Tribute to Ss Lou, Our Beloved Cluster Head

There are people who make a difference in other people’s lives. Ss Lou did beyond that. She made other people’s lives better. I, for one, became a better person because of her, so is every person who was fortunate enough to encounter her in this lifetime.

Ss is not a typographical error. She calls me Ss Nora so I call her Ss Lou. According to her, Ss stands for Soulsister. (God apparently couldn’t find a suitable Soulmate for me so He sent a Soulsister instead heheheh . . .)

I rejoined Handmaids Of The Lord in 2003 but it was only during the pandemic that Ss Lou and I became close. Call me snob, introvert, or whatever but I deliberately stayed in the shadows to hide my true identity. I was afraid to be known or recognized, fearing to be given responsiblities that would sacrifice my crucial obligations as father, mother, daughter, and homemaker to my family.

Very few people exhibit the same generous disposition as Ss Lou’s. Even those days when I strictly maintained significant distance between us, she was always showering me with kind words and gestures. It was her unrelenting spirit that finally broke down my wall and welcome her into my chaotic world. 

Ss Lou was the kind of person who will move heaven and earth to help anybody in need. She would pray unceasingly to lift up our individual concerns. She would go out of her comfort zone to lighten the burden of the oppressed. She would spend extra hours to think of ways and means to improve something that needed to be mended. She would love unconditionally and give readily without expecting anything in return. She was always beaming with joy, happiness and enthusiasm that would melt even the hardest of hearts. She would inspire you to believe in yourself, do your best and serve with grace, humility and gratitude to the Almighty.

Thank you Ss Lou, for letting us experience God’s redeeming love through your unparalled faith and devotion. Though I still cannot accept the harsh reality that you will be gone forever, thank you for making my 67th birthday uniquely memorable by allowing me and the countless people who adore you bring you to your final resting place. Hard as it is, I bid you farewell. You will be greatly missed, never to be forgotten. We love you, Ss Lou, now and forever!

(For comments/reactions, reach me via Messenger or at ndelr62@gmail.com. Stay safe everyone!)

What is The Perfect Day For You?

 It was raining cats and dogs this morning, courtesy of Typhoon Crising but still went out to replenish our zero stock of fruits. Dropped by the water refilling station before going home. While trying to keep myself dry under the makeshift tent, a man was venting out his frustrations over a reckless driver to the water station staff. He had a distinct piercing voice that I would rather not listen to but I couldn’t run out of the tent because of the pouring rain. I tried to think of happy thoughts to distract myself of hearing his lamentations and I thought of this: “What could be the perfect day?”

Picture this: The perfect day must have the perfect weather—sunny but not too hot. I am joining the 100km Ultramarathon with a group of running friends who are highly motivated, properly trained and strongly determined to finish the race. We lift each other up through the 100km race route with our inspirational quotes, funny anecdotes and tear-jerker stories. When we hit the unavoidable wall, we cling to each other for support and encouragement. As we slowly approach the FinishLine, I see my family cheering for me with a bouquet of red roses and ice-cold beer. All the pains and aches in my body disappear and I fly like the wind! I receive my trophy, finishers shirt and medal but the flowers, hugs and kisses and beer from my family are the ones that would make the day perfect!

How about you? What do you picture as the perfect day?

(You may reach me via Messenger or at ndelr62@gmail.com. Stay safe everyone!)

What is Your Diet? (Part 1)

 This was the question randomly thrown at me this morning before we practiced YOGA.

Almost instantaneously, I answered: “Diet does not exist in my dictionary. I don’t patronize any. I eat anything and everything, anytime I want.”

We proceeded with YOGA so I did not have time to explain what I really meant.

Let me qualify what I said.

Yes, I do eat anything and everything, anytime I want BUT I practice portion control—except when I am celebrating someone’s birthday in an Eat-All-You-Can Buffet. Unlimited Lunches or Dinners are usually scheduled in advance so I purposely fast the day BEFORE and the day AFTER I binge on my favorite food/desserts.

My typical day looks like this:

I take Herbalife 24 with oats and banana after my morning run. On days that I don’t run because of the rain, I only eat when I’m hungry. I take papaya, a cup of oats, boiled egg, and dark chocolate drink. At other times, scrambled egg with spinach and tomatoes on toast.

My lunch consists of fish with sidedish and 1 slice mango eaten with rice. If pork or beef or chicken is served for lunch, I wrap it in lettuce with kimchi. My dessert is sweet sampaloc/dark chocolate/peanuts/Hi-Chew and Coke Zero. Take note that some days, I take sweet sampaloc and dark chocolate and peanuts and Hi-Chew and Coke Zero all at the same time for dessert.

When I’m home, my snacks become my early dinner. It consists of pandesal with kesong puti and spanish sardines and fresh carabao milk.The number of pandesal depends on how hungry I am. But usually 1-3 pcs.

At 12 midnight, my son Gio takes his lunchbreak (US based) and we snuggle to watch 1-2 episodes of The Golden Girls together. I normally don’t eat with him but when I do, I take a cup of trail mix with milk.

I am 67 years old, 5’1” tall with vital statistics of 37-29-38 weighing 120 lbs on good days and 124 lbs on bad days. I already quit fantasizing for 115 lbs. but still dreaming to lose 1-2 inches off my waistline  heheheh . . . Instead of killing yourself for a Barbie-like figure, focus on gaining strength, wellness, and endurance. Your world will be more enjoyable!

(For comments/reactions, reach me via Messenger or ndelr62@gmail.com. Stay safe everyone!)

Soulmates Do Exist (Tribute to my Friend D)

Some people wander through life silently wishing to find their soulmates. Some are lucky without even looking while some (yours truly included) never caught one even if they fervently pray for it from dawn til dusk.

D and I first met in Cebu, when I was taking a break from my wayward thesis writing. She was then the apple of my friend’s brother’s eyes with whom I was staying. Anybody can easily fall in love with D. She was beautiful, smart, soft-spoken, kind, well-mannered, hard-working, helpful, honest and caring. Without further ado, we clicked in an instant. Naturally, I flew back to Cebu when they finally decided to tie the knot. I was profoundly honored to be part of their once-in-a-lifetime wedding entourage.

Fastforward to 2002. With Ate Ella and 2 children in tow, we made our Great Escape to Cebu. Unfortunately, my friend and her family were out of the county during that time. D graciously offered their marital house for us. That is when I discovered that D and her husband (my friend’s brother) called it Quits. Strange how we could have the same fate when we practically have opposite personalities. I was shocked beyond words. Unlike me, D was the kind of woman any man would choose in any given moment. On top of her exterior and interior attributes, she is a master chef and baker. 

In the midst of her personal struggles, D made sure that we enjoyed ourselves in Cebu. Thanks to her unconditional love, I have never seen my children as happy as they were there. I swear we could have stayed in Cebu forever but Nanay begged me to return to Las Piñas to take care of Tatay who suddenly couldn’t walk because of our frightening disappearance.

Strong as she is, D moved on with her life and fearlessly migrated to the States. Knowing her, I believed in my heart that things will definitely be better for her there.

Guess what? She is now joyfully and happily married to the man of her dreams and doing her passion—cooking and baking!

I just loovvveeee happy endings. Happiest birthday my dearest friend! With all that you are, you deserve the best. Thank you for being you. I hope someday I get to meet your darling hubby and indulge in your yummy masterpieces there in the US.

Yes, soulmates do exist but I just wonder how God picks the person He will bless it with. Have you found yours?

Still waiting hahahah . . .

(Thanks for dropping by. For comments/reactions, you may reach me via Messenger or ndelr62@gmail.com. Stay safe everyone!)

My Typical Training Program

There are a lot of training plans you can find in the internet. Based from my 17 years of passionate love-hate relationship with running, here is my typical weekly schedule. The distance covered will be dependent on my targetted race.

Monday: Easy Run (Level 1-2)

Tuesday: Strength Training

Wed: Speed Interval Workout (complete Workout below)

Thurs: Tempo Run (Level 3-4)

Fri: YOGA (bonding with my son Gio and daughter Eia)

Sat: Rest (I do my marketing/Grocery shopping)

Sunday: Long Run (Level 2-3)

The Levels are numbered 1-5: 

1 = Brisk Walk

2 = Slow Run

3 = Normal Run

4 = Fast Run

5 = Sprint

Below is my Complete Speed Interval Workout:

Warm Up: 5-10 mins. Level 1-2 

Alternating 30 sec Level 5 and 30 sec Level 1-2 (Repeat 5-10 times)

5-10 mins. Level 2-3

Alternating 1 min. Level 5 and 1 min. Level 1-2 (Repeat 5-10 times)

Cool Down: 5-10 mins. Level 1-2

When you are pressed for time, you can still finish the complete Workout in only 30 mins. When you’ve got enough time, the longest Workout will take 1 hr. 

You actually have 2 Rest Days if you are not practicing YOGA. You may spread them 3-4 days apart.

(You may reach me via Messenger or ndelr62@gmail.com. Thanks for dropping by!)

Are You Ready to Run the Marathon?

 If you think you are ready, then nobody has the right to tell you that you’re nuts to attempt it. But it would certainly help if you already did the following at least once before training for the marathon.

1. Finishing 5k in 30 to 35 mins.

2. Finishing 10k in 60 to 70 mins. 

3. A sub 3 hr Half Marathon.

 I believe that speed should come first before distance. This is to equip you with the much-needed confidence that you will reach the FinishLine within CutOff. If it takes 1 hour for you to finish 5k, try to improve on that first before trying to run 10k. Others aim for a personal best of sub 30 mins for a 5k but for ordinary mortals like you and me, 30-35 mins would do (mine was 31 mins.). When running 5k becomes a breeze for you, that’s the time to level up to 10k. Again, there are others who are obssessed with running a sub 1 hr for 10k. (They tell themselves: “If Piolo Pascual can do it, why can’t I?”) Don’t be so hard on yourself. 60-70 mins. will suffice. 

For 1 whole year, I stayed with 10k like my soulmate. It became my comfort zone. I could run 10k without stopping and still looked fresh and bubbly at the FinishLine. I had no intention of running the Half Marathon until Jaymie Pizarro announced The Bull Runner Dream Marathon for first-time marathoners. I did not even think twice. I registered right away. And so I ran 21k for 3 consecutive months before TBRDM. My first Half Marathon was at the Condura Skyway, clocking at 2 hrs 37 mins.

For scientific tips and guidelines, visit runnersworld.com and marathonhandbook.com.

If you think you’re ready, join me in the Cavinti Road and Trail Marathon this coming Dec. 14, 2025.

Good luck with your training!

(You may get in touch with me via Messenger or ndelr62@gmail.com. Stay safe everyone!)

There’s No Easy Way

 It has been ages since my last post. I have always made a personal goal to put a smile on your face when you read my blog. To lighten the burden you are carrying, to have a relaxing break amid the chaos happening around you. When I am down and grieving, I know I cannot fulfill that mission. That is why you haven’t heard from me for a while now. 

There’s no easy way to get over a heartbreak. As Ziva of NCIS aptly put it: “one does not get over the loss of a loved one. You just have to go through with it.”

Life is short. Savor each moment when you can still breathe, laugh, and love. Do not waste your time holding elephants in your chest. Let go of hurts, bitterness, frustrations, supressed anger. Forgive others who have hurt you even though they seem not to care. Forgive yourself. You are not perfect. So is the rest of the human species. You can no longer change the past. You have no choice but to accept that. But you can choose to be better today and every day thereafter. 

Nourish old friendships but always be open to new relationships. It might even surprise you that there are still good folks out there. People who are kind, thoughtful, generous, caring. And some will still love you just the way you are.

In joy and in pain, give thanks. For how can one experience true bliss and happiness without going through pain and suffering?

(For comments, you may reach me at ndelr62@gmail.com. Thank you for dropping by. Stay safe everyone!)