fulfilling that plan as a journey. In other words, running helped me discover the beauty of living in the present, living in the "now."

Running has changed my perspective ever since. I started watching out what I eat. I started looking after my health. I started to be more understanding and more spiritual. Running trained me to endure more physical and mental stress. The sense of regularity and rhythm that comes with my running allowed me to think more clearly and more efficiently - which translates to better performance at work and in school.

God has blessed me with two legs, two lungs, one heart, and two eyes with a vision; and each stride is like a prayer of gratitude for all the blessing God has given me.  Everyday at five in the morning, I wake up, lace my shoes, and jog my self to church to pray. Running gives me something to look forward to. Running pushes my limits, works out my endurance, speed, and gives me direction. There's nothing quite like it. I believe it is worthy pursuit - it just makes me feel more alive. Running is love that grows in time.

The prize in running in my book, isn't medals, personal acclaim, cash prizes, personal records, loot bags, running with celebrities, no it's not. For me, running is the prize itself. And having realized that fact - brings joy to my life.

Goodnight Bimby and Klowee

Look what I've found out, best friends talaga ang doggy at cat naming si Bimbybells at si Kloweebells :) Kahit sa pag tulog, magkatabi sila :D Ang tweet tweet :)

Goodnight Bimby and Klowee :) Tsup :*

Running P10k at the Stag Run 2012:

Last Sunday morning I had an amazing time with my classmates. It's my first time to run with them. I'm so happy they are into running, too. I didn't sign up for the 2012 Stag Run: Takbo para sa Edu-Misyon, but it is included in our tuition fee. So whether we run it or not, it has been paid. Parang hold-up. 500 Pesos registration fee will get you a singlet, bib with no timing chip, and a free breakfast at Jollibee.

Ace, Judy, Raahh, Bong

I woke up early to meet up with my running mate Bong at McDonald's at P. Campa in Espana, had some hot chocolate and pancakes and from there we went to the Aseana City near the SM Mall of Asia where the race was held. We arrived around 4.30 a.m, but the race didn't start until six. Before the actual run, there were first, prayers, opening remarks, stretching, dancing, cheer dancing, at other things to occupy our time until the sky lightened up so that we can see the road. 

No timing chip, can't time your run.

We had a great run; although, it could have been organized better. One thing that raised our eyebrows was that after we finished the race, Garmin watches confirmed that the route wasn't really 10k but instead a little short of 7k. Kaya pala, I was surprised I finished the race at 40 minutes, only to find out it wasn't really 10k. It was misleading.

P10k = parang ten k, pero hindi. hehe

While I wish the organizers respected the sport of running -- by keeping a more accurate time, measuring the route precisely; and by starting the race on time, you have to put this race in it's proper perspective. This fun run is, first of all, a fund raising event.  It's not for the traditional consumer of professionally organized races. It's just what it is - a fun run meant  for charity.

I wish the fund they have raised from this event goes far more than 10k. I wish it reaches indigent students in need of education. I wish it will also support missionaries in spreading the Good News in the far corners of Sierra Leone in Africa.

There are no races anywhere near my radar soon, so I guess I'll get back to my daily jogging around our block. I'm slowly getting my groove back on. I jog everyday from our house to church then back. I'll tell you about that probably in my next post.

Thanks Judy and Sir Larry for the pictures :) 

Ciao!

-rah