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I’ll update my blog in this new URL. I have been planning it all along but never got the time and skills to create it. Until recently, I discovered how to install wordpress and create my own .com. With my new hosting, I can basically create a blog in less than a day.
I hope this inspires me to blog more at Manokan Express. It’s been a year since I have taken my first blog for granted. Very few posts and updates.
See you there.
Go to the new Manokan Express.
]]>I got married on April 19, 2009. Quennie and I will be celebrating our first year wedding anniversary this weekend. The next M was completed early this year. I finished two full marathons already. The first one was the Cebu City Marathon last January and the next one was the Hong Kong Marathon last February.
It’s down to the final M.
It's down to the Final M. Photo taken from Flickr
The last time I read my thesis proposal was in 2007. That’s almost three years of “rest” from the technical jungle. It took me more than three months to come up with my thesis idea. And after the thesis proposal, I moved to another company. During the transition, I told myself to focus first with the new job function then go back to the thesis. It didn’t happen.
Last year, I was close to starting it again. I contacted the school for enrolment procedures. Checked my adviser. Reviewed a few notes. But then the recession came in and the tuition fee assistance of the company was put on hold, I wasn’t able to pursue it. My salary can’t pay for my academics so I have been dependent on the company’s subsidy.
Just yesterday, it was announced that the tuition fee assistance is again being offered. This is my chance. I can finally finish my thesis and have my Master’s Degree in ECE. The 3 Ms are finally complete.
But do I have time for it? I remember sleeping at 3 in the morning for my thesis proposal. How much more if I will be working on the final thesis itself. How do I balance everything? The work, the meetings, the blog, the runs? Oh my… this is going to be a roller coaster ride.
It is obvious that if I would need to finish my thesis, I need to drop some of my current activities. Looks like running will be minimized. I don’t think I can train and run another full marathon. Just the usual 10Ks and 21Ks for maintenance maybe. Even less on the 21Ks. Then the blogs at Takbo.ph need some assistance. I have friends who writes for me. Now, they need to write more.
I am not enrolled yet. I’m still calculating how I can manage to handle all these things this year. Maybe I will enroll during the second semester. By that time, I have figured it out already.
Good thing I only have 3 Ms. What if it was four?
]]>Every month, Nuffnang features a blogger from their network. For October, I get to be the Nuffnang’s Blogger of the Month. I got a chance to share my blogging experience with them and also promote Takbo.ph and running.
Read the feature here at Nuffnang and get to see my picture of my first running event in 2006.
Thank you, Nuffnang.
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I had my atm card there. So until now, I don’t have my weekly allowance. My credit card is there too. Good. I have no reason to buy thing I want. My IDs. Only the school ID was important but I haven’t been to school for a year. Discount cards. Damn. Calling cards. Tsk.
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What is it with September that I get to lost my wallet on this month? Does it mean to remind me not to spend too much and start saving for the holidays? Or it just reminds me to always keep my wallet safe.
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Speaking of things to spend. It’s Quennie’s birthday in a few more weeks. I don’t have my wallet. No ATM card. No Credit Card. Now I do have an excuse not to buy her a gift. Again. Hehehe.
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Ey! Finally wrote something in my personal blog. 
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But, really. What can I give her on her birthday?
]]>Quennie’s AVP
Jinoe’s AVP
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Prenup shot by Vinz
When Quennie and I announced that we are getting married, Vinz and Jery started to offer the idea of shooting the pre-nup pics for us. Quennie and I didn’t have a pre-nup included in our wedding photo package so their offer was welcomed. They are even willing to go to Bacolod to shoot the pre-nups and our wedding as well.
Vinz, Jery and I took the same flight to Bacolod last April 15, five days before the wedding. My father fetched us from the airport and instantly we scouted for locations of the shoot.
The locations I had in mind are those that will show something about my hometown or about Negros in general. The first idea were the ancestral houses in Silay or the Capitol Building in Bacolod. Then, take shots at our place in Pontevedra. However, moving from Silay to Pontevedra in one day will be a waste of time. So we ended up looking for locations just in Pontevedra.
We wanted to take pics near the residense of the Conjuancos. However, we were not able to get any permission. Thus we ended up looking for locations just along the road. I was able to familiarize myself with the area after having a runabout last January. Thus, the next day, we set off early to take the pictures.
The Bridge
The Old Marayo Bridge. I took this shot during my runabout last January.
The bridge is the old Marayo Bridge of Pontevedra. It really looks old with grass and bushes that wander around the place. Below it is a strong river where some kids and adults go for a swim to cool down the sumer heat. I thought it was a nice place to take the pictures. We all agreed.
The blue bike was owned by a kid who was swimming at the river under the bridge. It was just there when we arrived and thought it is a great prop for the shot. Pic by Vinz.
Jery's shot of the bridge from another angle. Dramatic shot for a dramatic couple.
What is not visible in the picture are the people lurking around the area. There are about 20 or more people who are looking over from the new bridge just beside it. This posed some problems to Vinz and Jery as they try to get a shot that will not include them.
The funny thing is how motorists will even stop and make a 180 degree turn to see the commotion. They they will ask. “Ano ara da?“. To which the others will reply. “May shooting a.”
The Highway and Sugarcanes
The next location is the highway going to La Carlota. It was just any other road. But the yellow railings on the side provide a good contrast to the surroundings and Jery wanted a shot with the sugarcanes nearby.
Again, passersby will take a peep and a fully loaded tricycle was broken and they are watching from a distance. Jery and Vinz and a hard time avoiding them in their shots.
Vinz took this picture. There are a bunch of people in the background. There were there the whole time since their tricycle broke down.
Jery loved taking pictures sa "damohan". This shows a large sugarcane plantation.
Cho-cho Train
Moving towards La Carlota, you wont miss the train that is placed just beside the road before you enter the city. It’s an old train used to transport the sugarcanes from the fields to the central. I haven’ t seen one in operation but they said that newer trains still operate near the central.
This is my photo of the train as seen from the road during my runabout last January.
Another take by Jery. This is a diffult pose for me as I have to stretch my neck to get a kiss.
Vinz shot looks seductive. Quennie's pose can set this train on fire.
Sunset
From the train in La Carlota, we had to rush to the seaside to catch the sunset. Unfortunately, we didn’t make it in time and the clouds over the horizon spoiled the scene. But still, Vinz and Jery nailed great photos with the colors of the sunset as the backdrop.
Kissing shot from Vinz. The reason why I love this location is that I got to get a lot of shots and takes kissing Quennie. Hehehe.
Another Korean inspired shot by Jery.
The Complete Set
View the complete set by Vinz and Jery in their gallery. Thanks again guys for covering our pre-nups. The pictures were great. Ay-lav-et!
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Boracay
Que and I stopping over for a pic in Boracay
I never imagined myself going to Boracay this year. But when Women’s Health invited Quennie to the magazine launch in Boracay last April 4-5, I was able to tag along. Women’s Health had a lot of activities prepared for the women, yet part of our agenda was a run in the shores of Boracay. I am so excited that I even asked Patcon aka Runningshield for advice in running in Boracay.
The main shore of Boracay was about 5kms long. Running on the sand is difficult. My feet gets buried in the ground with every step. That is why Patcon adviced to run where the sand meets the sea. This part is a bit leveled and the sand is more packed. But water gets in the shoes and makes the shoe heavy.
But it didn’t stop us from running. We love the shores. We just run slow and enjoyed the view early in the morning. Dingdong aka Runmd was also in Boracay on the same day. I run a 7km with Quennie first then another 8km with Dingdong.
with Dingdong aka Runmd in Boracay
Thanks to Women’s Health and Summit Media for inviting us. More about the Boracay experience in the next blogs.
https://connect.garmin.com/player/3518466
https://connect.garmin.com/player/3518467
Bacolod
Three days before the wedding, I managed to have a 10K run in Bacolod. It was raining and got us worried that it will also rain on our wedding day. Good thing it didn’t.
I followed the same route I run the last time in Bacolod. I wanted to do an airport-to-airport run which would be about 15kms from the old airport in Bacolod to the new Bacolod-Silay Airport in Silay. But I wont take that risk with the wedding in a few more days.
The route was a bit slippery due to the rains. Upon reaching the Capitol Lagoon, I can still see a lot of runners in the area. Made a few rounds to complete a 10km and headed back home on a jeepney.
https://connect.garmin.com/player/4342237
Baguio
With Team Logan in Baguio (Jinoe, Que, Michelle, Craig)
Team Logan invited us to go to Baguio and stay at their place. Upon arriving in Manila after the wedding, we immediately started packing to leave to Baguio on the same evening.
This was my second time to run in Baguio. But this time, I had a different and more challenging route. Craig, Michelle, Quennie and I started from SM and went to Camp John Hay then back to SM. It was a good 10km run. The uphills are a killer. Quennie is excited to go back on May 24 for the Baguio Run. It wasn’t that cold. We even had out Takbo.ph singlets for the run. No thick clothes or jacket needed.
The hilly, long and winding roads of Baguio
Thanks to Team Logan for the invitation and for the hospitality during our stay in Baguio. More about our stay at Team Logan’s HQ in the next blogs.
]]>We don’t have a shower at work. I would just have a small towel to wet and wipe myself dry. Then a deodorant and perfume.
But after reading the January 2009 issue of Runners World they recommended more items for the runners kikay kit.
- Baby wipes – I think this is a good idea and I should add this up in my desk.
- Baby powder – hmmm… I have to pass on this one.
- Deodorant – check!
- Hand towel – check!
- Liquid Soap – Let me think about this.
- Comb – check!
I am not used to run after work. But I need to be flexible. So time to go to the grocery and have a stock of these.
]]>The first schedule to shoot was during the Takbo.ph LSD last March 8. They wanted it when I am actually using the gadget. However, it was moved since they were asked to cover a FrancisM story instead. Too bad since I would be running with others who wears the same watch. Could have been fun.
Then, they opted to have it shot either in our boarding house or in our office. The boarding house is a mess, so it is a no-no. As for the office, I just asked permission from my boss and he is very ok with it and even wanted it shot during office hours.
But the crew arrived past 6pm on March 11. With them is the segment host, Valerie Tan, who did the interview. She was with the segment producer and a camera man.
First time I saw how a certain interview is made. One cam, a big lamp, a big mic and some cords. Cool. And I thought it will be complicated.
I also did not complicate things. I just wore my usual “business” clothes. No make up of course. Brushed my teeth. Shaved a little and used my bare hands to fix my hair.
Some of my officemates were still around. Some of them really stayed to see the shot.
Valerie quickly rehearsed me with a set of questions. I did a little research beforehand to be sure I will be saying the right things. In a few minutes, the camera started rolling.
I was not looking at the camera so I didn’t feel conscious. There was one part where I stumbled on my words and had to cut. It was quick and simple. In 15 minutes or less, we are finished with the interview.
Off cam, Valerie and I had a little chat since she wanted to join races too. She asked about running form, shoes, and places to run. My officemates told me I should have got her number. Tsk tsk tsk. For a guy soon to be married, that is the last thing on my mind. 
With Valerie Tan of QTV
The show was aired last night at 10pm. Since I announce it at the Takbo.ph website, some of them really stayed up late for the show. Darn. And Natz, even took a video of it and share it on YouTube.
So for those who missed it, well and good.
But anyway, here is the segment on Garmin 405.
I was the perfect clueless newbie. I wore the wrong shoes. I was wearing a jogging pants. I was wearing a cotton shirt. That is how I started.
Below is a repost from my first running blog ever. It was still in Friendster. I cant find the pictures anymore.
== oOo ==
1646. That’s my number when I participated in the 2nd International Pasig Marathon last Feb 26, 2006. Add to it another thousand and that could be my place in the competition.
Ive been planning to join a marathon. I had my chance during Sportsfest at school but I never joined it thinking that I can never reach the finish line after a 10K run. It has been a challenge and I was glad when I received an invitation to join the Pasig Marathon. Its my chance to meet that challenge.
This is a yearly event sponsored by the Clean and Green foundation. Usually held on the last Sunday of February, the race is a long 42km from Intramuros to Fort Bonifacio passing by the historic Pasig river. There are also races for the less ambitious ones like 3km, 5km and 10km at the Fort Bonifacio. I know I can do the 5km so I decided to take the 10km instead.
The race started at 6am at Adidas Camp Fort Bonifacio. There were almost a thousand runners who participated in the 10km. A prize of 10,000 pesos goes to the 1st placer. When gun sets off the start of the race, I was suddenly afraid of the stampede of runners moving forward at a faster pace that I could catch up. In less than 5 seconds, I gave up my chance on the prize and concentrated on finishing the race. Surviving the race would be a more accurate goal.
I wasnt at the tail of the race. I was somewhere in the middle sharing the spot with members of running clubs, women and gray-haired men. It makes me proud whenever I would overtake other runners, especially those with t-shirts that are labeled “Finisher” which they got from other marathons. Hahaha!!! But it also discouraged me to see a young kid ahead of me. I tried to catch up but it was clear he has the advantage. Being overtaken by women is both happy and sad. Sad because my ego is pierced. Happy because the view is better from behind. It motivates me to maintain a safe distance.
At last I was on the 5km mark where I would receive a green lace and make a u-turn back to the starting line. I jogged all the way to the 5km mark without stopping or walking. I reached it at exactly 30 mins and 30.1348796211565123489853 seconds. My calculations are based on the position of the sun at that time. By noting the latitude and the azimuth angle plus the lateral displacement from the starting line, able to come up with an accurate figure. If you don’t believe me, then do it yourself!
The run gave me a lot of learning and experience in running. I learned that there are running clubs that regularly train for such events. I learned that jogging shorts are more comfortable and a lot sexier than jogging pants. I learned that drinking cups along the way have real drinking water and not just to pour it on your head since it was obvious all the runners haven’t taken a bath yet. I learned not to pour the cup hard on your head because it may contain ice.
Finally, I was near the finish line. I was so happy to see the big word “Finish”. I started to run faster to get a good time at the end of the race. I don’t expect it to be below 1 hour since I started to walk a couple of times on the final half of the race. But I was able to complete the race in 1 hour, 5 minutes and 42.69269236134618632415243321874613264 seconds. Same calculation method was employed here. So maybe next time I will target it to be below 1 hour.
As you can see, I approached the finish line without any sign of fatigue, struggle or hardship. It was as if Im used to this kind of thing. Haha! I can even bet that I can run a few kilometers more.
Next year, I’ll be joining the marathon again. And maybe some other races this year. I heard there is a least one every month at different locations.
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