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peace be with u

"Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me"

A Warrior’s Dream
Posted:May 12, 2009 7:58 pm
Last Updated:May 13, 2009 6:27 am
14493 Views

A Warrior’s Dream


A forty- two kilometer race, or a full marathon, is every runner’s dream! Last Sunday, 10th of May, I ran my first full marathon. After practicing for almost eight months, I trained myself to run four times a week, making sure I covered at least a total of sixty (60) kilometers.

I was so confident that I could finish this grueling race. However, I did not achieve my goal. I felt heaviness in my legs after running twenty one (21) kilometers. I slowed down my pace, because I knew that this feeling is just natural after running more continuously for two hours. However, when I was in the middle of Kalayaan (Buendia) Flyover, the twenty two (22) km. mark, things went from bad to worse. My left leg experienced painful cramps that my right leg sympathized with so it also cramped. I slowed down and walked. With still twenty more kilometers to run, I thought of quitting right there and then to end my agony. But, the warrior’s spirit inside refused to quit so I continued walking and then tried running again. Other marathoners, tired as I was by this time, were already walking .

When we are reached Rockwell on Estrella St., the thirty two (32)km. mark, as I started to run, both legs cramped again, much more painful than the first time, to the point that I turned cold and my vision blurred. This time, my running buddies advised me to stop less something worse happen. Heeding their words of caution, I quit the race.

I was so thankful that my running buddies were there to give me their moral support. I salute you guys for your concern and I thank you for your help.

Last Sunday, I quit a race, but I didn’t give up the warrior’s dream. Yes, I will run again–there are more marathons, more 42 ks to aim for. I may have lost one battle, but I am determined to win the war.
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CONDURA RUN 09
Posted:Mar 22, 2009 5:45 am
Last Updated:May 16, 2009 11:16 pm
14601 Views

CONDURA RUN 09


It’s been almost eight months now since I decided to run a full marathon of 42 K. I trained hard, feeling the pain in my legs every time I practiced. I was supposed to run my first 42K this month, for the annual (or so I thought) Pasig Run, but it was scrapped (to my disappointment). My next target will be to run in May for the 42K marathon to be sponsored by Botak, or in July for the Milo 42K Elimination Race.

For now, I just keep running and practicing. Today, I finished my 3rd 21K marathon in the Condura Run. I clocked in 2:05:40, my best time yet. Thanks to Rochelle who sponsored me for this race and to my wife’s good friend who sponsored the shoes.
1 comment
IF YOU FACE TRIALS
Posted:Jul 31, 2008 4:14 pm
Last Updated:May 14, 2009 12:00 am
15066 Views


IF YOU FACE TRIALS
James 1 : 2-4

“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
1 comment
"WALANG IWANAN"
Posted:Jul 27, 2008 7:43 am
Last Updated:Feb 16, 2009 11:45 pm
15730 Views

"WALANG IWANAN"

This Sunday brought stormy weather again, but to us, runners, it is not an obstacle. Rain or shine, if there is a run, such as today’s Robinsons Supermarket’s “Fit & Run” 5 km Wellness Buddy Run, we show up.

At today’s run, I was pleasantly surprised to run into Tani Lim, a family friend who is also a blackbelter in karatedo, participating with her boyfriend. Another friend, a regular at runs such as this was also present–Col. Oscar Lopez with his staff from the Philippine Army.

Unlike other races, this one used a new concept–Runners could not enter the finish line without their running partner. “Walang iwanan!” My partner was Mar, a 70 year old veteran runner. Mar and I wanted to have a good time, but the course of the race was like a wave, an up and down road from The Fort going to the Phil. Army Parade Grounds. We participants and organizers were so lucky that it didn’t rain throughout the race. My partner and I were timed 32 minutes and 30 sec. at the finish line.

This race was well organized and runners had plenty of groceries to take home.
0 Comments
Quite A Record
Posted:Jul 27, 2008 5:39 am
Last Updated:May 22, 2009 5:46 am
15305 Views


Quite A Record

Running four times this week was quite a record because it was the first time I had done so. Despite my legs’ and feet’s hurting, I felt good about this achievement and I hope to continue doing this with my running buddies in CCP.
1 comment
THE WAY OF PURIFICATION - AFTER CONVERTION - Heavenly Desires
Posted:Jul 20, 2008 7:16 am
Last Updated:Jul 21, 2008 12:14 am
15153 Views


THE WAY OF PURIFICATION
AFTER CONVERTION
CHAPTER 40
Heavenly Desires

CHRIST,
MY , be not too impressed by appearances. Foolish people think that a man cannot help being happy if he is rich, or powerful, or if he has fame and influence. Be wise with My wisdom. Fix your heart on heavenly riches. Then you will see that passing glories and unsteady contentment are not as desirable as they seem. In fact, they are often a burden of work, worry and fear.

2. Man’s happiness does not consist in having a great deal. A moderate amount of this world’s good things is enough for you if you are daily working for Heaven. The more you see life from My viewpoint, the more you will realize that this earthly life is a cross. It has its trials, burdens, disappointments, and sorrows, all of which must be borne patiently. It is not easy to be a spiritual man, because the good things of this world continually appeal to your feelings. Learn to govern your feelings with the reins of reason and grace. Control them with your intelligence and My commandments.

3. As your desire for spiritual perfection grows, you will find yourself thinking more definitely of Heaven. Your desire for Heaven will become stronger and stronger. You may even have to control a dislike for the needs and obligations of daily life.

THINK,
The more one thinks of his eternal destiny, the more he will realize that his earthly life is a journey toward something far grander than this world. He sees each day as a step toward Heaven, and he looks at himself to see whether he is on the right path. Slowly he comes to value the events of his daily life according to God’s Will and Heaven’s eternal happiness.

PRAY,
Lord, nothing on earth can give me the joy and happiness of Heaven. In fact, there is no lasting joy apart from You. May I never be without Your holy grace. I desire to see the real value of the earthly things which I love. May I never love any person or thing more than You, that is, may I never sin because of them. Amen

My
Daily
Bread

CONFRATERNETY
OF THE
PRECIOUS
BLOOD

Book 1 ‒ The Way of Purification
Part 2 ‒ After Conversion
Page 76-77

0 Comments
IF YOU FEEL WEAK
Posted:Jul 20, 2008 6:26 am
Last Updated:Feb 16, 2009 11:46 pm
14973 Views


IF YOU FEEL WEAK
Romans 8:26-27

"And in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God."
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WET SUNDAY RUN
Posted:Jul 13, 2008 2:50 am
Last Updated:Jul 13, 2008 5:56 am
14379 Views


WET SUNDAY RUN

I was at Mc Donald’s on Gil Puyat Ave. cor. Pasong Tamo this morning, waiting for my ride to The Fort with some members of the “Road Runners 101 Club.” I met this group of veteran runners a month a ago at the CCP complex. They are veterans because they have been running in 42k marathon. Most of them are three-timers in this event that categorizes what in sports lingo is a “full marathon.”

It was a cloudy morning when we arrived at The Fort to join the “La Salle Cares One Family, One La Salle Run,” sponsored primarily by the De La Salle Alumni Association. While waiting for the run to start, I was approached by my neighbor in Marikina, Col. Oscar Lopez of the Philippine Army, who inquired why I had been “missing in action” from last month’s events. The conversation drifted to the “ 21k of DND Gintong Pangarap” run held at Camp Aguinaldo. He said it had one of the hardest courses that he had ever run in all the years of participating in marathons.

Just before the marathon began, the rain poured causing all of the runners to shout and some first-timers to look for shaded areas to temporarily shelter them from the rain. I said to myself, “Cool! A wet Sunday run. Hahaha!”

The course was a two-loop run all inside The Fort Global City Complex--from High Street, to University Parkway where the international schools are, then turning at the Japanese School back to the almost finished St. Luke’s Hospital, left to Jollibee and straight on to One-MicKinley Place, heading for Essensa Towers on the other side of the road, making a turn there back to High Street where we had started.

It rained almost an hour so we 16k runners were drenched to the bone to the amazement of the 3k runners, some of whom had given up on running and were now walking with umbrellas in hand, mind you! Not wishing to belittle their attempt to run, I just proceeded with a smile on my face at their sight.

No race is without its bloopers, including this one. At the start, the lead runners made a wrong turn so we had to go back. There were runners, however, who did not, resulting in their making a longer route. Then there was no race marshall to tell the runners which route to run. One runner was so amazed that he had run only 18 minutes for 5k, until he noticed that he was taking the 3k route. The timer’s position also was off sight. It should have been hung at the top middle of the finish line so runners could see their time as they crossed it.

All in all, itwas a good run--well sponsored, with plenty of give aways for the runners and an over supply of bottled mineral water. Credit goes to the De La Salle Alumni Association for the organization and sponsor-support.

Am looking forward to this annual event next year!
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“Manila Half-Marathon Challenge”
Posted:Jul 5, 2008 9:15 pm
Last Updated:Jul 6, 2008 6:23 am
14533 Views


“Manila Half-Marathon Challenge”

Although my alarm clock rang at four in the morning, I was so lazy to get up to set it again to ring at five. Still undecided whether to get up or remain asleep, I finally stood and dressed for my morning run. My plan this Sunday was to run at the “Manila Half-Marathon Challenge” which would start from the Quirino Grand Stand at Rizal Park. This is one of the activities of Araw ng Maynila, that had to be postponed because of Typhoon Frank.

Late for the starting line, I joined the race in Harrison Plaza,Vito Cruz, tagged as the 3 kilometer mark. I would run as a “BANDIDO,” the term for those runners who are not officially registered in the race. I talked to some of the runners who said they were flagged down at 5:30 a.m. Touring Manila, with all the vehicles beside me, and seeing the garbage sprawled all over the sidewalks, with even a dead cat on the gutter, and inhaling all the smoke coming from the speeding vehicles, I ironically thought, “WOW! This is FUN!!”

At the six-kilometer mark at Quirino Ave. approaching Taft Ave., one of the runners blurted out to me that they had already consumed 34 minutes, and telling me to proceed to Pandacan. Clueless about the detailed route, I just followed the group. We turned right at the flyover of Pandacan., where there was a nice view of the Pandacan Depo. In the middle of the flyover we turned back, and right again to Quirino Ave. going to Nagtahan Bridge.

At the top of that bridge, the 11 km. mark, I noticed a brown Toyota Innova. Its driver was waiting with a bottle of mineral water in his hand. I thought, “Here’s another big time runner with his alalays.” As we descended the Nagtahan Bridge, all the other runners in front of us were on the way up to the flyover, I uttered,”Cool!”

When I reached Gov. Forbes, traffic was heavy because of the race and, to my pleasant surprise, the famous Bald Runner was beside me. I just said “Hello!” to him, Gen. Narcise, and the brown Toyota I had described earlier was unknowingly to me, his car. As I turned right to Tayuman St., I saw some spectators on the sidewalk who may have been wondering who these runners were. I wouldn’t be surprised if some of them thought we were crazy, gasping for breath and sweating for what? To nun-runners, ignorant of the satisfaction that running a marathon can bring, running may be just a waste of time and effort.

I was surprised when I reached Jose Abad Santos Avenue, the 16k mark, that despite almost losing my bearing and feeling very tired with my legs heavier and my feet hurting, I just kept on going. Not quitting is in my blood.

When I passed Jones Bridge and saw the sign “18k mark.” I thought, “ Wow 3km. more to go and I can rest!” As I passed this race’s checkpoints in Delpan Rotonda, one of the lady marshalls, yelled, “GO! TAY, GO!” I smiled. I can’t hide my age after all.

Finally! I reached the Rizal Park flagpole at 7:34 a.m. I walked 3 kilometers from Rizal Park to CCP in Vito Cruz as my cool down. What a fun run!

My next run, on Sunday, July 13, 2008, will be sponsored by the De La Salle alumni. The venue will be at The Fort. See you there!
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THE WAY OF PURIFICATION - AFTER CONVERTION - Man’s True Good
Posted:Jul 3, 2008 4:53 am
Last Updated:Jul 3, 2008 4:54 am
14435 Views


THE WAY OF PURIFICATION
AFTER CONVERTION
CHAPTER 39
Man’s True Good

CHRIST,
MY , often it is safer for a man not to have many consolations and pleasures in his earthly life. Try to grasp this truth, so that you may not become sad and depressed when you cannot have what you desire.

2. If you had all the satisfactions and enjoyments which this world can offer, how long would they last? The knowledge that they must certainly end, would only make death more bitter and disagreeable to you.

3. The fact is that your soul can find full and lasting joy only in My friendship and love. True happiness and lasting peace come from Me alone. Foolish lovers of this world think that they know the meaning of peace and happiness, but what they enjoy is imperfect and short-lived.
Genuine peace and happiness is given only to My loyal followers, those who are unselfish in doing My Will and generous in imitating My example.

THINK,
God desires that I should labor for my daily bread and enjoy the rightful pleasures of daily life. I must not, however, become so entangled in these things that I would sin for them. Each they is a step toward the true and perfect life of Heaven. I need to put complete trust and confidence in God’s wisdom and love for me. This virtue will give me the freedom of true charity. I will come to see more clearly each day how to please God more in everything I do.

PRAY,
My Jesus please do not let me think too much of my earthly needs. They can crowd my mind and make too busy to think of You and Yours holy words. Save me from the blind love of pleasure and from enslaving worry about earthly security. Grant me the freedom of those who live for Heaven. Nothing on earth must hold me back from doing Your Will. Amen.

My
Daily
Bread

CONFRATERNETY
OF THE
PRECIOUS
BLOOD

Book 1 ‒ The Way of Purification
Part 2 ‒ After Conversion
Page 75-76

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