I’ve
asked 20 people “Why do you celebrate Christmas?”.
13 out of 20 people didn’t know why. It’s
true, few of us are aware why we celebrate Christmas and what’s the true
meaning in it. It is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ who died on
the cross to deliver us from our sins which is supposed to be why
we celebrate Christmas. Jesus is God in a flesh (John 1:1, 14, Colossians
2:9) and He is the next person of the Trinity, born by the Virgin Mary.
Some positive responses.
In
other words, it is a celebration where we celebrate the birth of Christ but SADLY,
the true spirit of Christmas becomes more for-profit holiday than being a sacred
and religious one. Unfortunately many people celebrate Christmas NOT for the
holiness of Jesus Christ who entered in our life and gave His life. Most of
them it is a time to give and receive gifts in form of materials things such as
money, going to the parties, drink, eat foods. I’m not against the way we
celebrate Christmas like attending parties, time for businesses making money, for
people to give gifts, for people to be excited, for parties, etc etc. Of course
it’s not wrong.
It
just that the true reason about celebrating Christmas is supposed to be Jesus
Christ for us to recognize and appreciate His birth being holy and died on the
cross for our sins and be saved from the righteous judgment of our Lord. Now, if
you celebrate Christmas without Jesus Christ, then you’re doing it wrong.
We understand cut-off’s of 2:30 requirements to be a proud Finisher for Milo Half-Marathon. We get it of course and it sends message to us to train and push harder for our goals. But if you finish the distance then you completed the distance. I would and will never take away from someone’s accomplishments due to how long it took them to finish. Different things happen along the way. If you go out and run 21k in a race last Sunday but miss the cut off, I do not things that means that you did not just run a half mary. I would consider that you are a Milo Marathon Finisher. You finish 21k and while you do not have an official time for your effort – you are still very much a part of the Milo Marathon history. While other people spend so much time cutting each other down while some runners miss the cut off times, please don't make them down rather motivate them. I just remind you that you did something that very few ever will do. Put your body through 21k and keep on going to beat that damn cut off time, and finish the JOURNEY.
Some Icloud Running Group family celebrating after Milo Marathon.
The reasons we do this sport are as personal as our goals for given races. A sub 2 hour half marathon or sub 2:30 21k is a huge achievement for some and a -poor-WTF-happened race failure for others. If people are doing this for a title…. a new PR or to be a Qualifier….then they are doing it for a different reason that we are. We can certainly applaud each other's accomplishments in the sport and encourage each other, but let’s "thrive" on setting and achieving our own goals. Just keep running and think about why you started.
Twila, Doc Cindy & Dianne infront of Lucban Municipal Plaza
This morning, we ran 25K what we so called a 2
dozen kilometers under the rain in a bad weather due to typhoon Luis. I just woke up early to run this
LSD with my amazing running family Jeric, Boyet, Doc Cindy,
Twila, Dianne, Michael, Red, Andrew and Papong. Some of our group family members didn't come for some reasons, hope you guys will join us next time. Anyway, Lucena City to Lucban, Quezon is a
pretty hilly route from start to finish particularly Tayabas to Lucban. We ran
a little bit slower than usual under the rain and windy morning. It’s so
beautiful seeing again the majestic Mt. Banahaw in a foggy morning that it’s
hard to complain at all and that was pretty special.
Boys infront of Lucban Municipal Plaza
Ako lang naman :)
Our group didn't usually catch inside in a rain storm in so long. And you know what? It felt so damn good.When
we realized we’re about to get absolutely soaked as the rain got harder, we
smiled. We enjoyed every single second. We ran slower than normal. We could
feel our shoes and socks squishing around but we didn’t care jumping some wet patch, ponds then play and just laugh and
keep running.Every now and then you have to go out into the rain to run,
even when it’s cold and the road is wet. Running in the rain sometimes will
make your skin chafes and blisters and it’s so awkward to other people see you
running while raining. But it still gives you more something to learn. It
retells us the happiness of the best moments in running, like when we were a
child, we keep running in spite of the bad weather, and mostly the weather makes it
better. That's how we felt..
Group photo @ 7-11 Tayabas City
What we wanted to express is the
happiness that running brings us. And we hope by sharing this we can inspire
other people to run, feel the happiness, show gratefulness, live a happier,
healthier and have a better life.
I with my running friends Alain, Jeric and Doc
Cindy decided to take a weekend break to wash away our stress in our daily work
– and that is going to Pagsanjan Falls.
Diego (me), Jeric, Doc Cindy and Alain taking a souvenir shot
Though the waterfalls is named as “Pagsanjan”, the
falls is actually not located in the town of Pagsanjan but in Cavinti. The locals called it as Cavinti Falls. However, it is more popularly known
as Pagsanjan Falls. But for us, it doesn't matter whether the waterfalls is in
Cavinti or Pagsanjan. There are 2 routes available for tourists to reach this beautiful
work of nature.
Pagsanjan Route- The
most popular option for travelers to reach the falls, that starts from any of
the resorts along Balanac and Bumbungan rivers through riding a wooden boat known
as “Shooting the Rapids” paddled by 2 skilled and licensed boatmen (bangkeros).
Arriving tourists riding a shooting rapid (boat) via Pagsanjan Route
Cavinti Route - For
those who loves adventure (just like us), the Cavinti route offers a chance to
hike/trek and rappel to reach the location of the falls. The vertical trek
includes a downward climb on a steep steel ladder for the tourist to reach the
falls. A floating bamboo raft at the bottom will take the tourists to the
“devil’s cave” located behind the cascading curtains of the main falls.
Relaxing near the registration center at Pueblo El Salvador before trekking to the falls.
We decided to take the Cavinti route. As part of our journey, here is our actual itinerary:
PAGSANJAN FALLS (MAGDAPIO FALLS)
Itinerary via Cavinti, Laguna Route
May 4, 2014
05:30 AM Meet-up at 7-11 Lucena Bayan
05:54 AM ETD Lucena to Lucban, Quezon
06:41 AM ETA Lucban, Quezon stop over ate some pancit
habhab
07:00 AM ETD Lucban, Quezon to Cavinti
07:20 AM ETA Luisiana, Laguna
07:49 AM ETA Pueblo EL Salvador Cavinti Nature's Park
& Picnic Grove, Rest, Take Brunch.
08:00 AM Start Trek, Rappel.
08:30 AM ETA Magdapio Falls (a.k.a. Pagsanjan Falls),
Photo-ops.
11:30 AM ETD Magdapio Falls, Start Back Track.
12:01 PM ETA Pueblo EL Salvador Cavinti Nature's Park
& Picnic Grove, Rest, Snacks, Tidy up.
12:30 PM ETD Pueblo EL Salvador Cavinti Nature's Park
& Picnic Grove, Take a side trip to Lake Caliraya, Cavinti
12:40 PM ETA Lake Caliraya
01:00 PM ETD
Lake Caliraya to Kamayan sa Palaisdaan, Tayabas Quezon
02:00 PM ETA
Kamayan sa Palaisdaan, Tayabas, Quezon (Food Trip)
03:00 PM ETD Kamayan sa Palaisdaan to Lucena
03:30 PM ETA
Lucena board Manila bound Bus (w/ Alain).
Eating Lucban Pancit Habhab before going to Cavinti
Excited @ the registration center
We started our trek to the falls with the tour guide named Dennis, after
paying a Php 270.00 each for Pueblo El Salvador Entrance, Environmental and
Guide ship Fee. Approximately, after a 15 minute concrete-paved trek, not all are
well-paved some are trails, we entered the forest. We started to hear the
splashing sound of the water from the water falls. After a couple of minutes of
trekking, the steel ladder trek started at the Statue of El Pueblo and we have
to wear a safety harness going down the cylindrical tube with steps.
Doc Cindy rappelling down through the cylindrical tube
Jeric poses after rappelling
The
route is very challenging and full of adventure. And this is not for
fainthearted person because you will pass 2 stations where you need to rappel
in 90 degrees point (twice) to get down. During that time, it was
very difficult because the trail was so slippery because of the rainfalls.
The stairs are getting sharp and steeper until we finally reached the stunning
beauty of Pagsanjan Falls. And take note that the most challenging episode of
this journey is when going back.
Walking down with the metal ladder
Alain rappelling in 90degrees point
All
of us got so excited when we were approaching the falls, Jeric was already
shouting out of excitement like WHOA!!!! YAHOO!!! Then after the last scary stairs
we walk down with almost 60%-70% inclined ---- We finally see what we’re
looking for after our challenging experience. The stunning Pagsanjan Falls!!!
And of course our visit is not complete without the raft ride experience going
to the waterfalls curtain to the devils cave beneath the falls. It was like a
natural massage with a bit of pressure because water falls down on our heads.
Bankeros (botmen) seen in the upper view before going down near the falls
Post arrival pose :)
Ready to climb the cylindrical tube
Riding at the Bamboo Raft
Swimming @ the falls
Thank you Alain for this photo
Souvenir shot before going to the Devil's cave beneath the falls
Trekking back
Side trip: Caliraya Lake
Our reward: Dining at Kamayan sa Palaisdaan, Tayabas, Quezon
Over all, it was really fun!!! We really enjoyed and our hard work paid off because of the gratifying chance to see the beauty of Pagsanjan Falls plus the trekking, climbing, rappelling, rafting, passing through the falls to devil’s cave and swimming; it was one heck of a memorable experience. It’s worth the sweat!
What a rainy morning today, I ran 12K what I so called a
dozen kilometer in the rain. I just woke up early to do my morning run with my Chinese friend
Jeric, but’s it seems the rain is ready to fall. Every now and then you
have to go out into the rain to run, even when it’s cold and the road is wet.
Running in the rain sometimes will make your skin chafes and blisters and it’s
so awkward to other people see you running while raining. But it still gives you more something to learn. Occasionally it rains on my mid-run, and when the rain falls, I jump some
wet patch, ponds then play and just laugh and keep running. It retells
me the happiness of the best moments in running, like when I was a child, I keep playing in spite of the weather, and mostly the weather makes it
better.
What I wanted to express is the happiness that running
brings me. And I hope by sharing this I can inspire other people to run, feel the
happiness, show gratefulness, live a happier, healthier and have a better life.
"Running or any sports, anything that you love, can change your attitude toward your disposition in life, in your works and make you a better person."
I heard this quote from one of my friend Christian Gerard Romero. Before I didn't know who told this quote and tried to google this phrase and found that Muhammad Ali originated this. I only know that Muhammad Ali may be best known for “swoop like a butterfly and sting like a bee,” but I think the above quote is his most brainy.
Ali understood something that is difficult to hold, or if grasped is difficult to put in practice. He recognized the power of the mind, the fact that it is the linchpin to your body’s actions and the amazing ease with which it can be influenced.
This moral is not exclusive to running. I could just as easily write this in my blog, which is more occupational and digital media oriented, but it is a lesson that proves true every time I tie my running shoes.
When I think about failing at my goal, get distracted by negative things in my life or loose mental focus my performance is affected. When I think clearly, positively and logically my performance improves.
When running, you may be trying to outwit your opponents…”I will draft him until there are only two miles left” or “I’m going to sprint out in front of her so she thinks she doesn’t stand a chance.” More often though, I find that I am trying to outwit myself. I need to trick myself into thinking I have more energy than I feel like I do. Usually if my mind believes I have the energy my body will follow along, and it’s almost always the case that I really did have that energy.
There are a lot more characters that have inspired me like Manny Pacquiao with his courage and discipline, Michael Jordan with his heart, all in little ways. But I think I got my message across with these few. The point is, running or any sports, anything that you love, can change your attitude toward your disposition in life, in your works and make you a better person, despite its flaws. When you love something, or someone, they become a part of you that shapes the type of person you become.
I could never start to fondle the memories I have for my “Nanay”, or the feelings and thoughts I share to other people about my childhood. I am very much grateful for the wonderful mother that I have! My mother was so present for us everyday during my childhood life. She made food, played with us, took us to the school, taught us all day long, exposed me to study hard and never give up in all kinds of hardships – I love it!… I could go on and on….
Most of all, my “nanay” showed us to have a faith in God to fight for impecuniousness in life. Her encouragement has been an inspiration to me… She was really spectacular, never giving up...During my school days, I was one of the best at getting aroundobstacleson my studying. Untiil now I want to be the best at confronting the most difficult problems of mylifewithallmy strength. She was just extremely gifted for me.
I really do hope that I’m doing a good job as my mother and my father want me to do. Looking back, I can tell how much treasured those days we were all young even though some pieces of a good things and happiness in life were not given to us. But the most important thing is, she enjoys being my nanay now.
